cu\P. VII. YALLE RIVER. 163 



The novelty of a white skin in that clear river might 

 have proved too strong a temptation for a shark to 

 withstand. 



I never saw game in such masses as had now col- 

 lected in this neighbourhood. The heat was intense, 

 and the noble forest in the vicinity of Yalle river 

 offered an asylum to all animals beneath its shade, 

 where good water and fine grass upon the river's bank 

 supplied their wants. In this forest there was little or 

 no underwood ; the trees grew to an immense size 

 and stood far apart, so that a clear range might be 

 obtained for a hundred yards. It was, therefore, a 

 perfect spot for deer-stalking ; the tops of trees formed 

 an impervious screen to the sun's rays ; and I passed 

 several days in wandering with my rifle through these 

 shady solitudes, killing an immense quantity of game. 

 The deer were in such masses that I restricted myself 

 to bucks, and I at length became completely satiated. 

 There was too much game ; during the whole day's 

 walk I was certainly no\.five minutes without seeing 

 either deer, elk, buffaloes, or hogs. The noise of the 

 rifle did not appear to scare them from the forest ; they 

 would simply retreat for a time to some other portion 

 of it, and fresh herds were met with in following up 

 one which had been disturbed. Still, there were nc 

 elephants. Although I had upwards of fifty coolies 

 and servants, they could not dry the venison sufficiently 



