HUNTING IN THE INDIES 215 



to hunting, as there were many rocky cactus-covered 

 hills, which doubtless would carry little scent, and 

 much open sandy plain. 



In the month of September I was at Bombay 

 on leave, when I happened to hear of a small pack 

 of fox-hounds for sale not far away. They were the 

 remains of half the Bombay pack of the previous 

 year,^ and had been bought and hunted by the 

 inhabitants of a small station to the south. Now 

 the rains were at an end they were useless to them, 

 and they were for sale. I telegraphed an offer, 

 which was accepted, and the hounds were sent 

 to me. On my return from Bombay I took them 

 home with me. They consisted entirely of dog- 

 hounds of rather different shapes and sizes, but in 

 good health and serviceable enough. 



When I returned home I had a kennel improvised 

 out of a coach-house with an adjoining yard. In- 

 stead of benches there were charpoys or native 

 bedsteads, covered with cocoa-nut fibre. When the 

 weather got cold plenty of straw was added. As 

 my system of kennel answered admirably, I propose 

 to give it for the information of any who may be 

 keeping, or intending to keep, hounds in tropical 

 climates. 



The hounds were fed twice a-day on returning 

 from exercise or hunting. The food was Indian meal 

 (maize) with soup poured over it. In every fifth 

 meal, however, rice was substituted for meal. Except 

 on hunting days, every hound was thoroughly brushed 

 and hand-rubbed after his morning and before his 

 evening exercise. Castor-oil was freely used when 

 required, and in case of fever the temperature was 



^ The Bombay Hunt has a new pack out from England each year. 



