THE TEAK REGIOX. 253 



by one or more, and they are nearly certain to be found 

 during the day lying in the nearest patch of grass. 

 They make little forms like those of the sambar, and 

 allow themselves almost to be trodden on before thev 

 •start. They run for a short distance at an incredible 

 velocity, with their necks low, and making themselves 

 as small as possible, till they suddenly stop, but always 

 with such art that a tree stump, or mound, or thick 

 bush shall screen them from the observer ; then another 

 short dash, and another halt, and so on till out of 

 sight. They are nearly sure to be found in the same 

 place next day, however. When seen walking about 

 undisturbed in the jungle their pace is most curious, 

 raising their feet absurdly high as if stepping over large 

 stones, and putting them down with a fastidious delicacy 

 and softness as if they were walking on eggs — a simul- 

 taneous " bobbing " action of the head and neck giving 

 them altogether very much the gait of " that generous 

 bird the hen." They live on the green shoots of bushes, 

 young grass, and fallen jungle fruits ; and their venison 

 is coarse and tasteless. 



The same afternoon two of the Bheels, who had 

 been out scouting in a very solitary part of the hills 

 to the east of the valley, came in and reported a large 

 herd of bison as always to be found where they had 

 been. Nothing is more difficult than to get really 

 reliable news about the haunts of animals, until you 

 can get the few jungle people who do know thoroughly 

 enlisted in your interests. If you ask any one else, 

 or even them when they don't care to tell you, ten 

 to one they wdll charge their faces with a stare of 

 utter vacuity, and ask you "if it is not a jungle," 

 implying that, if you allow so much, of course you 



