Page:Ossendowski - The Fire of Desert Folk.djvu/328

312 belonging to the Uled Barka tribes, which is covered with the alfa-grass (Macrochloa tenacissima) that serves not only as fodder for their cattle but provides also fuel and the stock for the manufacture of paper in some of the mills of France and Spain. As we rode through the country, we saw numerous herds of sheep grazing on the prairies and also flushed many flocks of birds, among others some bustards (Otis tarda and Otis houbara), which rose near by and flew majestically away, while we hurriedly brought out our guns and threw them together to be ready for that next flock which never appeared within range.

"We are approaching Berguent and shall there find Colonel Pariel, who has come north to meet me here and distribute the prizes for the best horses the natives bring in for this contest," said Monsieur de Vitasse.

This announcement came as a very delightful surprise to us and was immediately supplemented by the dramatic and unusual reception which we were given as we approached the town. While we were still some distance out, we were met by a small detachment of spahis who raced toward the car like a flock of birds coming down the wind, suddenly changed their character, became motionless in the mold of a military rank and presented arms. After the swords had gleamed in the sun and a shout of welcome had gone up, the chief shortened his rein so that his steed reared high on its hind legs, uttered a word of command that threw the group once more into liquid mobility and then dashed in front of the car with two supporting spahis, while the others surrounded us as a flock of gulls convoys a ship at sea.