98 Leaves from an Indian Jungle. 



After a while we became aware of movement in the 

 grass and bushes alongside, and came to a halt. An 

 excursion through the yellow grass disclosed a huge 

 sounder of hog. Of all sizes were they, from heavy boars 

 to squeakers, wandering and rustling gently homewards 

 towards the deeper jungle, their line stretching at least a 

 hundred and fifty yards in extent. After watching one 

 splendid old boar, with the prism binoculars, which 

 brought his formidable head almost within touching dis- 

 tance, we gently withdrew and regained the track. 



The light is growing rapidly now, and a fringe of green 

 trees not far ahead marks the main ndla. 



As we arrive on its steep banks there is a sharp grating 

 whistle <c Phrew !" and a hind chital darts up the far side, 

 and disappears in long grass. 



We stand there, gazing up-stream and down. The- 

 plaintive cry of a distant peacock echoes through the quiet 

 woods. 



We drop on to the smooth sand of the watercourse. 

 No crackling leaves under foot here ; and in perfect silence 

 one may wander along its winding reaches. Damply 

 refreshingly cool it is under the arching trees, as we brush 

 past green jdmun and tamarisk coverts that fill portions of 

 the dry stream-bed. A koel's mellow fluting resounds 

 from the boughs overhead, gilded now by the low rays 

 of the newly-risen sun. There is a corner in the sandy 

 way just ahead of us ; turned cautiously, it reveals a vista 

 of sylvan beauty. In the deep shade of the opposite 

 bank lies one of those occasional pools, and on the moist 

 sand of its margin one instant only is the picture limned 

 on the retina before the keen-eyed birds take swift 

 alarm groups a bevy of sombre peahens, their magni- 

 ficent mate preening the burnished armour of his- 



