Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-22
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4 Z! {,
oOpyright by James Elverson.

NJ
t~@ 1HAT portion Of the bird family, of
which the ostrich is the leading
!. - type, is remarkable for the man.
IGN9sSN, ner in which its different men,
bers are scattered The ostrich
itself spreads over nearly the whole
II the deserts of Africa. The cassowary,
ifith its horny helmet, represents it amid
Ihe luxuriant vegetation of Maladca and
Java. The dinornis was once grand rep
iesentative towering among the ferns of
flew Zealand. The emu is another member
Ie the family, confined to the Australian
ptinent, and the rhea to the southern ex-
lemity of the Western Hemisphere, while
.earer home is the bustard, which, until
3ithin few years. fingered upon the least
jeequented plains of England.
lgNNith the Arabs of the desert the chase
Md capture of the ostrich is the most at
||tactive and aristocratic Of the many diver
Eons in. which they indulge. The first thing
attended to when hunt is contemplated is
be preparation of the horses.
" They are entirely deprived of grass and
pre-. the intended hunt. They are allowed
drink only. once, a>day, and that at sun
kt; at that time they are also washed.
They take long exercises, and great at
|ention is paid to the arrangement of the
arness. The Arab says that. after seven
Eppears, while the chest, the breast and
Lroup remain in flesh.
The animal is then in condition to endure
atigue. The harness used in this hunting
bmuch lighter than that in ordinary use,
\ kpecially the saddle and the stirrups and
fhe martingale is dispensed with.
!. The bride also undergoes many changes,
lie mounting and earhaps being taken away,
Is they are considered too heavy. The bit
hnd frontlet are made of rope, without throat
tand, and the reins, though very strong, are
Extremely light
The time most favorable for ostrich hunt
ing is when there is the greatest heat. The
kigher the temperature, the less is the os-
Frich able to defend itself. The Arab says
3hadow is only the length Of his foot, that
4 the exact time to hunt.
Each horseman is accompanied by a ser
}ant. He is mounted on a camel, carrying
jour goatskins filed with water, and barley
Hates, kettle. in which to cook the food,
knd everything which can possibly be re-
CURED for the repairing of the harness in
ease of accident.
The horseman wears linen vest and trou-
sers, and covers his neck and ears with "a
6ght material, called "havuli," which is tied
With a strip of camels hide.
His feet are protected by sandals and his
legs by light CATERS. He has neither gun
nor pistol, his only. weapon being a. wild oil
with heavy knob at one end.
Before starting off, the hunters ascertain
where large number OF ostriches can be
found. They are generally met with in
places where there is great deal of grass,
hnd rain has recently fallen. The hunters
commence their journey early in the morn
ing After one or two days travelling, when
they have arrived near the desired spot and
they begin to see traces of their game they
halt and camp.
Aftar catt1ing tmo inta1isoa,t slo,,oz
sent out to reconnoiter. They carry a goat
skin at their side and little bread They
walk on until they find the ostriches, which
are generally on elevated places.
As soon as the game is in view, one lies
down to watch and the other returns to CON
vey the information to the camp. The birds
are found in troops, consisting often of as
many as sixty.