106 WILD SPORTS OF BURMA AND ASSAM 



when disturbed suddenly, or when they see or smell a tiger or 

 a leopard, they make the surrounding country resound with 

 their notes of alarm. 



Steaks of the sambur, cooked like those of a cow or bullock, 

 are scarcely to be distinguished from a real rump-steak so 

 dear to the heart of Englishmen. They are very inquisitive, 

 and often advance towards an object they cannot quite make 

 out. I have seen them stamp their fore-feet as if to intimidate 

 before running away. But the Rusa shot in the Arrakan 

 mountains are in no way inferior to those of India. 



HOG DEER 

 (Cervus porcinus] 



These are equally abundant both in Assam and Lower 

 Burma. When I saw them first in the latter country they were 

 in their monsoon coat, and as I only got a glimpse now and 

 then as they flitted past, I thought they were a variety of 

 spotted deer for the young are spotted, and so are the mature 

 deer during the rains. They possess great vitality, and I have 

 seen one run 100 yards with its entrails trailing behind. 

 When in long grass they lie very close and creep along in front 

 of one's elephant, and now and then I have mistaken the move- 

 ment for that of a tiger. When in moderate-sized grass, and 

 you are in want of meat, a charge of No. 2 or even No. 4 shot 

 will do for them, but that is butchery and not sport, and 

 only justifiable on an emergency. I remember when I was in 

 Baghdooar I had a large camp following, and by going on the 

 Churs of the Manas river which was fast filling I shot eight 

 of them in an hour. They are not at all bad eating a native 

 cook will give you cutlets and chops from them which you 

 would not know from prime mutton. They never carry much 

 fat ; very good broth can be made from their heads. 



