The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-06
SHOOTING IN NILE DELTA
Driving Waterfowl In Boat and Killing
Them BY Thousands.

Bordering the coast of Egypt in the
broad alluvial delta are several inland
lakes, three at least of these being each
as large as a good sized English county.
In very few parts are they more than
six feet deep. the average depth being
about four feet. These lakes are all salt
to a greater or less degree. but abound
In fish of various species and afford plen-
teous keep for the vast fiocks of wild
fowl which visit them in winter
During the autumn months. from Sep
TENDER onward, these birds include sew
eral varieties of duck, widgeon and teal,
also enormous quantities of large black
coot as we'll a fair number of wild
geese. All these congregate on the lakes.
The natives hold organized parties
throughout the winter to shoot these wild
fowl. Each party is called a sed
The plan of campaign at sed is most
novel and remarkable, says P. H Lamb in
the London Field, and it is in the number
of guns moro than the sum total OF the
bag that the record consists On the
given morning at sunrise some twenty
natives, all armed with guns, breech or
muzzle leaders, meet at some prearranged
place on the bank of the lake. The small
party of Europeans. of which l have
more than once been a member, turn up in
small punts, each capable of accommodate
Ing two guns. Each punt is ably piloted
by fellah, who pushes from behind as
he wades along in the water. There are
usually few natives out in similar craft,
but these they navigate by means of thin
bamboo rods, which they work, one in
each hand.
When all are ready this huge regiment
spreads out in the form of long chain
across an arm of the lake. There is no
attempt to keep at regular spaced dis
tances of. say. fifty yards. for if this
were done the guns would often sweep a
stretch of nearly six miles. This, however,
Is quite unnecessary, for every man has,
as a rule, as much shooting he can
well manage when the guns are much
more concentrated. The awful army
covers width of about two miles, and
the drive is usually about three miles
long, occupying some four hours. During
this time firing is practically continuous.
The natives do not mind the water in
the least, but wade along quite comfort
ably for hours together, in water vary
ing in depth from the knees to the chest.
What is more, they manage under these
conditions to keep their cartridges or
powder dry, and those with muzzle load
ers seem to experience but little difficulty.
Needless to say these do not fire
less there is every probability of an adj
dltion to the bag; but those with car
tridges are surprisingly lavish with them.
and do not hesitate to take very sporty
shots. Here one can see shooting of ev-
cry class.
The drive consists in merely advancing
in line down the selected arm of the
lake. All along in front the surface of
the lake is seen black with wildfowl. They
do not seem to trouble themselves much,
but slowly retreat the line advances.
Presently, however, they begin to realize
that they are being enclosed. and then
they rise in small detachments They
might now easily escape by making a.
circuit over the land for the banks are
as rule quite unguarded; but this they
seldom attempt to do.
They seem. like the stag and the otter.s
TO rely mainly upon the water for safety
"a sorry safeguard, indeed. Neither do
they seem to learn wisdom by experience,
for the natives have a shoot of the kind
twice weekly, and yet when pressed the
birds always rise and come straight back
over the guns. AS soon as the flight COM
mences an awful bombardment follows.
Enormous charges of black powder de-
tomato on every side and the whole
heaven resounds. The noise of this ter
rifle cannonade can be heard distinctly at
distance of four miles through the
clear air. The barrels of ones gun soon
become uncomfortably hot. The whole at
mosphere stinks of powder. Birds are seen
dropping in all directions, while spent shot
rattles on the water around one.
Though the number of guns is quite
phenomenal, the bag also is not inconsid-
crate, amounting. as it usually does, to
between 1000 and 5000 birds. all told The
coot as well as the ducks afford very good
eating. and those which the natives do
not require for their own use they can
readily sell at from Sd. to Cd. each.