204 IBEX. 



away to the north the blue peaks of the Neilgherries 

 formed a picturesque background. 



A thickish mist now began to drive across the hill, but 

 soon finding fresh traces, Atlay and I pushed on. At 

 length he pointed out three ibex, much larger animals 

 than I expected, being about the size of dhobies'* 

 donkeys. 



They were about 150 yards off a rather difficult shot, 

 and as a strong wind was blowing, I knelt down to get a 

 steadier aim, but uttering a shrill whistle, they bounded 

 away before the sights could be aligned and believing 

 more were close at hand I did not risk the shot. We 

 followed them round the hill, recrossing " Desperation 

 Chasm " an odious experience to the lower plateau, but 

 they were very wary, and after stalking them for an hour 

 they took refuge in a sholah, where it was useless to 

 follow them, so we dejectedly faced homewards, as the sun 

 was getting low, and the journey before us a long one. 

 On the way we shot two sambur, and found a huge pig's 

 nest, as usual situated in the middle of a thick clump of 

 the hill gooseberry, which almost excluded daylight. The 

 structure consisted of small branches piled up two feet 

 high, and covering a space fully twenty yards square. 

 Atlay was adverse to exploring it, but I insisted on doing 

 so, but found the family " not at home." These curious 

 constructions are to be found in all the larger jungles 

 infested by w^ild pigs in the Mysore country, but I have 

 never seen them in those of the Nizam's dominions. 



My next expedition after ibex, four days later on, was 

 more successful. Owing to heavy and continued rains 

 the watercourses were much swollen, even the smaller ones 

 being waist-deep, but after an arduous march of six hours, 



* Washerman. 



