254 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



stockings, which the tame ones may or may not have. The 

 horns are more symmetrical and larger. In the high grass 

 jungles of the Terai and Assam, buffaloes are generally shot 

 off elephants, and Kinloch notices ' the strong sweet bovine 

 scent ' emitted by a herd. In the Sunderbuns and parts of 

 Lower Bengal they are occasionally shot out of boats when 

 the country is flooded. The sport is described as magnificent, 

 but requires a fever-proof constitution. 



In the Central Provinces, however, the ground is more open ; 

 there buffaloes can be stalked on foot, and Captain Forsyth 

 gives an account of a sparkling episode when shooting buffa- 

 loes from horseback. 



When pursuing them on foot, the best time for sport is in 

 April and May, when a good deal of the grass has been burnt 

 and water is comparatively scarce. The best way of finding 

 the animals is to look for fresh tracks near pools of water, and 

 follow them up. The plan recommended for bison, of sending 

 the trackers on ahead, should be adopted if possible. 



Captain Lamb gives the following interesting account of a 

 stalk: 



I started up the river bed and found fresh tracks. After follow- 

 ing the track for a good way we came on a single bull feeding on 

 a grassy plain about half a mile in width, studded with a few 

 trees. Leaving all the men behind, I crept up on my stomach to 

 within about forty yards of him, and got behind a small pollard 

 tree without the bull being aware of my presence. I fired at his 

 shoulder with the 12-bore, and he fell over kicking on his back. 

 Just as I was going to give him another shot, a second and larger 

 bull rushed out from the long grass and attacked number one, who 

 was still kicking on the ground. He gave him a tremendous 

 punishing, bowling him over whenever he attempted to rise. I was 

 so astonished at the whole thing, that I simply stood and watched. 

 After a little while, number two seemed to think there was some- 

 thing wrong, and stopped to look round ; whereupon, I took the 

 opportunity of giving him a shot, which laid him on his back like 

 his fellow. Both bulls then got up and went into the long grass. 

 I followed number one, going very cautiously, as I was not quite 

 sure of number two's whereabouts. I came up with number one, 



