REMINISCENCES OF JUNGLYPUR 203 



we enjoyed there may be of interest, I will refer to my 

 shikar diary and refresh the memory. 



In these depreciated times it is worthy of note that a 

 large amount of our sport was enjoyed within a distance 

 of from five to ten miles of the little cantonment. 



There are few localities in any country which, within 

 five miles of one's house, surrounded by all the comforts 

 of civilisation, can boast an extensive deer forest, contain- 

 ing, in addition, panthers, bears and smaller game, and, 

 deeper in, tigers. 



It is the hills that most attract the sportsman in these 

 parts, perhaps, indeed, all the world over. Sport seems 

 to most of us at its best when followed among their 

 heights. It certainly assumes a more poetic, romantic 

 interest under such circumstances, although the plain 

 possesses many a charm of its own. 



Hill shikar entails many arduous difficulties to over- 

 come, in addition to the circumvention of the game itself, 

 besides which, in the relaxing climate of the tropics, it 

 includes enjoyment of a more bracing atmosphere and 

 great change of scene to men whose daily avocations are, 

 for the greater part, carried out 'mid the comparatively 

 uninteresting confines of the level low country. 



Here, in this Ultima Thule, the proximity of the hills 

 is the making of the place. How greatly they would be 

 missed may easily be realised when the low-trailing mon- 

 soon cloud-banks hide them from view and bring the 

 drear and featureless expanse of the surrounding plains 

 into unpleasant prominence. 



Most of our sport here is had by making short expedi- 

 tions into the hills, mostly of a day, or even of a few 

 hours, snatched often between working hours. The 

 method employed is to obtain the services of some of the 

 Korku hill-men as scouts. These are supposed to wander 

 about within a ten to fifteen mile radius of cantonments, 

 collecting and sending in news of any sport worth a visit 



