SHOOTING FROM LADDERS 



in imitation of the original, these are then buried or put 

 down an old well for a season, whence they issue as " antique" 

 as even an American could desire, and would trouble the 

 most expert of experts to detect. 



These are now hawked round and sold at most profitable 

 rates, as I know to my cost, having purchased some myself, 

 till I had learned to be wiser. But the genuine article, 

 such as bed and swing chains, all beautifully carved, which 

 in former years could be obtained for the price of their 

 weight, as brass, now fetches as much as Rs.100 each, 

 and are difficult to obtain even at this price. 



****** 



My period of service at Nasik having expired I was next 

 posted to Dharwar, a pretty healthy spot, situated in the 

 western ghats. It was considered at one time quite a good 

 district for big game, but the increase of cultivation, and 

 the clearing of the forest, has practically ruined the shooting, 

 and big game can now be obtained only after much trouble 

 and arrangement. 



I found it was the practice in this part of the country, 

 and in Kanara, for sportsmen, when beating for tiger or 

 other big game, to shoot from ladders propped up against 

 a tree, instead of sitting on the tree itself as is generally 

 done elsewhere. 



These ladders are specially made for the purpose, 

 having a kind of seat on the topmost rung, but this seemed 

 to me a clumsy arrangement, for besides being cumbersome 

 to carry about, they are liable to slip, and also likely to 

 attract the attention of the animal. 



I had some trouble, however, in inducing the local 

 shikaris to use the simpler contrivance employed in 

 Khandesh, which consists of two poles, each about five 

 feet long. These are fixed parallel to each other, across 

 two or more projecting branches, thus forming, not only 

 a comfortable seat, but one from which the sportsman 

 can shoot in all directions. 



Moreover, in a perch made in this manner the occupant 

 is absolutely safe, whereas a ladder, as I have said, is liable 

 to slip, and in a case I heard of later, actually did, causing 

 a serious accident. 



The incident happened to Colonel P , a celebrated 



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