180 Leaves from an Indian Jungle. 



beds of hard laterite, where the little stream turned close 

 in under the hill, a succession of small shallow pools 

 gladdened the eye down a vista of waist-high grass and 

 scattered woodland. As we passed along its mile or so 

 of length, this charming oasis seemed to be literally alive 

 with chital, whose dappled hides could be seen in all direc- 

 tions as the deer went leaping off ; or halted to gaze 

 -fixedly at the intruder in all their graceful beauty. 



Marking at least one stag as worth returning for later, 

 we loitered on our way, charmed with the beautiful sight. 



The night was spent at a village. Next morning it was 

 found that the tiger, which only the day before had killed 

 a cow in the vicinity, had completely disappeared, as also 

 the remains of his kill, owing, so local news ran, to the 

 arrival of a pack of cyons. 



At almost the same hour next evening, therefore, we 

 entered the chital valley on our return journey. 



To our astonishment it was completely deserted, and 

 wore that appearance, unmistakable to an accustomed 

 eye, of utter desolation and absence of animal life. 



This was extraordinary ; so my man and I separated, 

 and rode in search through the grassy hollows that only 

 twenty-four hours since had teemed with spotted deer. It 

 was as if yesterday we had beheld some fairy vision, some 

 illusory caprice of the brain. 



But soon were we to become aware of the reason of the 

 solitude so swiftly fallen on this favoured spot. 



As we approach the line of pools, what is that dark red 

 beast and another standing by the water's edge, while 

 yet more emerge from the grassy covert around ? 



Rich, deep red coats ; sharp snouts ; rounded prick ears ; 

 thick brushes, tipped with black. It is the red dogs the 

 terrorizers of the jungle the raiders the poachers ! 



