OP THE OLD "WOKLD. 237 



had at first imagined from its appearance from the 

 top. I soon fastened the rope round the buck's 

 head, and on giving the preconcerted signal of a 

 whistle, he was hauled up by the gang, who again 

 threw down the cord for me. I climbed up the rope 

 easily enough, but had great difficulty in scrambling 

 over the crest, as my eyes were nearly filled with 

 sand, which fell from the sides. At last I managed 

 it, and we commenced the operation of skinning, 

 that occupied us nearly an hour, after which we 

 commenced our descent, and taking the head and 

 skin of the sambur en route arrived at the tent just 

 before sunset. During the next five days we hunted 

 over these grounds, bagging thirteen ibex and a 

 couple of bison, a herd of which animals came early 

 one morning close to our tent, after which we re- 

 turned to Ooty. 



