HUNTING-DOGS 



clear, and the bush grew even more arid, if possible, 

 as we advanced. It was darker in colour and entirely 

 leafless as though it had been killed by a hard frost ! 

 It gave the country a most curious aspect, while to 

 add interest to the scene, there was evidence every- 

 where of a large herd of elephants having passed but 

 a few days ago ; in fact the trail we were following 

 was but an old elephant track. The ground was 

 strewn with chewed bark and leaves, great branches 

 had been broken off, small trees had been uprooted, 

 while on every side the imprints of their huge feet 

 could be seen in the sand. 



I was deeply absorbed in noticing these things 

 and in unravelling the story they told, when suddenly 

 in front of me I heard the loud barking of dogs. I 

 was so surprised I could not imagine what it could 

 be, but, jumping off my mule, I took my rifle, and 

 kneeling down, peered through the bush in the 

 direction from which the sounds were coming. So 

 dense was the undero^rowth I could not make out 

 anything at first, but suddenly saw three dark forms 

 moving through the scrub. Before I could raise my 

 rifle they had disappeared, and though I found and 

 followed their spoor, they easily made their escape. 

 Their barking gradually grew fainter and then died 

 away in the distance, and silence fell once more upon 

 the trackless jungle. From the glimpse I had of 

 them, I knew that they were hunting-dogs, but what 

 they were doing in a country so destitute of game as 

 this I am quite unable to say. These interesting but 

 unattractive animals stand about 20 to 23 inches 

 at the shoulder, and resemble vaguely the spotted 

 hyaena in coloration and general appearance. They 

 differ from wolves and foxes in having only four toes 



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