It is undoubtedly very picturesque to read of knights riding out with hawk on fist, and knight's lady on fiery jennet, with merlin clasping her embroidered glove, the look of the thing, the pomp of its apparatus, and the antique costume impart a kind of black-letter interest to the good old sport; there was excitement, also, in witnessing the combined working of horses, hawks, and hounds, but we doubt if of the kind well suited to "ladye fair." The effect upon the temper of the Ameers of Scinde appears to have been anything but agreeable. A sparrow-hawk had been thrown at a pigeon.
Unfortunately, however, for the hawk and my friend's temper, she had not been "sharp set" that morning. This at once became apparent from her manœuvres. Instead of grappling with the quarry, she "checked" first at one bird, then at the other, amused herself with following them on the wing, and lastly, when tired of the unprofitable exercise, she "raked off," and retiring to one of the Peepul branches, took up a position there with such firmness of purpose that all the falconer's "Ao Bachelis" and violent swingings of the lure were unavailing to dislodge her.
The Ameer's brow clouded: certain angry flashes escaped his eyes, and low growlings threatened an approaching storm. For a Beloch to make such a goose of himself! Every one stole furtive glances at the blunderer, the lean nephew; and even he, despite his habitual surliness of demeanour, could not help showing in looks and manner that conscience was stirring up uncomfortable sensations within him.
"Give me the bow," shouted the Ameer in his fury, "and let me do for that brother-in-law of a bit of carrion at once."
The Bazdar wishing, but not daring to deprecate such an atrocious act of sacrilege as the shooting of a hawk, slowly handed a polished horn kaman to his master, and a tako or blunt arrow shod with a bit of horn. The Scindians are particularly expert at the use of this weapon; they throw the missile transversely so as to strike with the side, and when a large covey is the mark aimed at, they sometimes bring down as many as three or four birds with a pair of shafts. So it happened that the Shikrah, who was quietly "mantling" upon a clear branch in a nice sunny place, had the life summarily knocked out of her by the Ameer's tako.
Falconry, as a partial sport, is, however, well worthy of preservation, more so than the situation of a grand falconer without falcons. The enclosed state of our country makes it objectionable for the peregrine, which cannot be easily followed; but the goshawk can be followed at a hand-canter, and Mr. Barker tells us that there is at the Zoological Gardens a precious and beautiful specimen of the Australian goshawk, which is perfectly white, with eyes the colour of bright rubies, and which he thinks would, from its large hands and small body, be swifter in flight, and, on the whole, a more efficient bird than our goshawk. "It forms," says Mr. Barker, "in my opinion, the beau-ideal of perfection in a hawk. I consider it worthy of a princely hand, and should be happy to see his Royal Highness Prince Albert patronise the training of this bird to afford amusement to our young Prince of Wales."
