AN ADVENTURE WITH A LEOPARD 195 



exceedingly plentiful in the plains and forests of the United 

 Provinces. Numbers still exist, but to nothing like the 

 same extent as formerly. Nor are the big heads to be 

 obtained now in the numbers which were comparatively 

 plentiful in the gorgeous days of old. 



Two decades ago, from the tent door or verandah of the 

 forest bungalows in the early morning great herds could be 

 seen feeding on the plain in areas where they were not often 

 disturbed. One encountered them filing or jumping across 

 the forest rides as one rode along on the pony or elephant 

 on the march or inspection duty. In the early morning or 

 evening one could watch them feeding out on the savannah- 

 like expanses of grass where cut or burnt ; or entering or 

 issuing from the neighbouring forests like troops of miniature 

 cavalry. One could pick out and shoot a decent head with 

 ease ; men shot several head of a morning or evening, good 

 and indifferent (more's the pity). There were no rules and 

 regulations in those days ; rules and regulations which 

 are now so necessary if the game of the country is to be 

 protected. A fat young buck or hind was shot without 

 contravening any rule. In fact, for the Forest Officer it 

 was a necessity, since he 

 was often away in the 

 jungle weeks on end by 

 himself and dependent to 

 a great extent on his rifle 

 for his meat supply. And a 

 record head is not usually 

 accompanied by a delicate 

 and tender flesh ! 



But those days are gone 

 for ever and, as we shall see 

 later, many causes up here 

 have tended to produce the 

 present state of affairs. 



The sun was sinking as we sat and watched the deer at 

 present visible. Already the sky was changing colour 

 and a small cloud near the west took on a crimson 

 tinge. Away in the forest the pea-fowl were calling from 

 the trees, having already commenced to seek their roosting 

 perches for the night in the darker shadow of the forest. 



I was not out for a record this evening not unless 

 something exceptional in the way of a head appeared. 



