178 Leaves from an Indian Jungle. 



position, a policy of masterly inactivity would appear to be 

 indicated. 



Much however can be effected meanwhile by those in 

 local authority, who have the interests of game preserva- 

 tion at heart, if they will keep a watchful eye on the issue 

 of licenses and make sharp examples of poaching offences. 



Before leaving the subject of game destruction, with this 

 indication of the tap-root of the evil, it may be useful to 

 endeavour to foresee what effect is likely to follow the 

 promulgation of such excellent game regulations as have 

 lately been issued in Western India. 



It is obvious that these laws, if strictly obeyed, should 

 entirely prevent poaching, for they at every point con- 

 front the deadly methods of the native poacher. But will 

 it be possible to enforce them everywhere, or, in some 

 localities, ever enforce them at all ? Many of the more 

 remote areas in this country are difficult to control, the 

 inhabitants being quick to combine against their rulers, or 

 to turn the workings of the law to their own ends ; find- 

 ing, in the case of subordinate officials, that new rules 

 only open up fresh avenues to extortion and blackmail 

 from their uncomplaining brethren. 



Without efficient supervision, therefore, even the best 

 devised laws have small effect, there being in bureaucratic 

 methods a tendency to issue ukases and await the result 

 with folded hands. 



But it is perhaps ungenerous to look the gift horse in the 

 mouth ; and sportsmen should be grateful for such a good 

 beginning. The pity of all this necessity for game regu- 

 lations is that under them Indian sport will to a certain 

 extent lose its wild free character a legacy left to 

 sportsmen of the future by the apathy of those who failed 

 to take proper measures in time. 



