CHAP. vin. The Marble Rocks. 133 



placed across ; this gave one a. seat, and also prevented the boat from 

 capsizing, which a single dug-out is very liable to do. In this way one 

 could quickly drop down the river, fishing all the likely places on the way, 

 and with four men to paddle it did not take so very long to get back 

 again, though of course there was a strong current to be overcome. 



" About a mile below the ghaut the river narrowed considerably ; a hill 

 jutted into it, forming a deep pool on the inside, and a splendid run at the 

 point of the rock. I got the best fish I ever caught in the Nerbudda in 

 this run, and many a one I have pulled out of the pool using a large hook 

 and a lump of dough. One day, I shall never forget, I had successfully 

 stalked a large fish I had seen rising at the very point of the rock, and 

 having landed him after a prolonged fight I was very proud of myself and 

 sat down to breakfast, previously changing the hook and putting on an 

 enormous lump of dough. I threw this into the deepest part of the pool, 

 and putting my rod down on the ground I began my breakfast. In a 

 short time there came a slight tug at the rod, and again all was still. 

 I thought the fish had failed to hook himself and finished my meal. But 

 on taking up the rod I found there was a big fish on. I had to follow him 

 across the most break-neck places and was several times in danger of 

 cutting the line, but I landed him at last. These were the two largest fish 

 I ever caught at Jubbulpore 12 and 10 Ibs. The average size is only 5 

 or 6 Ibs., though I believe the fish in the river go up to 30 Ibs. or more. 

 The Nerbudda is a very large river, though nothing compared with the 

 great Punjab rivers, and of course the fish will not run to the same size. 

 I was greatly elated at getting these two fish on the same day. 



" About two miles below Goari Ghaut there were some large islands in 

 the middle of the river, and the runs on each side were very good. There 

 were good places all down the river ; and at Behra Ghaut, especially just 

 below the Marble Rocks, I was very successful. 



" The Marble Rocks are about 1 1 miles from Jubbulpore, but as there 

 is a pucka road almost all the way one can easily go out for a day's fishing 

 by sending on a horse half-way. There is also a dak bungalow there, 

 and three days' leave can be spent very pleasantly. I was never tired of 

 looking at the beautiful cliffs, which give the fishing there a peculiar charm ; 

 at home half the delight of trout-fishing is the lovely scenery one has to 

 pass through ; but in India the wide, dry, sandy, or stony bed of the river 

 sadly mars the beauty of the scenery, and it is only in the rainy season, 

 when the river is full, that it can be appreciated. 



" The river enters the marble chasm by a fall of 30 feet, and once while 

 fishing above it I hooked a fish within 40 yards of the brink of the fall. 

 It was very exciting trying to keep him from rushing down, and I don't 

 think I ever played a fish so hard ; it was a terrible strain on my rod and 

 tackle while it lasted. There is a railway station for the rocks, but unless 

 you could interest some of the railway officials in your favour, and get the 

 mail train stopped there, the station was seldom used, as the other trains 



