202 THE FORESTS OF UPPER INDIA 



developed from being constantly on the watch for his 

 enemies of the feline race, tigers and leopards, which with 

 velvet tread are always stalking him. No man with boots 

 on has the smallest chance of approaching him, except 

 round the comer of a spur. He can see in the dark better 

 than any man — even a wild man, whose eyes are always in 

 practice. A bare-footed man, or one in gum-shoes, might 

 once in a way get within shot of him. I have shot a good 

 stag from an elephant at 20 yards' distance, as he stood up 

 from his lair and stared at the animal I was riding. I fear 

 this was taking a very mean advantage. But while one 

 goes along on foot, no matter how quietly, to get a shot 

 in the forest and slay a stag sambur is a feat of stalking 

 rarely brought off. I once did bring one to bag in this 

 way ; but he was a very old stag with only one eye, which 

 was turned away from me as he stood listening across a 

 ravine. His horns, which I still possess, are the largest I 

 ever saw, measuring 43^ inches in length, 43!^ in spread, 

 and 8|^ in circumference of beam. He was shot in the 

 Central Provinces. The jerow of the hills is exactly the 

 same animal, but the usual size of antler is much smaller 

 than the above. 



The colour of stags is dark-brown — almost blue-black 

 sometimes, with rufous and yellow underneath. The hinds 

 are hght fawn. To shoot a hind I considered unsports- 

 manlike. I spent many happy days in the foot-hills 

 stalking the jerow, accompanied by a single bare-footed, 

 almost naked Dotial coolie named Jugia. He was a most 

 silent, cat-like young man, strong and lithe of limb, and 

 had eyes that could see through a thicket in the most 

 wonderful manner. I promoted him to the honour of 

 carrying my second rifle and luncheon basket, and he was 

 worth twenty professional shikaris. He would watch the 

 motion of my hand, and was always ready with the rifle. 



