8 RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



plains as the post-tonga a noisy, dilapidated, low, two- 

 wheeled, white-hooded rattle-trap, two seats in front and 

 two behind sways and clatters swiftly from side to side 

 along the smooth white road behind the heaving backs 

 of the emaciated ponies as they hand-gallop dustily 

 northward. The growing light gradually discloses the 

 surrounding stretches of cultivated country covered with 

 tall crops of fast-ripening jowari or giant millet, with here 

 and there a break in the sea of corn giving vista-like 

 views of other and hedgeless fields lying bare from the 

 plough or grown with cotton, linseed, wheat, and other 

 low crops. A few scattered, rounded clumps of trees dot 

 the. distance. Still far away north, but drawing perceptibly 

 nearer, lies our range of hills, now blushing pink and 

 purple in the level rays of early daylight. We pass a 

 string of native bullock-carts, the patient bell-tinkling 

 cattle crawling unguided along the roadway with their 

 drivers muffled up fast asleep behind them. A grey 

 partridge runs swiftly from the roadside, whirrs up, and 

 skims curve-winged away. 



"ffaran, sahib!" ("Antelope, sir!") remarks our taciturn 

 tonga driver, pointing with his stumpy whip. We see 

 a number of fawn-coloured forms, only a hundred yards 

 distant, slowly walking across one of the open glades in 

 the millet ; some gazing hard at us, others nibbling the 

 young wheat. Behind them stands a beautiful black and 

 white creature with long spiral horns the buck. It is 

 our first sight of that numerous and prolific animal, the 

 Indian antelope. Ahead of the post-cart another long 

 line of the graceful creatures goes leaping and bucking 

 across the road in high bouncing bounds. Were it not for 

 the tall crops which now hide them from our view, three 

 or four separate herds might be seen at the same moment 

 on these fertile plains; and the sportsman so minded may 

 pick out the finest buck at his leisure. 



And so the tonga rolls on its way ; past mud-wailed 



