JUNGLES IN CENTRAL INDIA 277 



flies to the mark, and strikes true behind the shoulder. 

 The thud of the bullet is unmistakable, and he bounds 

 away. The rest of the herd, startled by the report, fly 

 in a troop, all bounding in the air with graceful springs, 

 landing on all fours, and springing again in surprising 

 jumps. Their coal-black sides and white bellies glisten- 

 ing in the sun, and with horns thrown back, they dart 

 away at a great pace. The hornless females, with brown- 

 gray coats and white tails stuck straight up, join in the 

 melee. It is a beautiful sight to see the extraordinary 

 height they will jump when startled. They soon disap- 

 pear behind some patches of tall bajra, but the stricken 

 buck separates from the herd and shows signs of distress. 

 Presently he lies down, and another bullet reaches his 

 heart, when he is gralloched and loaded on the horse. 

 His horns are 24 inches long and beautifully set ; his head, 

 being above the average, is preserved for setting up, and 

 now graces my collection. 



Jalaun is an old native city with some crooked, narrow 

 streets and native buildings of imposing flat-roofed 

 structure. It is not at aU metamorphosed by British 

 civilization, but purely native. The principal officer 

 was the tahsildar, or native revenue collector. In the 

 evening this gentleman came politely to pay me a visit, 

 and salaamed in the most courtly fashion, wishing me 

 happiness and prosperity. To my surprise he spoke 

 perfect English, but with a sort of shy manner and accent, 

 as if he seldom used the language. Having been seated 

 in a chair, he presently spoke of England, and said that 

 his name was Stanley, that he had been as a boy at Eton, 

 and came to India very young. He had had misfortunes 

 and a wild career, and had married a native lady, and was 

 now tahsildar in Government employment, and lived like 

 a native, and had almost forgotten his native language 



