DEER-SHOOTING. 289 



dangerous reptile, though I once had an imported 

 English terrier killed by a cobra, which he had 

 attacked and killed. 



The next place where I saw deer-driving carried out 

 was in the Island of Mauritius. The plan of action was 

 identical with that which I have already described, but 

 an enormous number of coolies from the neighbouring 

 sugar estates were employed as beaters. The deer 

 were a small spotted variety, but the time that has 

 elapsed since then makes it impossible for me to say 

 if they were identical with the Indian axis. I think, 

 however, this was the case. I must honestly confess 

 I never shot one, or, indeed, shot at one, though I 

 assisted at several drives. On each occasion there 

 were at least two dozen guns officers, planters, and 

 civilians. As the biggest bag, as far as I can recollect, 

 amounted to three deer in one day, the odds were 

 eight to one against one's killing a buck does were 

 very properly not shot. I was not in Mauritius long 

 enough to get much knowledge of the matter, but I 

 was given to understand that the deer, which are 

 carefully preserved, are never shot in any other way 

 than in these great drives. My informant also said 

 that, owing to the dense nature of the jungle, it was 

 impossible to shoot them in any other way a state 

 ment which I was inclined to doubt, and had oppor- 

 tunity served I would have tested practically. As 

 there are no large carnivora, nor indeed any large 

 animals except the deer, in the Mauritius, it is difficult 

 to understand why there should be such a small 



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