350 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTEAL INDIA. 



the deer bounded forward, and with his fore feet struck the 

 hound under water ; but in so doing he forgot his fence, and 

 exposed his flank within striking distance of his human foe. 

 The spear was buried twice in his side, and the dark water 

 was streaked with crimson as the blood poured from the 

 wounds. The poor brute now tries to struggle to the 

 shore, but in vain ; the dogs are upon him in a body, and 

 their united weight bears him down; a few more spear 

 thrusts, and the gallant stag is bubbling out his life under 

 water. 



The distance run must have been about four miles, but I 

 had ridden probably double that distance. The dogs were a 

 good deal done up, as the heat was by this time tremendous ; 

 but a swim in the river, and half an hour in the cool shade 

 made them all right again. These Gondi dogs must have 

 wonderful noses to follow deer by scent over the burning 

 ground at full speed, as they are said to do. They had not 

 much trouble on this occasion, as the greyhound bitch had 

 never lost sight of the stag to the finish, and cut out the work 

 for the others. 



At other times, I have had excellent sport with the fine 

 breed of dogs possessed by the Bunjard carriers referred to in 

 a former chapter. If the wild dog were available to breed 

 from, a still better hound for sambar-hunting might probably 

 be obtained. With more regular organisation, better dogs, 

 and more sportsmen, sambar-hunting in this country might 

 give admirable sport. The best breed, if the wild dog is, as 

 is probable, unavailable, would be the cross between the 

 Scotch deerhound and the Bunjard, dog, the former being the 

 mother. Pups of a Bunjdrd bitch almost invariably grow up 

 with "vernacular" habits, and a hatred of Europeans. A 

 real specimen of the Bunjard, should however be selected, and 



