40 DIARY OF A SPORTSMAN NATURALIST 



members of the party. The tiffin, hot and cold, with a 

 curry such as one can only get in the East, was a regal 

 meal, compared with the few sandwiches which formed 

 my usual midday fare when out in the jungles away from 

 camp, and was a repast I did full justice to. 



What merry parties those were, even with the unmerciful 

 chaff, always dealt out to the youngest griffin of the Station, 

 " to lick him into shape, you know," as the elders put it. 

 And it was a fiery furnace which certainly accomplished 

 the end in view so far as that was possible. 



The shikaris came up and reported that one of the bears 

 said to have been wounded had been hit, but they could 

 find no blood in the other case. They also intimated that 

 it was time to commence proceedings again. By then 

 most of the party were in a semi-drowsy condition, save the 

 more energetic of the youngsters, who were fanning the 

 girls with palm leaves. 



The machans were again apportioned. The fiat went 

 forth ! All ladies were to either go with their respective 

 husbands or fathers or with a senior male member of the 

 party. The younger members of the party protested 

 vigorously and the girls looked their disapproval. But 

 apparently two leopards had been reported on the hill, and 

 as it was quite likely that one or both might come out in 

 the beat, no risks with excitable youngsters were to be 

 taken ! 



Gloom settled over the younger members as, with elaborate 

 politeness, they helped the elder ladies and men to collect 

 their belongings and set off for the machans. I had No. 4 

 given me. Nos. 3 and 5 were large roomy ones in each of 

 which a lady was to go, elderly to the left, young one to 

 the right. 



As there was a wounded bear afoot the beaters were to 

 proceed out into the plain to beat a small rocky islet about 

 half a mile from the hill to which one or other of the bears 

 might have gone. This would make a longer beat of it, 

 and should, with good fortune, send at least five bears 

 back to the machans. 



I had a most entertaining afternoon in that machan. 

 D. and his wife with the other elderly, rather voluble lady, 

 who, on hearing about the leopards, said she would only go 

 with D., occupied No. 3 to my left, whilst No. 5 was 

 tenanted by one of the fair spins and an elderly bachelor. 



