348 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



the screen moves and trying to keep their legs out of sight, the 

 business is most comical. 



Directly the wild buck stops, the screen and the men behind 

 it must remain motionless. Having failed to discover what is 

 behind the screen, the buck, though he is still suspicious, pro- 

 bably because he caught sight of a clumsy English leg, feels 

 that he must try to capture that enticing doe, but decides on 

 having a look from the other side of the screen first, so back 

 he gallops to the other flank, and the scrambling process is re- 

 peated. Gradually he comes within range, the rifle is poked 

 through the hole in the screen and he gets his quietus ; after 

 this the tame deer are given a handful of corn, and the party 

 sets out to look for another herd. The tame buck employed 

 in this manoeuvre should be a brown one, as if an old powerful- 

 looking black one is used the wild buck will often decline the 

 contest. 



In some districts the antelope are so wild that sportsmen 

 have to approach them under cover of bullock-carts, and occa- 

 sionally dress up as natives to get within range. The antelope 

 are accustomed to see carts and natives, and will generally 

 allow them to pass within about a hundred and fifty yards, 

 while the sight of a European will start them off at once ; but 

 in most places in Central and Northern India these accessories 

 are not needed. The pleasantest way of shooting is to ride a 

 quiet horse, which will do for stalking if the antelope are wild 

 or for riding down a wounded buck, taking a few coolies with 

 you to carry game, luncheon, guns and cartridges. 



A shot-gun enables one to vary the bag pleasantly with 

 small game, without interfering with the chance of getting ante- 

 lope. If the sportsman is fond of coursing, greyhounds may 

 be taken, the Rampore breed suiting the country best ; but 

 after many trials the writer has become unwillingly convinced 

 that dogs do more harm than good. If there are any crops 

 about they soon get unsighted, get on to fresh deer, and disturb 

 the whole country. 



On the other hand, if the sportsman has dogs he can often 



