BLUE-BULL SHOOTING 49 



bring it to hand. Every circumstance combined to 

 increase my annoyance on this occasion. The cow 

 when cut up proved to be in an interesting condition, 

 and contained two fully-developed calves. Further- 

 more, my shikari reported that he had seen a bull 

 with a broken shoulder in an adjoining jungle the 

 day after. A very small amount of common-sense 

 on the man's part at the time would have enabled 

 me to follow it up successfully. 



I may here remark that I beat this same jungle 

 again a fortnight later, and found only cows and 

 calves, into shooting at which I was not again misled. 

 This unfortunately only confirmed my belief that 

 neither bull could have survived his wound. 



There being some chamars (members of the leather- 

 dressing caste) among the men, I set them to work 

 to skin and cut up the cow, which was far too heavy 

 to be moved. Nobody having any idea where the 

 wounded bulls had got to, I could only order the 

 men to beat out all the neighbouring jungles, a 

 proceeding which resulted in my seeing nothing 

 but two hyaenas. 



About two o'clock I gave it up in disgust, and 

 returned to the place, whence, the skinners having 

 completed their work, a string of coolies was just 

 starting off with the meat. Every rock and hill-top 

 all round was black with vultures and kites waiting 

 for their turn. I returned to the bungalow for food 

 and rest. 



In the evening^ I walked all round the tank without 

 seeing any game, and as I was returning I heard a 

 curious whistling and splashing, for which I had some 

 difficulty in accounting. Presently I perceived a 

 number of otters making the circuit of the tank. 



D 



