54 GUN, RIFLE, AND HOUND. 



part at the time would have enabled me to follow it 

 up successfully. 



I may here remark that I beat this same jungle 

 again a fortnight after, and found only cows and 

 calves, into shooting at which I was not again misled. 

 This unfortunately only confirmed my belief that 

 neither bull could have survived his wound. 



There being some chamars (members of the leather- 

 dressing caste) among the men, I set them to work to 

 skin and cut up the cow, which was far too heavy 

 to be moved. Nobody having any idea where the 

 wounded bulls had got to, I could only order the men 

 to beat out all the neighbouring jungles, a proceeding 

 which resulted in my seeing nothing but two hyaenas. 



About two o'clock I gave it up in disgust, and 

 returned to the place, whence, the skinners having 

 completed their work, a string of coolies was just 

 starting off with the meat. Every rock and hill-top all 

 round was black with vultures and kites waiting 

 for their turn. I returned to the bungalow for food 

 and rest. 



In the evening I walked all round the tank with- 

 out seeing any game, and as I was returning I heard 

 a curious whistling and splashing, for which I had 

 some difficulty in accounting. Presently I perceived 

 a number of otters making the circuit of the tank. 

 As I wanted a skin for my collection, I crouched 

 down behind a bush and waited. On they came till 

 I could count them. There were no less than twelve. 

 As they got near me one of them raised himself half 

 out of the water, as if to reconnoitre, and I shot him. 



