The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-07-09
SHOOTING IN NILE DELTA.
Driving Waterfowl in Boat and
Killing Them by Thousands.

Bordering the coast of Egypt, in the
broad alluvial delta, says the London
Field, are several inland axes, three at
least of these being each ---s 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 10 a greater or
less degree, but abound in fish of various
species and afford plenteous keep for the
vast flocks of wild fowl which visit them
in winter.
During the autumn months, from Sep
TENDER onward, these birds include several
varieties of duck, widgeon and teal, also
enormous quantities of large black coot as
well as fair number of wild geese. All
these congregate on the lakes. The ma
tives hold organized parties throughout
the winter to shoot these wild fowl. Each
party is called a "sed."
The plan of campaign at a sed Is most
novel and remarkable, and 1t is in the
number of guns more than the sum total
of the bag that the record consists. On
the given morning at sunrise, some TWEEN
ty natives. all arm ed with guns. breech or
muZzle leaders, meet at some prearranged
place on the bank OF the lake. The small
party of Europeans, Of which | 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 a 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 a long chain
across ali arm of the lake There is no at
tempt to keep at regular spaced distances
of. say. fifty yards, for If this were done
the guns would often sweep stretch of
nearly six miles. This, however, is quite
unnecessary, for every man has, as rule,
as much shooting as he can well manage
when the guns are much more cOncen-
trated. The awful army covers a 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 varying
in depth from the knees to the chest.
What is more, they manage, under these
conditions, to keep their cartridges of
powder dry and those with muzzle-load-
ers seem to experience but little difficulty
Needless to say, these do not fire unless
there is every probability of an addition
to the bag; but those with cartridges are
surprisingly lavish with them, and do not
hesitate to take very sporty shots. Hence
one can see shooting of every class.
The drive consists III merely advancing
in line down the selected arm of the lake.
All along in front the surface of the lake
is seen black with wild fowl They do not
seem to trouble themselves much, but
slowly retreat as the line advances. Pres
emily. however. they begin to realize that
they are oeing Enclosed, and then they
rise in small attachments. They might
now easily escape by making a circuit
over the land. for the banks are as a rule,
quite unguarded; but this they seldom
attempt to do.
They seem. like the stag and otter, 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 get when pressed the birds
always rise and come stranght back over
the guns AS soon as the flight COM
mences an awful bombardment follows
Enormous charges of black powder deto-
nate on eVerv side. and the whole heaven
resounds The noise OF this terrific can
nonade can be heard distinctly at a dis
lance of four niles through the clear air
The barrels of ones gun soon become I'M
comfortably hot. The whole atmosphere
stinks of powder. Birds are seen drop
ping in all directions while spent shot rat
Ties on the water around one.
Though the number of guns is quite
phenomenal, the bag also is not unconsid-
cradle amounting. 2s ii usually does. to
between 1900 and 5000 birds all told. The
coot as we'll as the ducks afford very good
eatirg, and those which the natives do not
require for their own use they can readily
sell from Sd to Sd each.