BULLET AND SHOT 



showers fall in April and May, and immediately, in 

 any areas which may have been burnt, cause the 

 springing, from the moistened soil manured by the 

 ashes of the burnt grass and leaves, of a new 

 growth of rapidly-rising, succulent grass a great 

 blessing for the game after their short commons 

 during the hot weather. This is, perhaps, the most 

 unhealthy season in the forests of the low country, 

 for the light rains serve to stir up, and to liberate, 

 gases generated by the decay of organic matter, 

 without being sufficient to also wash them away. 



Between the 25th of May and the i5th of June 

 may be expected the burst of the south-west mon- 

 soon (when the wind sets in steadily from that 

 quarter) which is usually ushered in by heavy 

 rains. These, washing all the deleterious matter 

 out of the soil, render the jungles healthy and 

 free from malaria. This is the time for the sports- 

 man who values his health, and who wishes to 

 enjoy big-game shooting in these lovely forests 

 without fear of fever, so long as he acts prudently 

 and takes due precautions. 



The grass now grows rapidly, and by the end 

 of the following month will, in places, be several 

 feet in height. 



The south-west monsoon continues till about 

 September or October, when the wind veers round 

 to the opposite quarter, and the north-east takes 

 its place. July is generally very wet, August rather 

 less so, while in September comparatively little 

 rain falls, and the drying up of the jungles begins. 

 Now again an unhealthy season commences, and 



408 



