INDIAN SHOOTING 349 



enjoy a course after a fox or a hare to vary the entertainment, 

 and a good course with a wounded buck is a very pretty sight. 

 The usual proceeding is as follows : The sportsman rides till a 

 herd is sighted ; he approaches them as far as he thinks safe, 

 probably within about six hundred yards ; he then dismounts, 

 and if he is going to use his horse for stalking, goes on with the 

 horse and groom, leaving the coolies and dogs behind, with 

 orders to follow him slowly, keeping as far back as possible 

 without losing sight of him. If the antelope are feeding or mov- 

 ing slowly, the sportsman directs his course so as to cross their 

 path about a hundred yards ahead of them. If the creatures are 

 lying down or stationary, he must try to pass within a hundred 

 yards of the flank which is to the leeward of the herd, walking 

 on the far side of his horse, which is led by the groom on the 

 same side. If he has no horse with him, he should hold his 

 rifle so that the sun does not shine on the barrels. If two 

 sportsmen are working together (a most killing plan with crafty 

 men who play into one another's hands), they should each take 

 a flank and go rather wider than they would if hunting single- 

 handed, so as to keep the herd between them. As long as 

 that can be managed one or other of the guns is sure to get 

 a chance at the best buck. The sportsman should show 

 himself to the herd a long way off, and walk slowly, without 

 any attempt at concealment; he must remember never to 

 walk straight at them, but always as if he were going to pass 

 them at about a hundred yards ; if he finds he is lying toe 

 far out of his course, he should edge quietly towards them 

 without turning, and he should never stog until he means to 

 fire. He should never look direct at the herd ; quiet side glances 

 will give him all the information he requires. 



When he has approached to within two hundred yards, 

 if the herd is lying down some of the does will get up ; 

 but the sportsman can go on safely till the buck he wants 

 begins to stir. The old fellow will rise leisurely, stretch him- 

 self, and then turn to gaze. This is the time for the shot, and 

 if it can be taken without sitting down or kneeling it is far 



