Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-02-21

having been seen In their country before.
They invited me TO accompany them
rs long us cared TO do so and promised
me rare sport In return for riding back
and forth over smooth stretch OF
gravel several times on my wheel for
their amusement.
Their falcons. observed. instead OF
boing hooded In the way practised by Eu-
ropean falconers. had their eyes blinded
In manner that impressed me as be-
ing cruel. Small holes had been bored
In the eyelids snd threads OF silk fas-
toned therein. The threads we're passed
over the top OF the falcons head and
tied so that he could not open his eyes.
When tho European falconer desired 70
make flight he used TO remove the
hood; the Koordish or Persian sports
man simply loosens tho silk threads.
Thus the bird Is permitted TO open his
eyes, and he files after the game with
the little silk threads streaming from
his pierced eyelids.
On all the plains Of Persia nre miles
and miles OF ancient, underground
water-ditches called kdnadts. The
water Is conducted along these sub
terranean passage-ways from lar
of mountain streams and springs
to the cities on the plains, chiefly
10 avoid the waste by evapora-
tion and absorption that would occur
in surface bitches in a hot desert coun-
try. The course OF such waterways
can always be traced by mounds OF
earth above the surface. which repre-
sent tho excavations from perpendicu-
lar shafts, at tho bottom OF which the
crystal water can be seen coursing
along toward its destination. The
shafts are man-holes for the purpose OF
readily clearing out the channel of the
Kdnadts
The Kanaais are tho resort OF hoclss
OF wild pigeons. that descend the shafts
in search OF watar, us well as TO find q
cool retreat from the heat Of the Per-
sian sun. II was In quest Of pigeons
thus invading tho Kanaats that the
Koordish falconers were turning their
hores heads toward long line oil
mounds when Joined their company.
Excitement ran high as we ap-
proaohcd the Kandats, for we had al
rendy seen pigeons ascending and de-
sconding the shafts in the distance.
When we arrived near enough, two re-
tainers were sent on In advance to
scare the pigeons out OF their hiding
places. This they would do by throw
ing stones down the shafts. The shaftt
we're but one hundred yards apart, and
when the fdrrdshes threw stones and
shouted down tho shaft, II there were
any pigeons there they would hutter
along the water-tunnel and fly up the
next one.
Wehad not been at the Rand1ts above
Ave minutes when up few a brace o.
pigeons from a shaft ebout a hundred
and fifty yards away. As the pigeons
rose in the air. pair Of falcons, whose
eyes had already been united, were
turned loose after them. With swift
eager fight they gave chase and In
short time we're winglng their way II
close, hot pursuit.. The pigeons ap
poared to become bewlldered with ter
ror, and instead Of Fastening nway II
straight rapid flight, circled arount
and mounted In short. eccentric curves
Now mounting higher, now dlvini
swiftly downward. ilitting hither ant
thither, US though in their terror the,
fancied themselves surrounded on al
sides with hawks Ia vcngeful pursuit
the pigeons trioi to cludc their fhlcor
foes. Like evil spirits dogging theil
every movement, however, the eage'
birds Of prey pursued their game
Sometimes falcon would seom to u
10 have secured his victim, but tn
next moment would find the pigeol
again with many q yard OF blue SIX
between him and his enemy, and IN
falcon htill 10 hot shase aftef hin