THE NILGIRI IBEX 



Ootacamund. Here we found that our belongings 

 had, by the good offices of a relative, been des- 

 patched upon sixteen pack ponies to a camping 

 ground called " Banghy Tappal " on the bridle-path 

 to Sispara. One more pony was needed for the 

 few requirements which we had brought with us ; 

 and these seventeen ponies, two local shikarries, 

 six coolies, and our servants, constituted our follow- 

 ing. We reached the tent next evening after a 

 long ride from Ooty, and found all ready for us, 

 and dinner in course of preparation. 



My right foot was sore, owing to an internal 

 bruise incurred (apparently) while traversing stony 

 ground in pursuit of antelope on the plains ; and 

 I doubted my capacity for the steep hill -walking 

 which I should have to undertake in order to 

 achieve success ; and as moreover I have a very 

 bad head for precipitous ground, my chances of 

 bagging an ibex the game on which my heart 

 was chiefly set seemed poor indeed. I hoped, 

 however, to at least shoot some sambur stags. 



For nine days D. worked very hard, and I myself 

 as persistently as the tender condition of my foot 

 would permit, but upon the ninth evening D.'s total 

 bag was one stag with horns of about 3i|- inches 

 in length, and mine two young buck ibex shot out 

 of a herd met with on the first day on the open 

 grass hills. 



Bad luck had dogged us throughout, though I 

 had seen ibex upon three occasions, and upon each 

 had fired at them. D. had but once seen these 

 animals, and then came upon them far away 



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