THE HIGHEK NARBADA. 317 



all sorts. When the hot season advanced their waters gradu- 

 ally dried up, and then the game all moved down into the 

 Narbada valley, congregating at that time, when the great 

 mutiny had for some years prevented their molestation, in 

 very great numbers. 



In January, 1863, I marched up this valley, on my way to 

 explore the Sal forests in the eastern part of the province. 

 But want of time then prevented my lingering to shoot. The 

 year before joining the forest department, however, I had 

 made an excursion up this valley during the hot season ; and 

 while cantoned at Jubbulpur, made many excursions through 

 the hilly regions surrounding the valley. Several sorts of 

 game which have not yet been much mentioned were then 

 met with in great abundance ; and before taking my readers 

 towards the Sal forests I will devote a little space to these 

 excursions. 



I was then a good deal of a " griffin," and was obliged to 

 rely much on the assistance of native shikans in finding game. 

 The chief of these about Jubbulpur was an arch- villain who 

 haunted the purlieus of the cantonment messes, and hawked 

 about his news of panthers, bears, deer, etc., to the highest 

 bidder. I don't think I ever heard his name. He was always 

 called " Bamanjee," or the " Brahman," for such was his 

 caste. He knew intimately every inch of the jungle for 

 twenty miles around, and had sons and nephews in close 

 relations with the tigers and other wild animals in all direc- 

 tions. He was thoroughly acquainted with all the different 

 sorts of game and their habits, and really could, when he 

 chose, furnish first-rate sport to his clients. But he was by 

 nature a rogue of the first water, generally taking his informa- 

 tion all round the station for offers ; and taking out the 

 highest bidder to a hunt which almost invariably ended, 



