174 Hunting Eftabltjhment ofTippoo Sultaun. 



furrikas, (independent officers, not belonging to any corps,) 

 wh:> were conltantlv attached to the fultaun's perfon, and 

 remained near him on all occafions, both at the palace and 

 in the field. Very little (late was obferved, and no perfons 

 were prefent but thole who received particular invitations. 

 The fuliaun generally reached the rumua about fix o'clock* 

 ami then immediately the hunt took place as follows: 



Each cheta was carried on a light cart, drawn by two bul- 

 locks regularly trained for the purpofe. The huntiman of 

 each cheta was feated on his refpecYive cart, and the other 

 attendants ran clofe to it on foot. The carls followed each 

 other in regular fuccefiion, the meer (hikar conducting the 

 leading cart. The cheta was hood-winked, and all thefpec- 

 tatnrs and fportfmen kept clofe to the carts, and endeavoured 

 to preferve filence in order not to alarm the game. 



The huntimen followed any direction acrofs the country 

 which they thought proper. On difcovering a herd of deer, 

 thev proceeded with more caution, and endeavoured to take 

 up fnch a pofition as mould oblige the antelope, when chafed, 

 to rim uphill, or over broken ground; in either of which 

 cafes, the probability of fuccels is much in favour of the 

 cheta. When they arrive within four or five hundred yards 

 of the game, the men on foot turned the cheta's head towards 

 the antelope, uncovered the cheta's eyes, and then let him 

 loofe. ■» 



The great aim of the cheta is to place himfelf exactly be- 

 hind his prcv ; and the fkill and caution he difplays in at- 

 taining his object, conftitutes one of the principal beauties of 

 this divcriion. The cheta continues to be very cautious till 

 he is within two hundred yards of the antelope ; he then 

 gets bolder, begins to run, and follows his prey with the 

 greateft rapidity for about three or four hundred yards, when 

 he is either fuccefsful, or gives up the chafe. In the latter 

 cafe, he generally moves about (lowly, and prowling, till Ins 

 keener comes up : the chela then fu tiers himfelf to be hood- 

 winked, and conveyed back to the cart. If the cheta has 

 been fuccefsful, after feizing the antelope, he holds it by the 

 neck with his mouth, in iuch a manner as not to hurt it, 

 and keeps the prey down on the ground in this pofition until 

 the keeper arrives : he is then hoodwinked ; the throat of the 

 antelope is cut, and a leg or two given to the cheta as his 

 reward ;. after which he is carried oack, without any diffi- 

 culty^ to the cart. If it mould be wilhed, however, the an- 

 telope may be taken alive * from under the cheta, who, 



* This U feldoai pra&ifed* and requires management and donfitiefice ill 



when 



