r82 DIARY OF A SPORTSMAN NATURALIST 



and beyond the jungle — scattered trees interspersed with 

 masses of the tall tiger grass. This stretched for half a mile 

 to a white dense I'ne of mist which hung above and pro- 

 claimed the presL. e of the river. Above the mist the 

 upper part of the hills, the outer spurs of the Himalaya 

 distant about six miles or so, stood up dark green and blue, 

 their tops now gilding under the rays of the rising sun. 



Away to the north the higher ranges stood out sharp and 

 clear, their bases and lower ridges enveloped in a dense 

 white pall of vapour. 



The whole camp was astir and as we discussed our meal 

 the confused medley of sounds which I knew so weU and 

 which I had not heard for so long rose on the still air. 

 Mahouts' boys getting the elephants ready, syces grooming 

 the ponies, peons getting out the rifles and guns and rods, 

 whilst the servants fussed about putting the final touches 

 to the tiffin-baskets, for we were to be away all day. And 

 each and every sound was music to ears which had listened 

 long for the well-remembered bustle. 



The elephants lounged up to the verandah in their slow, 

 lazy, silent fashion. Even they seemed alert, however, for 

 they had done nothing but eat their heads off during the 

 past three m.onths and they knew as well as the rest of us 

 that this was the beginning of business once again. They 

 knelt down and we climped into the howdahs already 

 packed with our paraphernalia for the day's outing. Slowly 

 rising to their feet the great beasts left the compound and 

 we were straightway in the jungle. 



Our destination was a good reach of the river some five 

 miles away, where we hoped to have some sport with the 

 mahseer, now on their way down-stream from the higher 

 shallow waters where they had spawned. Once in the 

 jungle the two elephants separated, we having previously 

 arranged to meet at the rendezvous. My friend took a 

 circuitous route as he had a place to inspect. I was out 

 chiefly for pleasure and my mahout had instructions to 

 proceed straight through the forest and high grass areas for 

 the distant reach. 



How distinctly the memory of that morning comes back 

 to me. The dense high jungle which had reached its 

 culmination of growth at the end of the rains, the intricate 

 tangle of matted shrubs and creepers forming the under- 

 growth of the high sal forest, the glorious fresh greenness 



