chap. xii. A JUNGLE TRIP. 285 



counted immense herds of wild buffaloes, not one was 

 now to be seen. The deer were scared and in small 

 herds, not exceeding seven or ten, proving how they 

 had been thinned out by shooting. In fact, Minneria 

 had become within the last four years a focus for most 

 sportsmen, and the consequence was, that the country 

 was spoiled ; not by the individual shooting of visitors, 

 but by the stupid practice of giving the natives large 

 quantities of powder and ball as a present at the con- 

 clusion of a trip. They, of course, being thus supplied 

 with ammunition, shot the deer and buffaloes without 

 intermission, and drove them from the country by inces- 

 sant harassing. 



I saw immediately that we could not expect much 

 sport in this disturbed part of the country, and we 

 determined to waste no more time in this spot than 

 would be necessary in procuring the elephant-trackers 

 from Doolana. We planned our campaign that even- 

 ing at dinner. 



Nov. 18. — At daybreak I started Wallace off to 

 Doolana to bring my old acquaintance the Rhatama- 

 hatmeya and the Moormen trackers. I felt con- 

 fident that I could prevail upon him to accompany us 

 to the limits of his district ; this was all-important to 

 our chance of sport, as without him we could procure 

 no assistance from the natives. 



After breakfast we mounted our horses and rode 

 to Cowdelle, eight miles, as I expected to find ele- 



