viii PREFACE 



any other human being, must be held to account for the 

 startling excursions into the domain of the purely fanciful! 

 Even in the latter instances, however, no departure has 

 been made from the truthfulness of local colouring and 

 accompaniment ; and nothing has been recorded of the 

 ways of wild creatures, human or animal, which is not the 

 actual experience of the author. 



That the writer enjoyed, perhaps, unusual advantages 

 for the pursuit of big game will be evident from a perusal 

 of the chapter, "Reminiscences of Junglypur" "Jungly- 

 pur" being one of the now deserted cantonments of that 

 portion of the Indian Army so long known as the Hydera- 

 bad Contingent. "The old order changeth," and the old 

 Corps in' nomenclature and location, that is to say has 

 lately ceased to exist ; but many still remain who look 

 back with affection to the sporting facilities they enjoyed 

 in its old-fashioned jungly stations. 



That big game is still plentiful enough in many places 

 to be come at by the sportsman of small ways and means 

 may prove surprising to some. But such is, happily, the 

 case. And if the Government of India be persuaded to 

 institute a Game Law to check the wanton destruction that 

 has been going on for so many years, it is certain that it 

 will considerably increase ; thus enabling India to retain 

 at least one of her charms in the Englishman's eyes, and 

 helping in many cases to attract him to the service of 

 the country. 



Part of the contents of these pages has already appeared 

 in a small volume published in India during the preceding 

 year, but so much has since been added, that the present 

 publication, which can hardly be termed a second edition, 

 is now issued under a new title ; and, in its changed aspect, 

 seems to require a fresh introduction. 



A. I. R. G. 



