404 Fishing Localities. CHAP. xxvi. 



But in those days we had a ' collector.' The ' glory ' is departed ; yet in 

 good hands Allahabad will still show sport ; I believe now is showing it. 



" I have sadly digressed. As I have said, go below the big pool under 

 the rapids of Buroundah, and from thence to ' Pathurpore ' near ' Koolsara.' 

 A I fishing, but the water must be clear, and the angler keep well out of 

 sight ; dark flies are the best, and I always used them. Let me describe 

 one that will take splendidly. But why should I ? ' The Rod in India' has 

 christened it the Blackamoor. 



" Then, again, we are now in the Allahabad district, Sohra to Khurkha 

 is splendid fishing ground the whole way, and there is a place I do not quite 

 remember, but think it is called ' Mai,' and is close to ' Kohrar ; ' here I 

 caught my best fish in nearly still water, fishing just the break of the rapids ; 

 all these places are best reached, I think, from the wayside railway station 

 of ' Sirsa.' Any friend in Allahabad could give information. The Beylun 

 joins the 'Tons,' and the fishing from Sohra to Khurkha and at ' Mai ' is on 

 the Tons. In this latter river I was indebted to a brother sportsman for one 

 of the best flies I ever threw. We had to make them up, and he showed me 

 how. 



" Body Austrian grey, silver tinsel, tail of two bustard feathers and wings 

 of the same. It is a splendid fly, and I am much indebted for good sport to 

 my friend. Here my experiences of Mirzapore and Allahabad end. 



" DOON." 



Extract from the "Asian" of October 14^, 1879. 



" The next district I touch on is Jhansi. It is a fine sporting district, 

 deer, hares, grouse, and ducks are plentiful. Snipe are not very plentiful, 

 but still they are to be got with a little trouble. Leopards are very numerous, 

 but owing to the rocky nature of the country not easily driven, and very 

 wary. The fishing is excellent. 



" I am not quite certain of the distances, but the Pahooj river runs about 

 3 miles from Jhansi, and holds some of the finest trout I have ever seen. 

 The Babarie, about 4 miles on the opposite side, almost beats it, and the 

 Betwa and Dessaun give fine Mahseer. 



" Everything, however, in these streams must be taken at ' the tide.' 



"The Betwa and Dessaun are raging torrents till October, and then 

 you must be down and get all you can of fishing or the streams simply 

 * dribble,' and ' still-water ' fishing is all that can be had. The Babarie and 

 Pahooj clear rather rapidly, especially the former, and I hardly know 

 prettier trout-fishing than the Babarie affords. As both these streams are 

 minor ones, the best fishing is to be got in a break of the rains. I used 

 always to go past the cavalry lines, through a gate in the Custom's hedge, 

 and down to the stream where it cuts the Oorcha or Tehree road. Fish 

 down stream. You get splendid fun. Do not despise the water because it 



