PREPAUATIOXS FOR DErAETUliE. 15 descended, and so swallowed it, as nature had only bestowed on him an apology for a tongue (tliis performance especially delighted his Highness of Wurtemberg), but who did not, however, des[»ise frogs or lizards, and every morning at daybreak aroused us by his cry of "Hum! Hum!" till we replied to it by "Hans;" also two king-cranes (Gornu, grue royale, Grus Pavonia /,.), a snake-devouring secretary, with handsome eagle's head, long tail, and heron-like legs ; curious wild ducks, geese, and other much prized birds, some having been shot unable to fly, but others were perfectly cured of their wounds by my brother, who was most dexterous with his pincers, extracting with them the shot pellets, and not sehlom making a perfect cure. Under these circumstances, equally pleasant and flattering was the visit of the Chasnadar, who came with the Princess's request that our birds might be confided to her care during our absence. Many a time before now had this lady, with her female slaves and eunuchs, been in our garden,—at such times, as a matter of course, we had to retire into our innermost apartment, — to visit our plants and flowers, that reminded her of Cairo ; and much did it please her when requested to pluck or take with her such as pleased her, as the Pascha's great garden produced nothing equal to them, no attempts having been made there to raise flowers from seeds, and all I had having been grown from seed I had brought with me from Cairo. In this way she knew of our beasts and birds, and felt that they might help her to pass her time, as she, a well-informed woman, suffered much from the fearful ennui of comfortless Cliartuni, and even advised my brother to leave it, and go with letters of recommendation, and also her petitions to her father, Mahomed Ali, at Cairo, she not daring to place so dangerous a trust in any one else, for she did not live on the best footing with the ob>tinate head-strong Pascha. When the Treasurer asked how the bird with the horn was called, I answered, Abdallah Effendi, and this was the name of the Vakul or deputy of tiie Pascha, a good-humoured Turk, with a splendid nose, but a mere tool of his master's. As our pet Hans now went to the harem under the name oi" Abdallah Eflendi, it became a habit at the Treasurer's divan, when any one asked wliere Abdallaii Effendi was, to reply, "Hue fi Charim belal Effendi," which might be taken either in jest or earnest by the asker.