150 PEOTECTION OF GAME. 



vators are even proHbited from scaring away 

 tlie wild hogs by their cries when they come 

 to commit night ravages in their grain fields ; 

 and, moreover, the Shikarees, falconers, and 

 other followers of the Meer's camp, who gener- 

 ally nmnber some hundred persons, quarter 

 themselves on the neighbouring villages with- 

 out paying for anything. How indeed can 

 these hungry followers pay, when they rarely 

 get paid in anything but promises for their 

 own services ! 



Such is the system that still obtains in Meer 

 All Moorad's territory, and which formerly ob- 

 tained throughout the entire country, where 

 villages were razed and districts depopulated in 

 the vicinity of Shikargahs, because of disturb- 

 ance to the game. This is no mere assertion, 

 for it is on record that Meer Futteh Ali of Hy- 

 derabad sacrificed revenue to the amount of 

 between three and four lakhs of rupees annu- 

 ally, by depopulating a most fertile tract of 

 country, simply because it was a favourite resort 

 of the hog-deer, Kotapacha ; and his youngest 

 brother banished the inhabitants of an ancient 

 village because the crowing of the cocks and 

 grazing of the cattle disturbed the game on his 



