112 SHIKAR SKETCHES. 



and getting, say, within a quarter-of-a-mile of 

 them, slip off your horse, and walk on his far side 

 in such a direction as will take you past the herd 

 within shot, and, if possible, with the wind blow- 

 ing from the herd towards you. Let your groom 

 lead your horse, and when any convenient cover 

 offers itself, drop behind it, and let the horse be 

 led on. The antelope will probably be so intent 

 on watching the horse and man that they will 

 possibly not notice you, and you will be enabled 

 to creep up within one hundred or one hundred 

 and fifty yards. 



One great advantage of employing a horse in 

 stalking is, that it will enable you to follow up 

 and spear your quarry should you only wound it. 



The black buck is never found in thick, un- 

 cleared jungle, and seems to follow the march of 

 civilization, for where jungle has been cleared 

 and planted with crops to any extent, there it 

 will be found. In all the corn districts of Central 

 India it is found in great abundance, and in the 

 North-west Provinces, in Goojerat, and in Bhurt- 

 pore in Northern India vast herds will be met 

 with. In most cultivated districts there are large 

 tracts of grazing ground, and these are generally 

 the favourite resorts of black buck, from whence 

 at night time they sally forth and commit sad 

 havoc by grazing on the young wheat and grain. 



