THE HIGHER NARBADiL 3G5 



invariably grow up with " vernacular " habits, and a 

 hatred of Europeans. A real specimen of the Banjd,iji 

 should however be selected, and this is not easy, the 

 breed having got much mixed with the common village 

 pariah dog. The true Banjard is a fine, upstanding 

 hound, of about twenty-eight inches high, generally 

 black mottled with gray or blue, with a rough but silky 

 •coat, a high-bred, hound-like head, and well feathered 

 on ears, legs, and tail. He shows a good deal of re- 

 semblance to the Persian greyhound, but is stouter 

 built, and with a squarer muzzle. Probably this 

 wandering race of gipsies may have brought the 

 originals with them from Western Asia, the subse- 

 quent modification of them being due to a cross with 

 some of the indigenous breeds. The Banjara breed 

 possesses indomitable pluck, can go about as fast as a 

 foxhound, and will run all day. His nose is superior 

 to that of any other domestic breed in a hot climate ; 

 but he wants better speed for coursing deer, and attach- 

 ment to Europeans. 



The common black sloth-bear of the plains of India* 

 is very plentiful in the hills on either side of the 

 Narbada, between Jubbulpiir and Mandla. Indeed, 

 there are few parts of these highlands where a bear 

 may not at any time be met with. They are generally 

 very harmless until attacked, living on roots, honey, 

 and insects, chiefly white ants, which they dig out of 

 their earthern hillocks. The natives call them ddam- 

 zdd, or "sons of men," and^ considering them half 

 human, will not as a rule molest them. Really, their 

 absurd antics almost justify the idea. Sometimes, how- 

 ever, a bear will attack very savagely without provoca- 

 tion — generally, when they are come upon suddenly, 

 * Uraus lahiatus. 



