viii THE LEOPARD 165 



middle of the hounds. There was an exceedingly large dog named 

 Pirate, a cross between mastiff and bloodhound ; he immediately 

 seized the leopard, and a general fight ensued, the whole pack 

 supporting Pirate in his attack. Captain E. Palliser, late 7th 

 Hussars, quickly thrust his hunting-knife under the shoulder, and 

 in a few minutes the hounds were worrying a dead leopard. 



Some few years ago the hounds belonging to the late Mr. 

 Downall hunted a leopard at Newera Ellia, and a tremendous 

 struggle ensued. There were several very powerful and large 

 seizers among the pack, and the enemy was overmatched, but 

 although the big dogs had the mastery of the animal, they could 

 not actually kill it outright. General J. Wilkinson was on the 

 spot, and he thrust his hunting-knife into the fatal spot ; but he 

 was a little too slow in withdrawing the blade ; the dying leopard 

 made a quick blow with its fore paw, and inflicted a serious wound 

 upon his hand, lacerating the muscles of the thumb to a degree 

 that rendered surgical treatment necessary for several weeks. 

 When using the hunting-knife, extreme dexterity is to be observed 

 in delivering the stab, and instantaneously recovering the weapon. 

 There is no object to be gained by keeping the knife within, the 

 wound, and there is considerable danger of injury to the hand. If 

 the knife is used by an expert it will never be held with the point 

 downwards like a dagger, but the handle will be grasped for a 

 direct thrust, as though the weapon were a sword. In this position 

 the knife is always well under command, and it can be instantly 

 withdrawn and the thrust repeated upon a favourable opportunity. 



I had a very savage and powerful dog many years ago which 

 was a cross of Manilla bloodhound with some big bitch at the Cape 

 of Good Hope. This animal weighed upwards of 130 Ibs., and 

 became a well-known character in the pack, which I kept for seven 

 years in Ceylon. Although I never actually witnessed a duel 

 between this dog and a leopard, such an event frequently took 

 place. It was the custom of Smut to decline all control, and when 

 the hounds were secured in couples to prevent them from following 

 the scent of a leopard, should recent tracks be visible in the jungle, 

 this determined dog would erect the bristles on his back, emit low 

 growls when summoned back, and would disappear to hunt up, 

 single-handed, the scent of the dreaded enemy. Upon these 

 occasions Smut would be unheard of during the remainder of the 

 day, and he would return to kennel in the evening, proudly trotting 

 along, covered with blood and wounds, but always so fierce that he 

 refused all aid and medical attendance ; he was merely ready for 

 his dinner. He had of course tackled his adversary, and indulged 



