42 TRAVELS IN 
*^ us then, and be fatisfied for once with being 
" an humble fpedator/' 
My guide yoked his oxen, and Vv^e fet ofF ; 
he with a long and enormous whip, which 
the planters make ufe of, and which I have 
already defcribed; I with nothing but a ftick, 
which ferved me as a cane. Arrived at the 
fcene of adtion, he took his plough, and 
began to trace out a furrow. The new earth 
no fooner appeared, than I faw a' vaft quantity 
of very fmall birds flock together from every 
fide, and almoft alight upon the plough-fhare, 
which they eagerly followed. Of what could 
thefe birds be in purfuit, that neither the 
ioftrument which was in motion, nor the^ 
man who direfted it, could terrify them ? 
Alas 1 they darted to the ground to devour 
creatures animate like themfelves, the maggots, 
worms, and infeds which the plough expofed 
to their view. So unexpeded a fight was al- 
moft perfed ecftacy. It had one alloy, however. 
Empty-handed and without weapons, I was 
obliged paflively to contemplate thefe devourers 
of infeds, without being able to fecure one of 
them. Thefe birds were kilUng animals 
weaker than themfelves; I was defirous of 
killing the birds ; while perhaps behind me 
was fome more ferocious beaft longing to treat 
me 
