ADVENTURES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE. 19 



thigh, falling into the main cut about six inches from the root 

 of the tail. 



By carefully following these instructions, it will be seen 

 that when the skin is spread out, the outline is not jagged or 

 unseemly, and that the yellow is almost entirely surrounded 

 by a band of white. This adds greatly to the beauty of the 

 skin. 



Panthers and chetahs may be done the same way. After 

 the skin has been cut as described, the village skinners will 

 do the rest. 



Black bear skins are generally kept, though I don't know 

 why, unless as trophies, for they are not useful nor ornamental, 

 the hair being long and coarse. 



When taken off, all skins should be made over to the 

 village chamars or skinners, who will go over them with their 

 own peculiar knives, and remove from them all flesh and fat 

 which may be adhering. Each man should have an inch- 

 thick board, free from nails, and a foot or eighteen inches 

 square, to work upon. The ears should be skinned down as 

 far as possible, as also the toes, each separately, and the bones 

 removed to the last joint. The lips should be pared as thin 

 as can be without damaging the roots of the moustache. All 

 bullet-holes should be sewn up with a stout needle and thread. 



On the skin being thoroughly cleaned, it should be pegged 

 out, hair downwards, with wooden pegs five or six inches in 

 length. A large number of these pegs should always be kept 

 ready. The pegging out should be done with care, and the 

 legs on both sides should be stretched in the same positions, 

 else the shape of the skin will be spoilt. The proper propor- 

 tions of length and breadth should also be preserved. 



The skin should be pegged down in some spot which is 

 completely shaded throughout the day ; and the ears, head, 



