lOO THE FORESTS OF UPPER INDIA 



hollow which would bring us to the back of a ridge close 

 to the burrhel, the air being on the move across from 

 them to us. It took over an hour to reach the particular 

 pointed rock we had noted. Over this Munnoo was not 

 long in verifying our position as just opposite to where the 

 herd still lay quietly. Having rested a moment to allay 

 the unsteady panting caused by the quick climb, I had 

 the satisfaction of seeing fifteen old rams lying asleep, 

 most of them with their heads resting on the ground, and 

 not seventy yards off. Recollecting that one is terribly 

 apt to fire high at these close distances, and having 

 picked the heaviest head, I slipped the point of my double 

 rifle, a i6-bore Jacob, over the rock ; and, being perfectly 

 steady and cool, he dropped to a shot in the neck. Terri- 

 fied at the report, they sprung to their feet, and, not know- 

 ing whence the danger came, stood for a second, when 

 another big ram fell to the second barrel. Munnoo, who 

 lay behind me, handed the second rifle ; and, still in 

 doubt, the herd started to run in all directions, some 

 actually towards me, and passed within twenty yards 

 below me. A third was hit behind the shoulder as they 

 galloped by, and the fourth bullet went high. So I had 

 succeeded in killing three rams with four barrels, and 

 securing a very nice lot of mutton for the men to eat, and 

 some good heads, the biggest with horns 15 inches long 

 and II inches girth. 



The rams are found at this season separate from the 

 ewes, as in the case of the thar. The burrhel is not a 

 forest animal ; he lives entirely on the grassy hills above 

 the tree-line, and grazes on the slopes, retreating to more 

 precipitous ground when disturbed. He can move on 

 the face of the most dangerous crags quite as freely as the 

 wild goats. 



We sloped along the upper levels towards the trail, 



