AN EXPLOEATION IX THE FAK EAST. 445 



December. Should these central regions be selected by 

 the sportsman, the shooting camp should be organised, if 

 possible, beforehand, at some station on the Great 

 Indian Peninsular Eailway, the exact spot depending 

 much on whether the sportsman has any friends on the 

 spot who would assist him. The help of the local civil 

 authorities is of course of the greatest value ; and I may 

 say that it is always freely rendered to gentlemen project- 

 ing a tour through their charges. Some previous acquaint- 

 ance with the language, and the general requirements on 

 such a trip on the part of at least one of the party, is 

 almost essential to ensure success. In the absence of in- 

 ducements to take another line of country, I would recom- 

 mend the traveller to leave the railway at the large city 

 of Burhanpur, in the district of Nimar, and commence his 

 hunting in the country round the head-waters of the 

 Mond, tributary of the Tapti river. Bison, sambar, and 

 bears are as numerous and easy to get at there as in any 

 part of the country I know. Painted partridges, jungle 

 fowl, and other small game, would also diversify the 

 sport, and supply the pot. Thence he should cross over 

 to the Betiil district, north of the Tapti, where tigers are 

 plentiful, and devote the month of March to their j^ur- 

 suit. Spotted deer, antelojDe, nilgai, and other game, are 

 also abundant in this tract, and the end of March might 

 see the sportsman stalking the bison on the Puchmurree 

 hills. If he means to devote the hot weather also to 

 these regions, the district of Mandla and the sources of 

 the Narbada should be selected, where plenty of tigers 

 will be found, and the sambar, red deer, and wild buffiilo, 

 will add to the variety of the sport. 



The cost of such an expedition need not be very 

 great. Most of the outfit required would be re-sold at 

 the conclusion at no very great loss. One hill-tent, ten 



