CANTO XXIX.

Through an almost interminable cavern the explorer now comes out into a vast mountainous region called the “Devil’s Hunting Ground.”

Corrupt men in public office, who combined and threw the blame of their guilt on one man are found in this region transformed into wild animals, for the amusement of Satan’s sharp-shooting devils.

Though they escaped public abuse on earth and prided themselves on not being “found out,” it is different in Hell.

Here they are scapegoats themselves, and are hunted and shot by Demons armed with blunderbusses that fire five pounds of salt with one revolution of a wheel trigger.

HUNTING SCAPEGOATS.