SLA CK-B UCK SHOOTING. 107 



The real and most sportsman-like manner how- 

 ever of pursuing them is to stalk, and shoot 

 them with a rifle, having a horse and spear handy, 

 when, if wounded, you can ride them down. 

 Instances are recorded of unwounded antelopes 

 being ridden down but I never saw an instance 

 of this, and, though I frequently tried to accom- 

 plish the feat, it invariably ended in failure and 

 disappointment. I believe that in the recorded 

 instances where unwounded antelopes have been 

 speared, it has been during the rains, when the 

 black cotton soil is heavy, and saturated with 

 moisture. Into such ground the narrow foot of 

 the antelope sinks more readily than a horse's, and 

 so causes him to fall a comparatively easy prey to 

 his pursuers. 



Some of the best runs I have ever had with a 

 spear have been after wounded antelopes, and I 

 know of no termination to a successful shot 

 more satisfactory than a gallop of this description. 

 I was once most ignominously beaten by a young 

 wounded buck when trying to ride him down. I 

 had the day previously fired at and hit him ; but 

 having no horse with me, and the light failing, 



tained in Northern India and Goozerat. I never shot one myself 

 with horns exceeding twenty-one inches, but I have seen a pair that 

 measured twenty-five inches, and heard on very good authority of a 

 pair measuring twenty-six and a half inches. These were shot in 

 Goozerat. 



