118 ANTALOW. 
ledge) that a pot of it should he carried along with us. Our fish- 
ing party went a different route, the Ras preferring the amuse- 
ment of hunting this morning, which he in reality enjoys much. 
He has about fifty dogs of an inferior cast, not unlike the English 
lurcher, and at least five hundred men. These are disposed among 
the thickets of acacia, with which the small hills around are 
covered, in order to rouse the deer, hares, growse, partridges, and 
guinea fowl. As soon as one of these is put up (for the birds fly 
only to a very short distance), it is instantly pursued by the dogs 
and men who happen to be nearest. Upon this an universal shout 
and yell is set up, which so frightens the poor animal, that, together 
with the keenness of the dogs, it seldom happens that it escapes. 
We returned to Muccuilah at ten, with six brace of partridges 
and growse. I had an opportunity on our way back of shewing 
the Ras how the English gentlemen enjoy this kind of sport, 
and told him^ that I myself could have killed more birds this 
morning than his fifty dogs and five hundred men. They have not 
an idea how the bird is brought down when on the wing. One of 
his chiefs asked me, with a very grave countenance, if it was done 
by a charm. I kept my shot concealed from them as much as 
possible ; they always, therefore, examined the animal when killed 
for the bullet wound, not supposing that any thing but a single 
ball was made use of. 
" On our entering the first gate to the hall, the knife was flou- 
rished over the cow's throat ; for if the animal can be killed in the 
presence of the Ras, it is not only considered as the more respectful, 
but the brinde is the more delicious. In the present instance, the 
skin was only partly taken off, and a favourite slice of the flesh was 
