ADVENTURES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE. 57 



having prepared a number of threads with two needles on 

 each, had the boy laid on a table, and brought the calf into 

 its proper place by sutures at intervals of about an inch ; then, 

 directing cooling diet and water dressing, I made the lad over to 

 his parents. We marched early next morning, and I never had 

 an opportunity of learning the result of my attempt at surgery. 

 The natives, however, at times get over wounds and lacerations 

 in an extraordinary manner, and he possibly recovered, though 

 it struck me at the time that there was much danger of tetanus. 



On this march I passed through a country swarming with 

 antelope and bustard, but I was suffering at the time from a 

 sharp attack of rheumatism in the shoulders, and was unable 

 to hold up a rifle. 



I was out one morning with an old village shikaree, and, 

 disgusted with several bad shots, returned to the tents. The 

 man asked permission to try his luck by himself; but, as 

 his weapon was only a short and very rusty old matchlock, 

 I never expected he would succeed. About two hours after 

 my return he made his appearance, bearing on his shoulders 

 a fine black buck which he had successfully stalked and 

 brought down. 



A friend of mine once made a rather remarkable shot 

 when on the line of march, in command of a treasure-guard. 

 His party consisted of about 100 infantry and some horsemen, 

 the infantry with loaded muskets. As not unfrequently 

 happens, a large herd of antelope were feeding near the road 

 in the open plain, and, quietly getting his men on the proper 

 flank of the treasure-carts, he halted, faced outwards, and fired 

 a volley at the astonished deer. A charge was at once executed 

 by the cavalry, and the result was, I think, seven deer brought 

 to bag. The muskets were the old brown Bess ; with Sniders 

 an even better account might have been given of the herd. 



