I40 THE FORESTS OF UPPER INDIA 



shikari, Kunkoo, led the way, with a strong Bhotia carry- 

 ing second rifle, and a pony was led behind. 



Truly the native superstition, that if the fairies or 

 deities of the jungle are not propitiated the bullets 

 will not hit, was well proved to be an irrefutable dogma. 

 When daylight came we had crossed some hills, and from 

 time to time searched all the slopes in view with the 

 binoculars. Sure enough there was some movement 

 among the gray limestone rocks opposite, which just 

 caught the eye, and on bringing the glasses to bear I 

 could see three tall, gray, deer-like animals grazing where 

 some green grass grew. The colour of their smooth coats, 

 almost white underneath, was so like the rocks that it 

 was almost impossible to distinguish them. The dark 

 heads and massive horns were slightly moving as they 

 grazed. 



Kunkoo, my new shikari from Milam, sank down flat 

 and motioned me to do so, and we crept back behind the 

 brow of the ridge. There was a hght breeze, blowing 

 down the valley which we had to cross lower down ; and 

 choosing our point of approach up a side ravine we hur- 

 ried on, out of sight of the trio, making a considerable 

 detour over rough shingly ground, till we completed an 

 easy stalk, and at last got a peep at them from behind 

 some rocks. The biggest was standing with head in the 

 air, showing that he suspected danger. 



The judging of distance when sighting an animal of 

 unknown size and in a rarefied atmosphere is excessively 

 difficult, and one is apt to make extraordinary mistakes. 

 It was judged in this case to be 200 yards, but on pacing 

 it afterwards it was found to be nearer 300. The 150 

 yards sight was used, and the breast of the big ram aligned. 

 A steady long pull on the trigger to avoid jerking. Hurrah ! 

 the bullet hit with a loud crack, and the ram fell on his 



