practise the art of catching birds and various animals; another
description of them live by destroying tigers.




METHOD OF CATCHING BIRDS.


Those who catch birds equip themselves with a framework of split
bamboos, resembling the frame of a paper kite, the shape of the top of a
coffin, and the height of a man, to which green bushes are fastened,
leaving two loop-holes to see through, and one lower down for their rod
to be inserted through. This framework, which is very light, they fasten
before them when they are in the act of catching birds, by which means
they have both hands at liberty, and are completely concealed from the
view of the birds. The rod which they use is about twenty-four feet
long, resembling a fishing-rod, the parts of which are inserted within
one another, and the whole contained in a walking-stick.

They also carry with them horse-hair nooses of different sizes and
strength, which they fasten to the rod: likewise bird-lime, and a
variety of calls for the different kinds of birds, with which they
imitate them to the greatest nicety. They take with them likewise two
lines to which horse-hair nooses are attached for catching larger birds,
and a bag or net to carry their game.

Thus equipped, they sally forth, and as they proceed through the
different covers, they use calls for such birds as generally resort
there, which from constant practice is well known to them, and if any