r6o THE TRIBES ON MY FRONTIER. 



area and bold tiger-slayer. Instead of having the stock 

 altered to suit us, we contrive to suit ourselves to the 

 stock ; and as to those knotty questions about holding the 

 gun, shutting your eyes, &c., if all such matters do not 

 come to a man of themselves by the time he has blown 

 away three or four thousand cartridges, he may as well sit 

 down at once and disabuse himself of the notion that 

 nature designed him for a Nimrod. If our method is not 

 very scientific, the deficiency is atoned for by practical 

 success. Few countries have produced more renowned 

 shikarees than India. Here in Dustypore the mutton- 

 butcher is said to be filing his schedule in the Court for 

 the protection of insolvent debtors. 



To return to the tank : it seems doubtful whether we 

 shall get there. Not being so green as I was, I let the 

 tempting herd of antelopes pass, but the kullmn I cannot 

 resist. They are feeding in thousands at the other end of 

 a large field, and to reach them it will only be necessary to 

 crawl round behind the hedge for a quarter of a mile or so. 

 The hedge is about a foot high, so my gait must be that 

 to which the serpent was doomed and this to a man by 

 nature six feet high is exactly the opposite of otium cum 

 dignitate. But what will one not do, with roast kuUum 



