Marsh Deer. 257 



tamed when caught young, and make pretty pets, 

 but are very destructive, eating cloth, paper, etc. 

 The males lie up in high grass and creep along in front 

 of an elephant for all the world like a feline, and many a 

 time, with my heart in my mouth I have been on the 

 qui vive for a view of Master Stripes, when at last 

 only a wretched little deer lias bounded forth. They, 

 as well as the barking and " four-horned " deer, are 

 excellent eating. 



I was out with Lloyd in one of the early sixties. 

 We sent on our camp to Banlong and followed a few 

 days afterwards in boats. By starting at 4 P.M. we 

 usually arrived at our destination about 6 A.M. next 

 day. I had a house built at Myet-quin, about ten 

 miles inland. Game of nearly every variety abounded, 

 for there were no villages to speak of, only a few Karen 

 huts scattered about, so the wild animals were seldom 

 disturbed. Near my shooting-box there was an 

 extensive bheel or jheel, with an ample supply of 

 water, but further inland there was only one pool, 

 which was composed more of liquid mud than any- 

 thing else, but which sufficed for the wants of the 

 denizens of that vast tract. Salt-licks also were 

 numerous, an unfailing attraction to all bovines and 

 deer, and, it is even said, of felines. This pool, 

 called by the Burmese Gna-Eein, in the dry season 

 was full of fish resembling the Indian murrul, and our 

 mahouts used frequently to wade in and by groping 

 about catch many weighing from one to three pounds. 

 As long as there was water in this pool, game, especially 

 big game, abounded. We tried hunting its locality at 

 various seasons, but found May to be the best month, 

 for earlier the annual fires take place, causing the wild 



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