132 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTEAL INDIA. 



The common Chihdrd gazelle of the plains inhabits 

 the undulating part of the plateau ; and the little four- 

 horned antelope, already referred to, is not uncommon 

 in the thicker parts. The black antelope is quite 

 unknown, though on the similar plateau of Toran Mai, 

 in the western Satpiiras, it is said to be common. Hares 

 are very numerous. The Korkiis have a curious way of 

 killing them at night. I discovered it by observing a 

 strange will-o'-the-wisp-like light flitting about the edges 

 of the little eminences across the valley below my tent, 

 accompanied by a faint jingle as of bells. It is very 

 simple. One man carries a pole across his shoulders, 

 from the fore end of which is slung an earthen pan full 

 of blazing faggots of the torch-wood tree,^ arranged so 

 as to throw the light ahead. The pan is made out of 

 one of their ordinary earthen water-vessels, by knocking 

 out the side. It is balanced at the other end by a 

 basket of spare faggots. Another man carries a long 

 iron rod, with a number of sliding rings, that jingle as 

 he walks. Three or four lusty fellows follow, carrying 

 bamboos fifteen or twenty feet in length ; and the party 

 proceed to move about the edge of the thickets, where 

 unsuspecting hares come out to feed after nightfall. As 

 soon as one appears in the streak of bright light thrown 

 across the ground by the fire-pan, the whole party rush 

 towards her, jingling frantically at the bells, and keeping 

 her terror-stricken form in the circle of light. Poor puss 

 seldom attempts to escape, but sits stupefied by the 

 glare and noise, till a bamboo brought down on her back 

 ends her existence. A party generally gets five or six 

 hares in this way in a few hours. They sometimes come 

 across small deer, and kill them in the same way ; and 



* CocMospermuvi gossypinm. 



