296 RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



hundreds of the latter being shot without distinction as to 

 sex or age. 



Such practices, however, have more light let in on them 

 nowadays, so we find in consequence that little havoc of 

 this sort is played with game in the present time. 



In the vicinity of colonies of an inferior class of Indo- 

 European, we find a considerable amount of promiscuous 

 and harmful shooting indulged in ; but it is seldom that 

 these depredations extend further than antelope, pig, etc., 

 for it is difficult for people of this kidney to get into forests 

 to any large extent, or wander far from the railway. 



It should be remembered that the question of game- 

 destruction at present under discussion is that of India 

 generally, and is not intended to apply to any more or less 

 confined and favoured parts such as Kashmir where 

 until a recent date the European sportsman has indeed 

 been a recognisable factor in the diminution of game. 



Taking the country as a whole, and speaking generally, 

 therefore, it appears to be a well-based assumption that 

 the British sportsman so few in comparison with the 

 wide stretches of game-producing country is not to an 

 appreciable extent to blame for the marked falling off in 

 the numbers of its fauna. 



On the other hand, in whichever direction we turn, and 

 however we regard the question, there is abundant evi- 

 dence that the root of the evil lies in the depredations of 

 native shikaris trappers, snarers, and shooters, but especi- 

 ally shooters. For when we come to sift the means of 

 destruction in the hands of natives, it will be found that 

 trapping, snaring, and the use of bows, arrows, and other 

 rude weapons have existed from time immemorial, where- 

 as the period from which one can place a finger on the 

 marked diminution of game dates from the time when 

 serviceable guns became cheap and easy of purchase by 

 native shikaris. 



It is they who are the men on the spot Their numbers 



