ROUND THE CAMP FIRE 299 



diminishing the game of our Indian plains and forests. 

 The British sportsman is not so entirely to blame as one 

 might be led to think by the number of complaints and 

 hints of butchery laid at his door. In the hope, therefore, 

 that attention may be drawn to the existence of a destruc- 

 tive agency, the effects of which are far deeper and more 

 searching than those of any white man's shikar, I shall 

 endeavour to arouse the interest of sportsmen in this 

 direction. 



If only some concerted and combined action could be 

 arranged, it might be possible to bring some influence to 

 bear in the proper quarter, so that preventive measures 

 might be taken, as will be suggested hereafter. 



Lately I had the pleasure of contributing to the an 



account of a two-months' shooting expedition undertaken 

 this year in a very remote and wild part of peninsular 

 India. In that article I touched on the reasons adduced 

 to account for an enormous diminution of the game of 

 those tracts a diminution that has taken place within 

 the past thirty years only, which is certainly not due to 

 the British sportsmen, of whom very few ever visit that 

 country. I described the numbers of rotting bison heads 

 to be found in almost every hamlet, the numbers of local 

 native shikaris, and the bands of ruffians that cross over 

 into " Mardian " from the neighbouring Native State and 

 from British territory. I noted the presence, on his regular 

 beats, of the horn-merchant. 



In the Western Ghdts, in Southern India, in the Deccan, 

 and in Central India, I have noted the ever-present native 

 shikari ; and in all cases it has been the same old tale of 

 the indefatigable destruction of game of both sexes and 

 of all ages patient, unremitting toll, taken day and night, 

 week in and week out, month after month, and year after 

 year. 



What wonder then that we are beginning to note the 

 failing numbers of the denizens of plain and jungle ! Even 



