86 A SPORTSMAN'S EDEN. 



wonderfully polyglot vocabulary of hunting terms, 

 which at critical moments are apt to get mixed. 

 The patois of Switzerland, Little Russian, Lesghin 

 Tartar, German, Georgian, French, Chinook, I 

 have had to converse in all in turn ; but I find 

 that in emergencies I always revert to Russian, 

 and for a moment feel dazed at the Indians' 

 stupidity in not understanding me. 



At about 9.30 we took to the hills, electing 

 the right-hand side of the valley as we were in- 

 formed that Tintinamous Whisht knew the other 

 side best, and meant to take the Admiral's party 

 in there. Though first on the ground, I hardly 

 thought it fair to take my pick, as the other 

 party had already made their arrangements ; and 

 perhaps I may here be allowed to say that I 

 think it would be an excellent thing if there 

 were some code of rules for the conduct of men 

 who shoot big game all over the world, as bind- 

 ing amongst Englishmen and gentlemen as the 

 rules which govern the actions of the same class 

 in India. There I believe I am right in saying 

 that no man would dream of intruding on the 

 valley occupied by another party without obtain- 

 ing permission from the first-comers. Of course, 

 where there are no such rules, ' Devil take the 

 hindmost !' becomes everyone's motto, and operates 

 injuriously to all. 



