80 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL INDIA. 



and panthers, again, which prey on them, although not usually 

 retreating so far, yet seek the most secluded thickets and 

 ravines of the neighbourhood at an equally early hour, and in 

 the cold weather are so much on the alert, and can so easily 

 hide in the thick vegetation, that the chances with them, 

 except by sitting up over a bait at night, are equally poor. 

 The native Shikari, watching by night, kills a great deal of 

 game at this season. But it is very slow and cold, as well as 

 rather poaching, work, and few Europeans are cat-like enough 

 to succeed in it. Now, as most Europeans who attempt 

 shooting at all in India (and who does not at first ?) only go 

 out during the cold season, and never go deeper into the 

 forest than this semi-cleared belt, the reason of much of the 

 want of success complained of is not far to seek. To ensure 

 success the animals must be followed up into the deeper 

 jungles. In future chapters some sketches of the sport in 

 these wilder regions will be given. The present chapter 

 scarcely deals at all with the subject indicated by my title ; 

 but I have given it as a sort of introduction to Indian camp 

 life, and to the field sports likely to be attempted by beginners, 

 and in the earlier part of the season. 



