ismailia-第118节

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beast　that　he　kills　upon　the　desert　must　be　his　property；　and　in　a
public　hunt；　should　he　be　the　first　to　wound　a　wild　animal；　he　will　have
gained　an　increased　interest　or　share　in　the　flesh　by　having　reduced　the
chance　of　its　escape。　Thus　public　opinion；　which　we　must　regard　as　the
foundation　of　EQUITY；　rewards　him　with　a　distinct　and　special　right；
which；　becomes　LAW。

It　is　impossible　to　trace　the　origin　of　game…laws　in　Central　Africa；　but
it　is　nevertheless　interesting　to　find　that　such　rights　are　generally
acknowledged；　and　that　large　tracts　of　uninhabited　country　are　possessed
by　individuals　which　are　simply　manorial。　These　rights　are　inherited；
descending　from　father　to　the　eldest　son。

When　the　grass　is　sufficiently　dry　to　burn；　the　whole　thoughts　of　the
community　are　centred　upon　sport；　but　should　a　person　set　fire　to　the
grass　belonging　to　another　proprietor；　he　would　be　at　once　condemned　by
public　opinion；　and　he　would　（if　such　establishments　existed）　be
certainly　expelled　from　his　club。

There　was　no　more　work　undone　in　my　charming　Fatiko　station。　The　roads
from　the　three　gates　were　so　far　completed　as　to　form　respectable
approaches。　The　gardens　had　produced　abundantly；　and　the　troops　were　all
in　excellent　health　and　good　discipline。　On　Mondays　and　Fridays　they
were　exercised　at　light…infantry　drill　for　several　hours。　Every　man　had
his　post；　which　he　occupied　like　lightning　when　the　bugle　suddenly
sounded　the　alarm。　The　〃Forty　Thieves〃　held　the　rock　citadel；　as　they
could　fire　over　the　heads　of　those　in　the　camp　without　fear　of　accident。
The　night　alarm　sounded　unexpectedly；　and　as　I　went　the　rounds；　every
man　was　at　his　quarters　without　a　whisper。　The　cleanliness　and　general
order　of　the　camp　were　perfect。

I　now　associated　with　the　natives　as　a　hunter。　It　was　in　this　capacity
that　I　had　first　won　their　hearts　many　years　ago。　We　were　so　short　of
meat　that　I　began　to　feel　the　necessity　that　first　turned　the　hand　of
savage　man　against　the　beasts　of　the　forest。

The　chase　throughout　the　Shooli　country　was　carried　on　as　a　profession；
and　was　conducted　by　general　rules　under　an　admirable　organization。

The　favourite　method　of　hunting　was　by　means　of　nets。　Every　man　in　the
country　was　provided　with　a　net　of　strong　cord。　This　was　twelve　yards
long；　and　about　eleven　feet　deep；　if　stretched　to　its　maximum。　The
meshes　were　about　six　inches　square。　There　was　no　promiscuous
net…hunting；　but　the　chief　of　the　district　organized　the　chase　in　the
following　manner：

The　big　nogara　was　sounded；　and　the　news　rapidly　spread　that　an　assembly
was　desired　at　the　village　of　their　headman。　At　Fatiko　the　chief　was
Wat…el…Ajoos　Omare。　A　few　hours　after　the　drum　had　summoned　the　headmen；
natives　might　be　seen　approaching　from　all　sides　to　the　appointed　spot
at　which　the　council　was　to　be　held。

After　much　talking；　it　was　at　length　decided　that　the　hunt　should　take
place　upon　the　manors　of　certain　individuals　whose　property　was
contiguous。　The　day　of　the　hunt　was　arranged；　and　the　headmen　of　the
villages　retired　to　make　the　necessary　arrangements。

Should　a　chief　be　hospitably　disposed；　he　would　frequently　give　a　grand
entertainment　prior　to　the　meet。　On　such　occasions　upwards　of　a　thousand
natives　would　arrive　from　different　villages；　in　their　full…dress
costume；　consisting　of　plumes　of　ostrich　feathers；　leopard…skin　mantles；
and　their　faces　painted　a　frightful　colour　with　fresh　cow…dung。　On　these
occasions　a　large　quantity　of　merissa　was　consumed；　and　one　or　two　oxen
were　slaughtered；　according　to　the　wealth　of　the　person　who　gave　the
festivity。

The　sorcerer　was　an　important　personage　at　such　entertainments；　as　it
was　necessary　to　assure　good　luck　by　a　variety　of　magic　ceremonies；　that
would　not　only　protect　the　hunters　from　accidents；　but　would　also　bring
the　wild　animals　direct　into　their　nets。

At　length　the　day　of　the　hunt　had　arrived；　when　several　thousand　people
would　collect　at　a　certain　rendezvous；　about　nine　miles　distant　from
Fatiko；　on　the　Fabbo　road；　which　is　the　best　neighbourhood　for　game。

At　a　little　before　5　A。M。　I　started　on　my　solitary　but　powerful　horse；
〃Jamoos；〃　accompanied　by　Lieutenant　Baker　and　Colonel　Abd…el…Kader；　with
a　few　soldiers　of　〃The　Forty〃。　Gimoro　and　Shooli；　who　were　renowned
hunters；　were　always　with　me　when　shooting。　These　excellent　men　had　an
extraordinary　affection　for　each　other；　and　they　were　well　known　as
inseparablesthe　one　was　rarely　seen　without　the　other。

Descending　the　rocky　terrace　from　the　station　at　Fatiko；　we　were　at　once
in　the　lovely；　park…like　glades；　diversified　by　bold　granite　rocks；
among　which　were　scattered　the　graceful　drooping　acacias　in　clumps　of
dense　foliage。

Crossing　the　clear；　rippling　stream；　we　clambered　up　the　steep　bank　on
the　opposite　side；　and；　after　a　ride　of　about　a　mile　and　a　half；　we
gained　the　water…shed；　and　commenced　a　gradual　descent　towards　the　west。

We　were　now　joined　by　numerous　people；　both　men；　women　and　children；　all
of　whom　were　bent　upon　the　hunt。

The　men　carried　their　nets　and　spears；　the　boys　were　also　armed　with
lighter　weapons；　and　the　very　little　fellows　carried　tiny　lances；　all　of
which　had　been　carefully　sharpened　for　the　expected　game。

The　women　were　in　great　numbers；　and　upon　that　day　the　villages　were
quite　deserted。　Babies　accompanied　their　mothers；　strapped　upon　their
backs　with　leathern　bands；　and　protected　from　the　weather　by　the　usual
tortoise…like　coverings　of　gourd…shells。　Thus　it　may　be　imagined　that
the　Shooli　tribe　were　born　hunters；　as　they　had　accompanied　the　public
hunts　from　their　earliest　infancy。

My　two　boys；　Saat　and　Bellaal；　carried　spare　guns。　These　fine　strong
lads　always　attended　me；　and　they　had　become　useful　gun…bearers。　They
were　both　plucky　fellows。　Little　Amarn　had　been　suffering　for　more　than
twelve　months　from　an　ulcerated　leg；　therefore　he　was　spared　from
unnecessary　fatigue；　and　was　the　pet　boy　at　home。

As　we　proceeded；　the　number　of　natives　increased；　but　there　was　no　noise
or　loud　talking。　Every　one　appeared　thoroughly　to　understand　his　duties。

Having　crossed　the　beautiful　Un…y…Ame　river；　we　entered　the　game
country。　Extensive　prairies；　devoid　of　forest；　now　stretched　before　us
in　graceful　undulations　to　the　base　of　distant　mountains。　The　country
was　watered　by　numerous　clear　streams；　all　of　which　drained　into　the
main　channel　of　the　Un…y…Ame　river；　that　became　a　roaring　torrent
during　the　wet　season。

We　now　left　the　Fabbo　path　and　struck　off　to　our　left　for　several　miles；
over　ground　that　had　been　cleared　by　burning；　which　showed　in　many
directions　the　crimson　fruit　of　the　wild　ginger；　growing　half…exposed
from　the　earth。　This　is　a　leathery；　hard　pod；　about　the　size　of　a
goose…egg；　filled　with　a　semi…transparent　pulp　of　a　subacid　flavour；
with　a　delicious　perfume　between　pine…apple　and　lemon…peel。　It　is　very
juicy　and　refreshing；　and　is　decidedly　the　best　wild　fruit　of　Central
Africa。

The　natives　immediately　collected　a　quantity；　and　we　quickly　pushed
forward　to　the　rendezvous；　where；　upon　arrival；　we　found　a　great　number
of　people　were　collected。

A　line　of　about　a　mile　and　a　half　was　quickly　protected　by　netting；　and
the　natives　were　already　in　position。

Each　man　had　lashed　his　net　to　that　of　his　neighbour　and　supported　it
with　bamboos；　which　were　secured　with　ropes　fastened　to　twisted　grass。
Thus　the　entire　net　resembled　a　fence；　that　would　be　invisible　to　the
game　in　the　high　grass；　until；　when　driven；　they　should　burst　suddenly
upon　it。

The　grass　was　as　dry　as　straw；　and　several　thousand　acres　would　be　fired
up　to　windward；　which　would　compel　the　animals　to　run　before　the　flames；
until　they　reached　the　netting　placed　a　few　paces　in　front；　where　the
high　grass　had　been　purposely　cleared　to　resist　the　advance　of　the　fire。

Before　each　section　of　net；　a　man　was　concealed　both　within　and　without；
behind　a　screen；　simply　formed　of　the　long；　grass　tied　together　at　the
top。

The　rule　of　sport　decided　that　the　proprietor　of　each　section　of　netting
of　twelve　yards　length　would　be　entitled　to　all　game　that　should　be
killed　within　these　limits；　but　that　the　owners　of　the　manors　which
formed　the　hunt　upon　that　day　should　receive　a　hind　leg　from　every
animal　captured。

This　was　fair　play；　but　in　such　hunts　a　breach　of　the　peace　was　of
common　occurrence；　as　a　large　animal　might　charge　the　net　and　receive　a
spear　from　the　owner　of　the　section；　after　which　he　might　break　back；
and　eventually　be　killed　in　the　net　of　another　hunter；　which　would　cause
a　hot　dispute。

The　nets　had　been　arranged　with　perfect　stillness；　and　the　men　having
concealed　themselves；　we　were　placed　in　positions　on　the　extreme　flanks
with　the　rifles。

Rifle…shooting　was　dangerous　work；　as　the　country　was　alive　with　people；
who　were　hidden　in　every　direction。

I　took　my　position　behind　a　white…ant　hill　in　front　of　a　stream　which
rippled　in　a　hollow　about　forty　yards　beneath　me。

Molodi　had　quite　recovered　from　the　wound　he　had　received　on　2nd　August；
and　he　carried　the　basket　that　contained　our　luncheon。　This　consisted　of
three　bottles　of　milk　and　a　few　hard…boiled　eggs；　with　a