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
birds answer their call they prepare accordingly for catching them;
supposing it to be a bevy of quail, they continue calling them, until
they get quite close; they then arm the top of their rod with a feather
smeared with bird-lime, and pass it through the loop-hole in their
frame of ambush, and to which they continue adding other parts, until
they have five or six out, which they use with great dexterity, and
touch one of the quail with the feather, which adheres to them; they
then withdraw the rod, arm it again, and touch three or four more in the
same manner before they attempt to secure any of them.
In this way they catch all sorts of small birds not much larger than
quail, on the ground and in trees. If a brown or black partridge answers
their call, instead of bird-lime, they fasten a horse-hair noose to the
top of their rod, and when they are close to the birds, they keep
dipping the top of their rod with considerable skill until they fasten
the noose on one of their necks; they then draw him in, and go on
catching others in the same way. It is surprising to see with what cool
perseverance they proceed. In a similar manner they catch all kinds of
birds, nearly the size of partridges.