CHAPTER XIV 



BUFFALO AND SOME REGRETS 



" The very poignancy of such regrets 

 With Time's kind touch shall be their anodyne ; 

 More potent than ' the herb of Mandragore,' 

 The surgeon's kindly drug relieving pain, 

 ' Syrup of Poppies,' or than pillowed hops 

 To ease the mind of every discontent 

 And call it to the scenes of happy days." 



Thanks to an introduction from The Commis- 

 sioner Mr. B., the ruler of a certain Indian state 

 very kindly gave me leave to shoot one buffalo 

 in his territory : a permission I much valued, as 

 this fine and rare animal is, to my mind, one of 

 the chief prizes of all Indian sport. 



To reach our ground we had a seven days 

 march down a good country road with heavy 

 jungles throughout its length on either side. 



I had been lent an elephant, and used to send 

 my servants and breakfast on with it while I 

 walked, and the carts with all the kit would 

 arrive some hours later. By this method I got 

 twelve or fifteen miles daily exercise, and my 

 servants arrived fresh. 



The secret of comfortable marching in India, 

 especially if sport is not anticipated immediately 

 on arrival at the far end, is to reach camp having 



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