A Mixed Bag in Southern India. 341 



see anything, but it is as well to be prepared for all 



chances. Leaving the coolies behind, I rode on alone. 



My horse was perfectly quiet, and would allow me to 



fire off his back without winking. It had formerly 



belonged to an Arab, from whom I bought it. 



When I got close to the water, looking over the 



fringe of grass which grew on its bank, I saw about 



fifty yards off, close to the margin, a buck and three 



doe antelopes. The does were still drinking, but the 



buck either scented danger or had satisfied his thirst. 



He was broadside on, but looking in my direction. 



A shot behind the shoulder rolled him over dead into 



the water, and at the report up got perhaps a 



hundred or more of golden plover, and with the left 



barrel I cut a lane through them, killing five and 



wounding several others. We got two which fell into 



the water and one on the further bank, but it was 



getting too dark to see what became of the rest. 



The coolies had soon shouldered the buck, and 



retrieved the dead plover, and in a few minutes we 



were on our own side of the river, with a mixed bag, 



the like of which has seldom been made. The buck 



had horns 22j inches long, extraordinarily good for 



this part of the world, though they are obtained 



much longer towards Jubbulpore and Saugar. I was 



often asked where I got them, but I always declined 



to say, for the trophies were to all intents poached. 



I had two more days in the " rumnah " after small 

 game, but never made such a mixed bag as on this 

 occasion. 



