380 RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



During an all too short sojourn of two months in those 

 delightful wilds, we found that, with the exception of a 

 wandering tiger at rare intervals and a few small bison, 

 with, say, a bear here and there, and a very few sambar 

 and chftal, the country was denuded of all game, save a 

 few scattered herds of wild buffaloes. The mournful 

 prognostications indulged in many years previously by 

 our predecessor of the diaries had turned out only too 

 true. Those keen hunters, the little jungle-men, aided by 

 gun-running friends from over the border, had, indeed, 

 done their work ; and the " Mardian " country was swept 

 of its game, save the hardy and dangerous Bubalus, attacks 

 on whom were not lightly undertaken by their tiny foes. 



To roam that magnificent natural game preserve was 

 a melancholy occupation. Monkeys and peacocks were 

 almost the only inhabitants of those grand sal jungles. 

 Scarce a barking deer or four-horned antelope leapt the 

 rotting fallen timber. No cry of wandering spotted stag 

 or whistle of herding hind disturbed the deep brooding 

 silence. The quiet of night was unbroken by the harsh 

 cry of questing beast of prey because there was no prey ! 

 Was all the jungle dead, then? Was it that the presence 

 of a few wandering buffaloes had thus crushed all other 

 wild life? Such thoughts would come; but, spite them 

 all, what a charm in those wilds and that lovely river ! 



In one locality we brought a solitary mournful tiger to 

 bag, and each of us got his first buffalo ; whiling away the 

 time between by good sport with the mahasir at our very 

 tent doors. By lashing together a couple of dongas^ or 

 " dug-outs," we were able to construct a stable boat capable 

 of accommodating ourselves, retainers, gun and rifle, tiffin, 

 rods, tackle, and boatmen. Embarking thus on one of 

 those long, still reaches, away we paddled ; shot rapids ; 

 tarried awhile by some alluringly fishy pool or run, con- 

 soled by the music of the winch, and passing the while 

 a woody hilly panorama full of striking beauty. 



