46 DIARY OF A SPORTSMAN NATURALIST 



a rather higher elongated ridge several miles in length. 

 This latter was honey-combed with caves, and it required 

 considerable bundobast and a week's work to do it 

 thoroughly. It was a gigantic bear colony. The rocky 

 eminence, which a closer approach showed to possess a 

 cleft at the top dividing it into miniature twin peaks, was 

 our objective that day. It contained several caves, one of 

 considerable and unknown dimensions. We had always 

 intended, the younger ones of us, to explore that cave 

 thoroughly, but for one reason or another the expedition 

 never came off while I was stationed in the district. 



We started at dawn with the Anglo-Indian's customary 

 idea, ingrained in all of us, of escaping the heat later on. 

 Though as we were going to play about all day amongst 

 rocks burnt to a fiery heat and would not begin much before 

 10 a.m. or so, the object 'of dragging us out of bed in the 

 dark was not apparent to the youngsters. 



The rocky hill, save for a few stunted, sparsely foliaged 

 trees, was devoid of covering, and I can well remember the 

 scorching heat as we took up our posts perched on rocks 

 near the first cave. We had tossed for priority of shots and 

 I came third on the list, A. B.C. being fourth. 



The ball commenced with the first cracker tossed in at 

 the cave opening. We were posted so as to cover the 

 probable lines of retreat, R. being in front and nearest. 

 Whether the cracker fell on bruin I do not know, but as I 

 heard the first report of the firework a black shape appeared 

 at the cave mouth. R. fired and hit him somewhere, too 

 low as we afterwards found, and the bear rose up and went 

 for him. The second shot tumbled the animal over. For a 

 space of seconds he lay inert and then was up and over the top 

 of the cave, aiming a blow at the cracker man, who had gone 

 up there for safety, which fortunately missed. A fusillade 

 opened at once, but bruin had gone two hundred yards 

 before he dropped in his tracks. Feeling fairly certain that 

 there was a second bear in the cave we spent a scorching 

 half-hour and a lot of fireworks in endeavouring to get it 

 out. It proved a waste of time. 



From the next cave one bear only was bolted and killed 

 with a shot through the brain by F. A second expenditure 

 of crackers failed to elicit a sound from this cave. 



It was now my turn for first honours. I perched on a 

 flat rock slightly to the left of the cave mouth, and the usual 



