7 V EARS. 1 ( .) 



but real graft mangoes and Baliyah, who, in addition to 

 being head shikari, made himself generally useful in camp, 

 volunteered to elimb up to get some for us. In the course 

 of his operations, however, he disturbed a nest of the red 

 tree ant, the occupants of which vigorously attacked him. 

 He shouted with pain, and declaring he was being eaten 

 alive, came down like a flash of lightning, barking the 

 skin of his legs in his rapid descent. On reaching the 

 ground he rolled over and over to get rid of his perse- 

 cutors, which bit so severely that their heads remained 

 -embedded in his skin after the bodies had been rubbed off. 

 Later on in the day, some of the local native magnates 

 visited the camp to see our trophies. In the middle of 

 the function the young bear was enlarged, and imme- 

 diately charged the gaily attired groups of grandees, 

 and their retainers. A complete rout ensued, all dignity 

 being sacrified, in a stampede for the village ; it was 

 ridiculous to see the tiny brute, chasing a crowd of twenty 

 men, who flew along with shouts of alarm, and turbans 

 wildly streaming in the air. He managed to bite two of 

 them, and we ourselves had a pretty lively time before we 

 got him into his cage again but we were not again troubled 

 by visitors. From a small and nearly dried-up tank, close 

 to the camp, we got several good hauls of murrell, with 

 nets, several of the fish being about three pounds weight, 

 and not in the least muddy in taste a nice change from 

 everlasting "ishtoo " (stew) and curry. 



Some days after this we arrived at Mowtool. and news 

 was brought in of a bear and adooker (pig) said to be lying 

 under some shadv bushes, within a short distance of eaeli 

 other, so we rode out in hopes of being able to use the 

 spear, but a glance at the ground showed this to be 



impossible. It was Mauley's turn to fire I beinir in 



< -J 



