1*74 WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



ducks. I had an agreeable companion in Hunt, of the Bengal 

 Lancers, who commanded the agent's escort. 



At Jansi we called on the Eanee, who a few months later 

 was destined to give so much trouble ; and we also went over 

 the old Fort, where Burgess and his gallant companions fought 

 so well, till they were led by treacherous promises to trust 

 themselves to their merciless assailants. 



After a detour to the south, we marched to Duttiah, where 

 the chief, hearing that we were fond of shooting, offered to 

 send out his men with us. We knew the sport would be 

 but tame, but having nothing better on hand, we started off, 

 taking only the chief's shikarees and our own gun-bearers. 

 I always had a horror of native gentlemen when out shooting ; 

 their utter ignorance of sport in any shape, and their inordinate 

 love of noise and large followings, made them most undesirable 

 companions. There are now and then exceptions, but they are 

 like angels' visits. 



On approaching the preserved ground we were met by 

 the shikarees leading a tall and sagacious stalking bullock. 

 A string was passed through his nostrils, and he was guided 

 to the right or left by the rein being thrown on either side of 

 his hump. We had not gone far when we came on a herd of 

 nylghae, browsing among some thick bushes. One of them 

 raised its head, and stood watching us at a distance of seventy 

 yards. Hunt told me to shoot ; so, aiming at what I sup- 

 posed was its shoulder, I fired. The ball struck timber, 

 and when it cleared, I saw the white blaze of the shot on the 

 trunk of the tree, which I had mistaken for the shoulder of 

 the beast. Hunt had done better, for, as they went off, he 

 dropped a good blue bull. 



It was now settled that we should separate and meet 

 again about 3 P.M., at a place about four miles off. We 



