2-996-080 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Breakfast-hunting at Roccapalumba, a Sicilian village - from a sketch by our special artist, 1860. 'Having heard...that there was absolutely nothing to be obtained...in the shape of eatables...[it was decided] that a writ of habeas corpus be at once issued against all fat pullets and capons...and that, if necessary, arms should be used in the capture...It would seem...from the apparently reckless firing of our Artist, that other than feathered bipeds ran risk of being shot on this marauding expedition; although, judging from the trophies strung to his girdle and the victims falling fast around him, he is as good at his pistol as at his pencil...How far the Roccapalumbians approved of this lawless onslaught on their poultry is a matter into which we will not enter. Their looks of wild terror and gestures of imploring entreaty to abstain show that they have little hope of being paid...It may be that they were recompensed...though no mention is made of the fact by our Correspondent. We fear that the saying "Everything is fair in love and war" held too strong dominion over the minds of the marauders for them even to think of doing this act of common honesty. Besides, were they not engaged in freeing the inhabitants from a grinding tyranny?' From "Illustrated London News", 1860.