Ce livre historique peut contenir de nombreuses coquilles et du texte manquant. Les acheteurs peuvent generalement telecharger une copie gratuite scannee du livre original (sans les coquilles) aupres de l'editeur. Non reference. Non illustre. 1880 edition. Extrait: ...I just caught sight of "Grande Chasse," in tremendous letters, and drew near with alacrity. The bill ran thus: "Bio Shoot" (free translation for above title) "at coots, on Wednesday, the--November, over the 'broad' of--. Price of admission 5 francs. Millions of coots are on the broad. The big shoot to take place, weather permitting, &c... Apply to the lessee of the fishing, Mr. de la Maereuse, a la Grenoillicre, near Montpellier, &c..." Naturally enough, at once I thought it would be very great fun, but how the thing was to be managed I had not the slightest idea. We, however, went back directly to our hotel, and there the whole affair was fully explained to us. It appears that this great shoot takes place once or twice (but generally only once) a year, over every one of the large ponds or lakes abounding in the neighbourhood, where the birds choose to congregate by tens of thousands. For the occasion all available boats are mustered, and the army of flat-bottomed pants which then turns up on the scene of action is something enormous. Of course, that is a great day for the boatmen, who generally make their own terms. It is usual to have two oarsmen for each punt, and only one shooter, who sits in the stern sheets. The terms vary, but it can safely be said that half a sovereign will cover the whole expense for the day. "You will readily understand," the hotel keeper told us, "that a great deal depends on the craft one gets, and the boatmen that are engaged; and, if you are inclined to join in the fun, I would advise you to lose no time, but go at once and secure all you want, otherwise you might find yourself condemned to a miserable old tub, or else a negafol." "What is a negafol V...