INTRODUCTION. 



Prefatory remarks to these Jungle Sketches would be 

 out of place were it not for the fact that some sort of 

 apology, some foreword, seems necessary in bringing for- 

 ward yet another publication on Indian sport. 



The subject is a well-worn one, and must be so tired 

 of by most readers, that to meet the weary sigh of 

 " What ? More nullahs more beaters more shots clean 

 through the heart ? " -that may greet his essay, the 

 writer feels that he must advance a detaining hand, and 

 hasten to plead as follows : 



Teak, bamboo, jamun, sal and others these leaves 

 have been gathered by a wandering shikari on the banks 

 of forest streams, in the moonlit machan, under the 

 banyan's grateful shade, for those who love the jungle ; 

 and in their quiet colouring there is no place for a record 

 of expensive ' bags ' or tall yarns. 



All they aim at is to present, in a style true to Nature, 

 the silent charm of their native hills and plains, and the 

 comings and goings of the fauna that inhabit them. 



They are scattered here in the hope that to some they 

 may prove reminiscent of the attractions of shikar in a 

 manner devoid of the objectionable diary style and those 

 wearisome stereotyped accompaniments that have only 

 an irritant effect especially on seasoned skikdris of wide 

 experience, who shoot much, but are silent as to their 

 performances. 



