404 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL INDIA. 



below a great spreading tree at the deserted site of the village 

 of Jilda\ Eaten up by the buffaloes, the people had moved 

 off to a less open place. Around us was a sea of long grass, 

 bounded by low hills and sal forests on the far horizon. Here 

 our poor fever-stricken people paraded themselves in rows to 

 let the sun into their shivering bones, and three times a day 

 got a dose of quinine all round, a course of treatment (pre- 

 ceded by a smart dose of jalap) which soon frees a native from 

 this hot-weather fever. 



When marching in the morning, about a couple of miles 

 from camp we saw a herd of fifty or sixty buffaloes standing 

 up to their knees in a swamp among long grass. It was B.'s 

 turn for the shot, and we spent several hours trying to get 

 near enough to shoot. The buffaloes were very wild, having 

 been much fired at a few weeks before by a sportsman with 

 long-range small-bore rifles. As we approached on one side 

 they waded through the swamp and went out on the other, 

 reversing the process when we changed the direction of 

 approach. At last I got on my horse, and took a light breech- 

 loading gun, to try and get round and drive them across to B. 

 They now got alarmed, and made off towards the head of the 

 swamp ; and on our following them on either bank, left it alto- 

 gether, and started at their best pace across a rising ground. 

 The ground seemed very favourable for riding for that 

 country, so I could not resist the temptation to breathe my 

 little nag at them, and was soon galloping full speed in their 

 rear. My animal was an Arab pony, about thirteen three in 

 height, but game as a bantam, and wonderfully sure-footed 

 over bad ground. To my surprise and delight, I found myself 

 ahead of them in less than half a mile ; and, shooting past, 

 looked out for a worthy quarry among the labouring mass. I 

 fixed on a bull with long horns, whose shining tips danced in 



