1 8 Leaves from an Indian Jungle. 



grew in the rocks overhanging us, and the sun scarcely ever 

 penetrated ; while at the dewar, where one ravine met another, 

 the valley expanded into a charming little glade, dotted with 

 the aofa trees that bear our favourite berries. A little 

 farther down were the pools of ' ' twelve-month " water, and 

 the lotdn where the stags rolled nightly in mire ; while in 

 many spots the numerous peeled trees and trampled dusty 

 earth betokened the akhdra, or arenas, where they met on 

 moonlight nights ; when their challenging roar echoed 

 through the silent forest, and the hinds, their feet crackling 

 the great dry teak leaves, trooped out like spectres to watch. 



Such was the Jamgarh khora in the old time, and 

 there I passed my uneventful youth; which period I will 

 pass over without comment, save that I twice experienced 

 a " beat," when the line of yelling Korkus passed up the 

 khora, and I received my first sharp lessons in the art of 

 breaking back a highly simple and successful operation 

 when properly carried out. 



It takes us many long years to arrive at maturity and our 

 full strength of limb and antlers ; and six years passed 

 before I began to hold up my head with reason. 



My horns fell regularly, every spring, until they 

 approached their present proportions ; since then I have 

 noticed that I retained them unshed for longer periods. 



My present pair, of which, I may remark, there is reason 

 to be proud, have not fallen since they grew the summer 

 before last ; nor will they be shed this year if I am any 

 judge ; however, all of us may not fare similarly. 



Our great size and the difficulty of concealing ourselves 

 when once we are noticed, added to the heat of the day, 

 have necessitated very nocturnal habits ; and, wandering all 

 night in search of food as we do, it is needful for us to hide 

 and sleep when the sun is up. 



