BULLET AND SHOT 



usually bursts in the first half of the month of June 

 and continues until the autumn, when the wind 

 veers round to the north-east, and the north-east 

 monsoon replaces the former. 



For choice, I consider the beginning of the south- 

 west monsoon as the ideal time for bison shooting 

 in Mysore. The grass then is (provided fire pro- 

 tection has been unsuccessful) short and of a very 

 vivid emerald hue. The ground being soft, tracking 

 is easy, while frequent rains usually render it prac- 

 ticable to judge correctly the length of time which 

 has elapsed since any track which may be found 

 was made. A further advantage is that, although 

 there is at any time of the year no heat worthy 

 of the name to complain of in Mysore, at this 

 particular season cloudy skies and cold wet days 

 often lighten the labour of a long day's toil after 

 bison. At this time, which corresponds to the 

 early summer at home, forest nature looks her best, 

 and each well-grown tree is an object of beauty to 

 the lover of forest life and scenery. 



The sportsman who is intent on bison shooting 

 should rise before dawn, and make as good a 

 meal as he can manage to cope with at so early 

 an hour before going out. He should take with 

 him food enough for the day, remembering that 

 it may be late ere he can return to camp. He 

 must also carry sufficient fluid to last him till his 

 return cold tea or soda-water, as he may prefer, 

 since he must not drink a drop of jungle water 

 unless it has been boiled, and thus rendered in- 

 nocuous. 



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