Teak and Bamboo. 25 



during the old days there are now ten, and remind you 

 that each pack, numbering about a dozen individuals, often 

 more, must be fed and fed well> you will begin to understand 

 the enormous losses inflicted on the herds of deer during 

 a single season. 



Increasing numbers have even altered the wild dog's 

 retiring nature, and he now boldly appears where he would 

 not have dared show himself a few years ago. 



Sahib, you are steadily driving us from our home in 

 these hills. Why is the grass never fired now, and 

 why left to die down season after season till ifc cumbers 

 the earth with such a mildewed and powdery carpeting 

 as none but the rankest herbage may penetrate when 

 the rain comes down? The bison are going, and we follow ; 

 and at no very distant time these hills will stand yet 

 more desolate, deprived of all that once gladdened their 

 solitude. 



I could tell you many another tale of Dadu and Khatu, 

 the Korkus, shikaris in the old days, but now well, flesh 

 is scarce in these regions, and in response may be to a 

 knowing look from the " Jamadar sahib " they take their 

 long banduks from the thatch and enter the bandi. Sambar, 

 whether stag, hind or fawn, is good ; but a fat young bison- 

 cow Wah! 



But the wild dogs ! 



It was at the end of the fierce summer drought, when the 

 first premonitory storms had grumbled for some time over 

 the hills, and great violet-black masses of heavy rain-clouds 

 came trailing up from the south-west. A fitful wind, mois- 

 ture-laden, blew up the khora, and the cool grey morning 

 tempted me to loiter under the trees, which, in anticipation 

 of their approaching function, had put forth a fresh head 

 of green young leaves. 



