ad ceased,
as a Montenegrian considers it quite etiquette to discharge his
heavy-loaded piece any where in the immediate vicinity of the head, so
long as the muzzle just clears the honoured individual. In a few
minutes we were gliding down the beautiful stream. The absence of all
wild animals is peculiarly observable in the mountains. A woodcock or
red-legged partridge are occasionally seen; but few quadrupeds are met
with, and the larger and fiercer kinds are rarely known to occur. This
deficiency, however, in the general zoology, is amply compensated by
the birds which frequent the Fiumara river. As we proceeded, muffled
up in the bottom of the boat, for it was very cold, the fitful
exertions of our warlike crew disturbed quantities of aquatic birds.
The river widened greatly, the mountain banks disappearing, till at
length the shores became obscure in the distance, and thus it
imperceptibly enters and forms the lake of Scutari. Cormorants and
ducks passed over in flocks; noble herons got up screaming on every
side. One of these was the milk-white aigrette; superior in size to
the common heron. The kingfishers had a beautiful appearance. I never
saw this bird elsewhere in such multitudes. I did not request any of
my crew to try their skill, as I had had enough of firing for the time
being, nor did I take a fancy to do so myself. The large bore and
light metal of their arms, added to the weight of the charge, spoke of
a recoil any thing but pleasing, and which I hear usually takes place.
Next day, however, I asked the captain of the boat to show me a shot;
he took aim at a diver which kept appearing a-head; he fired when
nothing but the neck was visible above water, and the ball completely
divided it, the head barely hanging by a bit of skin. The bird was
distant about fifty yards, and the boat moving, while he stood on the
bow. At some longer shots he was not so successful. We passed a
village at a small distance, and lay on our oars to hear the news.
Most of the people were absent; but one, a great man, was seated on
the hut-top, with a few idlers round him. This was the chief president
of the senate--the speaker of the house, in short; and undoubtedly, if
stentorian lungs are of any use for that office in a Montenegrian
parliament, he was most amply qualified. For twenty minutes this
eminent man conversed with us--the distance at first being about a
quarter of a mile, and probably it might be three miles or more befo