80 SHIKAR 



sepoy, with coolies and skins, to carry my complaint and 

 make his own statement to the Vizier at Sirinuggur. 

 This was to be carried out after breakfast. The shikar- 

 ries and other attendants were pacified with this decision. 



We then took the same direction as yesterday, and 

 after a mile or two's trudge spied a bear in an open place, 

 difficult of approach. We made a long circuit, and 

 stalked up to his position with great caution and patience, 

 but found his place vacant, and no clue to his retreat. 



We pursued our way, and discovered another hairy 

 individual taking his morning meal in a ravine. I got 

 within fifty yards of him, and knelt, awaiting a clear 

 view of his person, now partially eclipsed by bushes. 

 His whole broadside being presented, I fired and over he 

 rolled got up, made an approach to us, then disappeared 

 up the hill-side. I had not the least doubt he was shot 

 right through behind the shoulder. Subhan, after some 

 little delay, went after him, but returned, not finding 

 blood on the track, which is by no means an incontestible 

 proof, as it is very difficult to detect blood in small 

 quantities on the bare dark soil, and the thickness and 

 length of the woolly coat of bears, at this season of 

 the year, absorbs and staunches the blood which, thus 

 congealing, does not in many cases reach the ground, 

 until the wounded animal has gone some distance. 



I returned disconsolate, and wrote an official report to 

 Punnoo, Yizier, of the misconduct of the Busman folk, 

 recommending some check to be administered to them. 

 Whilst writing, my messenger, whom I had despatched 

 to Sirinuggur for lead, returned bringing that indispensa- 

 ble article with him, of which I had now quite run out, 

 having expended so many bullets uselessly, firing all my 

 barrels at wounded bears when at long distances, for the 

 chance of a < nailer ' being administered. He brought 



