ROUND THE CAMP FIRE 305 



In conclusion might I suggest that the editor of the 

 would earn the lasting gratitude of all sportsmen 



by organising among them some concerted movement by 

 which the question may be tackled in the best method? 

 Exhortations to sportsmen are all very well in their way, 

 and in some cases no doubt highly necessary ; but they 

 alone, even if we all abjured sport in consequence, could 

 and would have little effect. 



Sportsmen are certainly more merciful nowadays. 



I know of many cases in the old days, even as late as 

 ten to fifteen years ago, when hind sdmbar were invariably 

 shot if they turned up in the beat. 



Sir Samuel Baker in his younger days has described the 

 killing of a good many hinds. Forsyth, in his Highlands 

 of Central India, shoots hinds more than once, to say the 

 least of it, and not by mistake either. 



I honestly do not think that the sportsman of to-day is 

 at the bottom of the diminution of Indian game, nor that 

 he requires (save in exceptional cases) so many exhorta- 

 tions to show mercy. The native shikari, edged on by 

 " Ishnaagses " and the horn-merchant, and, deeper down 

 still, the prevalence of so many guns, are to blame, and 

 should be taken in hand ere it is too late. 



Not long after the publication of the above came the 

 following interesting letter : 



" SIR, With reference to the article which appeared in 

 your issue of the i6th October, regarding the extermination 

 of Indian game, I should like to inform you that while in 

 Bombay the other day I called on a certain co-operative 

 society to make inquiries about the stuffed heads of Indian 

 game exposed for sale on their walls. 



" I was informed that there is a considerable demand 

 for such trophies among * globe-trotters ' an d others, who 



