ADVENTURES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE. Ill 



The nylghae were met with to the north-west of Kote, 

 and we often brought in a fat cow to the larder. The flesh, 

 though somewhat coarse, is by no means to be despised ; and 

 as beef proper was not obtainable, we were glad of the change 

 from the everlasting mutton. We also shot some very large 

 old bulls. 



I was out one morning shooting for the pot, when I 

 observed a herd of nylghae, and seeing some calves among 

 them, I stalked to within a hundred yards, and, singling out a 

 good one, fired. The bullet struck low, breaking the fore-leg 

 near the body. I had no horse with me at the time, but my 

 big dog was led by an attendant, to whom I signalled to bring 

 him up. The herd had not gone very far ; and, taking up the 

 dog towards them, I advanced till they began to move away, 

 when I slipped him. The herd went off at a sharp trot, and 

 the dog was gaining on them fast, and was close to the 

 wounded calf, when the herd suddenly halted, and a number 

 of cows faced about. They waited till the dog was within 

 twenty yards, when they made a rush at him, striking violently 

 with their fore-feet. The dog had no chance against them, 

 and received some severe blows, but at last managed to get 

 away, and returned to me much discomfited. The herd moved 

 off, taking the wounded calf with them, and my visions of 

 veal vanished into thin air. 



The nature of the nylghae varies much, according to the 

 locality in which he is found. In some of the more cultivated 

 parts they are tame as cows, but in the big jungles they 

 become very wary, and are nearly as difficult of approach as 

 the sambur. An officer who was in camp with me, but who 

 himself was no sportsman, expressed a wish to join me one 

 afternoon ; so, ordering out the shooting-cart, we mounted our 

 ponies and set off for some Babool jungle, which I knew was 



