60 SIR VICTOR BROOKE CHAP. 



Brooke's intention, placed every assistance he could 

 render at his disposal, and the Rajah lent him elephants 

 and shikarees. 



Thus provided he started for the district inhabited 

 by the tiger, stopping a short time on the road at 

 Asikere, Kadur, and Tarikere, where he made his first 

 acquaintance with Indian game. 



" KUDDOR, MYSORE PROVINCE, 

 NUGGUR DIVISION, S. INDIA, 

 1 2th December 1862, Friday. 



Yesterday evening I shot and bagged my first head 

 of Indian game. Having arrived from Arsekiere about 

 four o'clock P.M. I lost no time in getting out my small 

 Moore rifle (one I had bought on purpose for antelope 

 shooting), and set off alone to try and stalk a black 

 buck antelope, which deer I heard abounded in a large 

 flat plain covered with small bushes between Kuddor 

 and the Barbalriddan Hills. I walked away at a great 

 pace, and for some time in vain. At first I kept a 

 very sharp lookout, but the glare of the sun soon 

 rendered this very distressing to the eyes. As I was 

 walking with my head down, trying to see tracks on 

 the hard baked earth, I heard a rush, and looking up 

 I saw a beautiful black antelope bounding along, fol- 

 lowed by two does ; they were about I oo yards off, 

 and gave me a most difficult and uncertain shot, as 

 they did not go in a straight line for 10 yards, 

 hopping over the low, stunted bushes like india- 

 rubber balls. I fired both barrels after the lovely 

 creature, but missed him completely, and had the 

 satisfaction of hearing my balls go * ping ' across the 

 plain as I watched the tip of those much-wished-for 

 horns gradually disappear. Making the best of it, I 

 loaded and, sucking an orange, determined to keep 



