294 Incidents of Foreign Field Sport. 



I thought it just as well to be armed in case of need. 

 Soon the fleet was scattered, every boat making for an 

 islet. I had the old tiger- slayer with me. He was 

 a brawny old fellow, about sixty, but still hale and 

 hearty 3 and his muscular arms, deep broad chest, and 

 well-developed thighs and legs denoted no small 

 amount of strength. He laughed at my carrying a 

 gun, as he said it would not be required, and if we 

 were upset I should probably lose it ; but it was of 

 no great value, for it had seen its best days. We 

 went on for fully three miles, and approached a large 

 mound, fully 150 yards long by 50 broad, and covered 

 with long grass ; the noise we made evidently startled 

 some animals, for we could see the grass waving 

 about ; the shouts were redoubled, and the poor 

 beasts, thinking, no doubt, that the very devil himself 

 was let loose, took to the water. They proved to be 

 five marsh-deer four hinds and a brocket. Away 

 they swam at a great pace, but were overtaken and 

 slain by the old man. A tender, which accompanied 

 us, took the carcases on board. The sport, if it could 

 be so called, was as yet very tame. I did not admire 

 seeing hinds and immature stags pierced to death 

 when helpless and swimming for their lives ; but I 

 was merely a spectator and could not we]l interfere. 

 We then went towards other islets. Some were unin- 

 habited, but out of others a few hog-deer were started 

 and duly accounted for. Of course there was not a 

 universal depth of water ; it varied in accordance with 

 the undulations of the country. One moment we would 

 be in deep water going six or seven miles an hour, 

 then we would be suddenly aground and all but thrown 

 out of the boat by the unexpected shock. Thus a couple 



