H2 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SHIKAR 



stone and out crawled two big snakes. On the ground 

 between their two heads lay the ring. There was 

 so much grass growing round, and the space between 

 the stones was so small, that the chaprassi said it 

 was impossible for me to have thrown the ring into 

 this crack, and that the snakes must have taken 

 their treasure there. Both the snakes were killed 

 as soon as they were seen ; but it was rather a curious 

 incident. 



Before we left that camp I went into the cavern, 

 which was a place of worship, to examine the carved 

 stones, of which there were a good many. Esuf said 

 we certainly ought to give Deo something before 

 leaving. I agreed, felt in my pockets, and was 

 amused to hear him say : 



" Eight annas (about eightpence) will be enough ! ' 



He called to the patel and gave instructions as 

 to what he was to buy to lay at the Deo's feet : 

 coco-nut, to the extent of one anna, and I forget 

 the other things, but he looked inquiringly at me to 

 see if I agreed to each separate item ; and it seemed 

 to be a matter of some importance although it was 

 not costly. 



Esuf often came with me shooting after that, 

 though he could not always make such good arrange- 

 ments. We tried for a tiger a good many times in 

 the cold weather, but had no luck. One time a cow 

 had been seized close to a village and the tiger had 

 been driven off before much harm had been done 

 to it ; it had only a few claw-marks on the shoulder. 

 Esuf sent a coolie in to Satara to tell me to come out 

 at once : he thought the tiger would be sure to come 



