136 WILD UKASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



appearance an attractive locality for wild animals, but in reality 

 devoid of game. I make a point of declining all belief in the 

 statements of natives until I have thoroughly examined the 

 ground, and made a special search for tracks in the dry beds of 

 streams and around the drinking-places. Even should footprints 

 be discovered in such spots, they must be carefully investigated, as 

 the same animals visit the water-hole nightly, and in the absence 

 of rain, the tracks remain, and become numerous from repetition ; 

 thus an inexperienced person may be deceived into the belief that 

 game is plentiful, when, in fact, the country contains merely a few 

 individuals of a species. It must also be remembered that during 

 the dry season both deer, nilgyhe, and many other animals travel 

 long distances in search of water, and return before daylight to 

 their secluded places of retreat. 



This was the position of Bijore' at the period of our visit ; the 

 most lovely jungles contained very little game. Although our baits 

 had been devoured some days ago, I could not help thinking that 

 the tiger might still be lurking in the locality, as it had been 

 undisturbed, and there was little or no water in the neighbourhood 

 excepting one or two drinking-places in the beds of nullahs. 



We had 164 beaters, therefore we could command an exten- 

 sive line, as the jungles, having been recently burnt, were per- 

 fectly open, and an animal could have been seen at a distance of 

 100 yards. 



Having made all the necessary arrangements, the beat com- 

 menced. It was extraordinary that such attractive ground 

 contained so little game. The surface was a delicate green from 

 the young shoots of new grass, and notwithstanding the enticing 

 food there were no creatures to consume the pasturage. 



Hours passed away in intense heat and disappointment ; the 

 most likely jungles were beaten with extreme care, but nothing 

 was disturbed beyond an occasional peacock or a scared hare. 

 The heat was intense, and the people having worked from 6 A.M. 

 began to exhibit signs of weariness, as nothing is so tiring as bad 

 luck. Although the country was extremely pretty it was very 

 monotonous, as eacli jungle was similar in appearance, and I had 

 no idea how far we were from camp ; to my surprise, I was informed 

 that we had been working almost in a circle, and that our tents 

 were not more than a mile and a half distant in a direct line. 

 We came to the conclusion that we should lx\it our way towards 

 home, carefully driving every jungle in that direction. 



During the last drive I had distinctly heard the bark of a 

 sambur deer about half a mile in my rear, which would be 



