A SUCCESS 123 



I o'clock, after many disappointments, I was 

 raced up a " very hot " trail, and I got a glimpse 

 of a disappearing rhino-back 60 yards off in the 

 grass. I put my bullet into the withers and the 

 rhino fell, practically dead in his tracks. 



The rhino stood 5 feet 6 J inches at the shoulder, 

 but the horn was very much worn and conse- 

 quently very short. 



I returned to camp elated but worn out; too 

 weary to eat, drink, smoke or sleep, with neuritis 

 gnawing at me like a ravening wolf. 



On the following day we returned to our first 

 camp, avoiding a mud road where a rogue elephant 

 was holding up all wayfarers. 



During our rhino-tracking we came across a 

 fine python, an amiable reptile who moved quietly 

 out of our way. 



On the nth I started for the railway, which I 

 reached after a fourteen hours' journey, slept 

 that night in a rest bungalow, and next morning 

 parted with the Deputy-Commissioner, to whom 

 I was greatly indebted, and reached Gauhati on 

 the I2th. 



Whilst waiting at Gauhati I came across a be- 

 lated vernacular paper which informed me that 

 the Viceroy was going to Dehra Dun, " where there 

 will be some cheerful talking." This sounded 

 very much as though His Excellency proposed to 

 read the Riot Act. I afterwards ascertained that 

 " cheerful talking " was native printerese for 

 " cheetal stalking." 



Assam reminded me in part of the Nepal Terai 

 and partly of Southern India. It is very green 

 and should be very fertile, but it is horribly un- 



