24 WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



large red squirrel at the foot of the Ghaut, I was happy for that 

 clay, and busied myself with taking off and preparing the skin. 



The jungles below the hills swarmed with fireflies, lighting 

 up the trees on dark nights. 



We reached Belgaum on the fifth day, and, after a halt of 

 two days, proceeded on our way to Dharwar, fifty miles, which 

 we accomplished in three marches. 



It was now the beginning of June, the rains were setting 

 in, and not much shooting was to be got. 



To the east of Dharwar is a vast level plain, extending 

 sixty or eighty miles, and highly cultivated. In parts the 

 antelope are numerous, but we did not then understand the 

 use of the stalking-cart, and got but few. I well remember 

 my satisfaction on bagging my first black buck. He was 

 with a small herd, and I had succeeded in getting within 150 

 yards of him. Not having much confidence in the steadiness 

 of my hand, I made my shikaree lie down flat on his face, 

 and, lying down myself at a right angle, I rested the rifle on 

 his back. On being struck, the buck kicked out with both 

 hind legs like a jackass, and went off at speed. I watched 

 him for some distance, and then, supposing I had missed him, 

 signalled to my groom to bring up my horse. On mounting 

 I observed an unusual object on the plain, and cantering up 

 I found the buck stone dead. 



In this plain the deer are much hunted by the Hirun 

 shikarees, or antelope hunters, who snare them by an in- 

 genious method. To a line about 200 yards in length, made 

 of the sinews of deer, they attach snares, to each of which is 

 fastened a wooden pin eight inches or ten inches long. The 

 snares are also made of deer sinews, and the whole is very 

 strong. They are placed at intervals of about eighteen inches. 



When carrying the line, the hunter passes his left arm 



