ADVENTURES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE. 25 



through all the snares, so that it is covered from the shoulder 

 to the wrist. A stalking bullock is employed, and is led by 

 the shikaree, who also carries a number of sticks five feet in 

 length, with bunches of feathers attached to one end, the other 

 being pointed. Stooping on the far side of the bullock, he 

 proceeds towards the herd, and, on approaching sufficiently 

 near, he plants the sticks into the ground, 20 or 30 yards 

 apart. Having so disposed of half the number of his sticks, 

 he commences to lay his snares, which he does across the 

 plain, dexterously setting each in the ground by the peg 

 attached to it. From the end of the line he plants his re- 

 maining bunches of feathers, and moves off. His confederates 

 then show themselves, and, by simulating the movements of 

 cultivators, quietly drive the deer towards the snares. When 

 they calculate that the proper time has arrived, they howl 

 and run forward, and turning from the feathers the herd runs 

 over the snares, one or two deer generally being caught by 

 the leg. The snares being all attached to the main line, the 

 deer are then easily caught. 



Bustard are taken in the same way, but the driving has 

 to be quietly conducted, else they would take flight. They 

 are fine birds, weighing from 20 pounds to 24 pounds each. 1 

 have frequently, when stalking them in comparatively open 

 ground, suddenly lost sight of them, and, after searching in vain 

 for some time, have seen them rise from the ground I had just 

 gone over. They will lie flat on the ground, and conceal 

 themselves in a marvellous manner. One morning, when 

 riding across the plain, I observed one walking about in the 

 open ground. I moved slowly towards him, and he did not 

 rise till I was within ten yards. I have often, in Central 

 India, had good shots at them from the back of a horse or 

 camel, but they are very shy of a man on foot. 



