ADVENTURES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE. 211 



in a state closely bordering on nudity among the ashes of his 

 fire. These pious occupations, I need hardly state, secured him 

 the countenance and respect of all his native acquaintances. 



Himta had left several of his men on the watch while he 

 came to guide us, and having finished breakfast we set out. 

 The party consisted of one officer of the detachment, the 

 doctor from Mundlaisir, and myself. When started, the pan- 

 ther could only come down the bed of the river, which was 

 only about thirty yards in breadtlj. Above him was the 

 waterfall, and on either side walls of rock. We drew lots for 

 places, the doctor getting the left bank, I the right, and the 

 Highlander the centre of the stream. As soon as we had 

 mounted into trees, the panther was started, and hugging the 

 rock on the right bank, came towards me. I fired, but 

 missed, and the beast passed close under me. Turning sharp 

 on the branch, I again fired, and he fell dead. As we stood 

 round the dead beast the Highlander commenced to con- 

 gratulate himself on his good shooting, whereby he had slain 

 the panther. Not having heard any report from his gun, I 

 mildly suggested that I had been the fortunate marksman, 

 but he declared so positively that the fatal shot was his, that 

 I, looking on him as my guest, held my peace. Just then the 

 doctor, who was standing by, passed his fingers into the barrels 

 of his rifle. They were perfectly clean. It was a wonderful 

 instance of the force of imagination. 



Soon after this I marched to join a force employed in the 

 Sathpoora Hills in the suppression of a Bheel insurrection. 

 The Bheels to the north of Khandesh, headed by Khaja 

 Sing, took advantage of the embarrassment of the British 

 Government in the suppression of the mutiny, to return to 

 their old habits of plunder ; and those of the Burwanee State, 

 in the south-western corner of Nimar, having unsettled claims 



