ADVENTURES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE. 115 



Large numbers of coolen resort to the shores in the even- 

 ings, and their wild cry is heard in all directions. No regular 

 boats were procurable ; but the natives used rafts composed 

 of reeds. These were made somewhat in the form of boats, 

 the reeds being bound in bundles, in a mass, five feet wide, 

 and about three in thickness, and fourteen feet in length. 

 Towards the bow they were brought together, so as to form a 

 point, and facilitate progress through the water. The rafts 

 were propelled by a man at the stern, with a long bamboo. 

 On our arrival at the Nul, we at once ordered several of 

 these rafts to be got ready. We made comfortable seats of 

 blankets in the forepart of our primitive vessels ; and skirt- 

 ing along the edges of the high reeds, we enjoyed duck-shoot- 

 ing to our heart's content. Among the many handsome ducks 

 brought to bag, we got some fine specimens of the pintail, 

 which, when cooked, were excellent, though some of them 

 were almost too fat. 



The country round the Nul swarmed with antelope, and 

 we slew many fine bucks. We also made some good bags of 

 coolen, as they fed in the wheat-fields. They are found in 

 great numbers throughout the whole of this district ; and 

 though very shy, and difficult to approach on foot, they will 

 frequently allow a man on horseback, or with a cart, to come 

 within shooting distance. At that time I had a steady shoot- 

 ing pony, from whose back I made many a raking shot, 

 greatly to the satisfaction of our attendants, with whom they 

 were very favourite food. 



We were camped at one time about the commencement 

 of the hot weather at .a village a mile distant from the edge 

 of the water. Our beds were always placed outside the tents, 

 and we slept in the open air. The coolen were in the habit 

 of rising from the shores of the Nul at the early dawn, and 



