THE HIGHEE NAEBADA. 351 



this is not easy, the breed having got much mixed with the 

 common village pariah dog. The true Bunjdra" is a fine, up- 

 standing hound, of about twenty-eight inches high, generally 

 black mottled with grey or blue, with a rough but silky coat, 

 a high-bred, hound-like head, and well feathered on ears, legs, 

 and tail. He shows a good deal of resemblance to the Per- 

 sian greyhound, but is stouter built, and with a squarer 

 muzzle. Probably this wandering race of gipsies may have 

 brought the originals with them from Western Asia, the sub- 

 sequent modification of them being due to a cross with some 

 of the indigenous breeds. The Bunjai-a* breed possesses 

 indomitable pluck, can go about as fast as a foxhound, and 

 will run all day. His nose is superior to that of any other 

 domestic breed in a hot climate ; but he wants better speed 

 for coursing deer, and attachment to Europeans. 



The common black sloth-bear of the plains of India* is 

 very plentiful in the hills on either side of the Narbadd,, 

 between Jubbulpur and Mandla\ Indeed, there are few parts 

 of these highlands where a bear may not at any time be 

 met with. They are generally very harmless until attacked, 

 living on roots, honey, and insects, chiefly white ants, which 

 they dig out of their earthen hillocks. The natives call them 

 ddam-zdd, or "sons of men/' and, considering them half 

 human, will not as a rule molest them. Eeally, their absurd 

 antics almost justify the idea. Sometimes, however, a bear 

 will attack very savagely without provocation generally, 

 when they are come upon suddenly, and their road of 

 escape is cut off. As a rule, in frequented parts, they do 

 not come out of their midday retreats, in caves and dense 

 thickets, until nightfall ; but, in remoter tracts, they may be 

 met with in the middle of the day. I was once charged by 



* Ursus labiatus. 



