352 RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



Though panther-shooting, being a pursuit of such an 

 elusive nature, can scarcely be said to comprise a separate 

 department of shikar -, there are times when whole families 

 appear to have lost their usual circumspection, and are to 

 be bagged by the exercise of the ordinary observances of 

 the hunter's art. 



Such were the three panthers of the Mungbung District. 



The first to succumb was the large male; next the 

 female with the cub ; finally he, the disappointed suitor 

 for the paw of number two, who resided solus, by his 

 lone, in a neighbouring ravine of misty depth. The 

 latter it was that took cover in our pool of confined 

 dimensions, and had to be retrieved by the aid of strange 

 tackle, as already described. 



The post track from Ellich to Chik winds through the 

 bleak mountain ranges of the Lower Sdtpuras, and passes 

 close to the clachan of Mungbung. Mungbung is a large 

 and thriving centre of the Korku nation, and comprises 

 about half a dozen wattle- and-daub huts. It is one of the 

 changing stations for the postal runners, where the in- 

 coming Royal Mail is cast down with a grunt at the 

 village grog-shop, while the relieved coolie crawls within 

 to drag forth his relieving officer. After an altercation, 

 or a comfortable chat, aided by frequent passings of the* 

 fragrant " chillam," the bag is again hoisted aloft, and the 

 retreating " chink-chink-chink " of the post-bells announces 

 to the inquiring mind the fact that H.M.'s mails go forth 

 on their unceasing ways. 



The Mungbung postmen complained that a huge pan- 

 ther was in the habit of waylaying them nightly on their 

 section of the road ; and when they had talked for about 

 a fortnight, my old orderly, thinking there was something 

 in it, sallied forth to scout 



The old man is nothing if not methodical it would 

 be better to avoid the term lethargic so he appeared 

 in the main thoroughfare of Mungbung about sundown, 



