INDIAN SHOOTING 289 



one. The kakur has a pecuHar resonant call, like the hoarse 

 bark of a dog, which can be heard for a long distance ; and as 

 the buck frequently keeps on barking for some time, it will 

 often betray its locality to the sportsman — its locality certainly, 

 but not much else. The stalk is enlivened with song till just 

 the critical moment, when a glimpse of the performer would 

 be so desirable ; then usually comes a dead silence — possibly 

 the buck is waiting for the applause you so ungraciously with- 

 hold — no sign of the songster, look as you will there is nothing 

 to be seen but bushes and stems of trees ! Suddenly out of 

 emptiness appears a flash of red surmounted with a brilliant 

 white scut, and a derisive bark, in answer to your snap-shot, 

 proclaims your defeat. Moreover, it behoves one to be wary 

 when stalking a barking kakur ; he may very possibly be 

 barking at a panther, or even in some localities at a tiger, and 

 it is as well to be careful that you do not entertain — not quite 

 an angel unawares. Jungle warnings, such as monkeys swear- 

 ing and the alarm notes of peafowl and deer, should never be 

 lightly disregarded. 



Occasionally kakur make a curious clicking noise, pro- 

 bably, as Kinloch suggests, with the tongue, which is very 

 long. The writer has watched a kakur walking quietly down a 

 j sandy river-bed, clicking all the way at intervals ; here certainly 

 ^ the hoofs could not have made the noise in sand. That buck 

 ' was shot, and as the writer saw another single kakur several 

 \ times afterwards not far from the same spot, it has struck him 

 f that the clicking noise might possibly be a low call from one 

 ^ of a pair to its mate. 



In Ganvhal the natives occasionally call kakur, using a split 

 ..;igal cane, and making a call very similar to that used in 

 ^ the Tyrol for roe deer ; but the writer's experience of this class 

 sport is that one may sit and pipe for a long time before 

 thing comes. Having the covers driven is also poor fun if 

 re is only one gun, as the deer will rarely come right, almost 

 ays breaking back ; and by far the pleasantest and best way 

 II. u 



