222 GUN, RIFLE, AND HOUND. 



run well unless he gets a good start, but they 

 generally show fight. On this occasion it was obvious 

 that the English dogs were unwilling to come to 

 close quarters, as, though they were far faster, they 

 allowed one of the others to begin. A few days 

 afterwards they killed another, but later in the day 

 I happened to get among bad ground just as they 

 closed with a jackal. Missing my encouragement, 

 they let it go. Yet, shortly afterwards, they were 

 all equal to tackling a jackal single-handed. 



It would not be of interest if I were merely to 

 reproduce such entries from my diary as the following : 



" Several good courses. Killed two hares, one 

 jackal, one mongoose, one porcupine."* (This seems 

 to have been a varied day.) 



" Several good runs, notably one with a fox. 

 Killed four hares." 



Further on I come to the following : 



" Four good courses with foxes killed two. Good 

 run after a gazelle. Also killed one mongoose." 



This is two months after my regularly beginning, 

 and these seem to have been the first foxes I killed. 

 I recollect they often beat me. No doubt the reason 

 was that they were a bit fast for the Indian dogs, 

 and the English ones were still unwilling to attack 

 unsupported. With regard to the gazelle, all grey- 

 hounds run them eagerly at first. But by degrees 

 they begin to realise the hopelessness of the pursuit. 

 A gazelle is quite safe from the fastest greyhound. 

 Even with a leg broken it gives a very good course, 

 * More properly a scaly anteater (Afanis). 



