CHAPTER V 



SHOOTING THE FELID^E OVER BAITS 



I WRITE this chapter with some diffidence, since I am 

 aware of the large number of Indian sportsmen who 

 know so much more about the matter than myself. 

 However, in the Sudan it appeared to me that this 

 branch of sport was very little studied, and that the 

 methods adopted were often decidedly faulty and 

 dangerous. The total amount of game shot by me 

 in this manner now amounts to one tiger, six lions, 

 and nineteen leopards ; and having made it quite 

 clear that I do not wish to pose as an authority on 

 the subject, I will give the results of my own ex- 

 periences. 



My first word of advice to the sportsman is that 

 so far as in him lies he should make all arrangements 

 for this branch of sport himself, and leave nothing to 

 his subordinates. Not only will he receive valuable 

 lessons from his own mistakes, but he should recollect 

 that in all probability he is a far more intelligent man 

 than the best of his employees. In this branch of 

 sport the reasoning faculties have to be pitted against 



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