xxv THE SAM BUR 413 



would thread its way by some well-known game-path, and hide 

 among the great fragments of rock which had fallen from the crest 

 above. There were always men who mounted the extreme ridge, 

 and rolled down stones to disturb the jungle by their crash. 

 Whenever a stag was seen hiding among the sheltering rocks and 

 bush, a tremendous yell from the men above gave warning to those 

 who were below. The fun then commenced for the back-guns. 

 None but practised natives could scale the heights, and when at 

 length the stag came thundering back down the steep hillside, and 

 the shot was heard, it was certain death if Gholab or Dholab were 

 within 100 yards. These men and the eldest brother Bhopal 

 Singh were great allies of mine, and I liked them exceedingly ; 

 their only fault consisted in their vinsparing energy, which induced 

 them to kill everything. 



Forsyth, in his most admirable work, The Highlands of 

 Central India, gives a glowing account of stalking the sambur 

 deer. The localities must have entirely changed since the days of 

 his experience. I have been five times to India, and I have never 

 yet seen a spot where stalking the sambur as a recognised sport 

 could be adopted. In the first place, they are too scarce; and 

 they are too much disturbed. 



Although I was eight years in Ceylon, during which I was 

 shooting or hunting in every portion of the island, I am certain 

 that I never shot half a dozen sambur. We never drove the 

 jungles with beaters, but simply strolled through the most promis- 

 ing country, either upon our ponies or on foot, and took our chance 

 of any game that we might meet. I rarely met sambur in the 

 low country ; and, when living upon the mountains at Newera 

 Ellia, 6200 feet above the sea-level, shooting sambur was out of 

 the question. Although the interminable forests of that elevated 

 district abounded with these animals, I have never seen one, unless 

 discovered by the hounds. The jungles are thick, and it is im- 

 possible to get through them without noise and considerable 

 exertion. The animals of course are alarmed, and retreat before 

 you are near enough even to hear their rush. I have often taken 

 my rifle, and sallied out before sunrise, upon the wild patinas 

 (open ground), where nature rested in profound solitude ; but I 

 have never seen a sambur on the open. I can safely declare that, 

 during seven years' residence at Newera Ellia, I have never fired 

 at any wild animal, except an elephant. The jungles formed an 

 impenetrable sanctuary ; and they remain in the same condition at 

 the present moment. 



In the spring of 1887 I revisited Ceylon after an absence 



