The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-06-21
Hunting with Falcons in the Deser

hunting with Falcons in the Desert.
In our second days journey we met
our two falconers, who had been sent
on in advance to find and mark the
game. Now for hunt with the fall
cons! All, royal sport of kings, moth
ing can compare with it! In front,
scanning every bush-side, the falcon
ers, each with one bird on his gaunt-
leted left hand, and another perched
on his turban. Both hawks are hood
ed and jessed exactly as in the old
knightly days. We make up a party
of eight OF ten cavaliers, while the rear
is brought up by two or three servants
armed with guns for defense as well
as offense against the eagles, who some
times pounce on the falcons. Sudden
ly rises the cry ''Wah!" from one of
the falconers. as hare darts from its
form. Up scars one falcon unhooded,
while the other is drawn from its un-
certain perch on the head of the Arab
to join the others. We rein in our i'm
patient horses that bound and snort to
join the chase, for it is imperative to
keep behind the faconefs, so as not to
interfere with the birds that are now
dashing at the head of the hare, which
doubles, and marvellously, considering
its headfong flight, evades the beaks of
its enemies. The chase is now at its
height; every one is trying to be in the
first flight; the sunlight plays on the
rich dresses, the bright arms, the CLOS
sy coats of the superb horses, whose
elasticity of movement and aristocrat-
lc gait imprint on my mind a scene un-
rivalled. Onward hurries the hare as
she bravely runs for her life, in and
out of the high .hillocks of sand tufted
with brush, which our horses take, one
after the other, withouta stumble Urg-
ed on by the cries of the falconer.
hawk tiercely swoops down again. All,
she is touched by the remorseless beak,
and rolls over and over, showing her
white furred belly! IT'S nothing, she
regains her footing. and darts onward
once more. / gladly give rein to my
Arab. the momentary check having
brought him on his launches, as with
arched neck and starting veins he
erunches the bit with rage / find the
heat now terrific; the hare is still tray
elling with seemingly undiminished
speed. The two falcons now swoop
from opposite directions; they meet
almost above the head of the hare; one
falls with broken neck, amid frenzied
cries from the falconer In a moment
a fresh bird is unhooded and cast off,
and at the first dash at the now ex-
hausted hare rolls her over dead. |
dismounted with the rest, men and
beasts sweltering and foaming; the fall
coners rehooded their hawks, which
had settled on the carcass, and made
preparations to feed them with the en-
trails mixed with tufts of hair, which
was said to assist digestion. Our at
tandants now produced some kid and
dried dates, which, washed down with
water and touch of absinthe, formed
our meal. Getting into as much shad-
ow as the hillocks afforded, and thus
gaining some relief from the piercing
rays of the sun, we lit our pipes and
cigarettes. while pleasant languor
overlook us, followed by profuse
perspiration. An Arab began to play
on flute an air of a barbaric yet me-
lodious character, the notes being Of
ten sustained for long time, and pro-
ducing most delicious soothing effect.
After our siesta we commenced our af-
ternoon march, with very little change
in the character of the desert, but late
in the day we entered into superb
oasis, verdant and refreshing.-F. p
Sangasinetti, IN Harper's Magazine.