210 IBEX. 



Laws since adopted and promulgated, save them from 

 this fate. 



In order to get good ibex shooting it was necessary 

 to go further afield, to remoter districts such, for 

 instance, as the higher ranges of the Annamullays, that vast 

 extent of unexplored and uninhabited highlands stretching 

 away southwards into Travancore. 



These ranges are difficult of access and quite unsuited 

 to the operations of sybarites, and have only been visited 

 by a few keen sportsmen, who did not mind roughing it, 

 and running the risk of fever in the lower valleys, which 

 must first be traversed in order to reach them. I had 

 projected a trip to these happy hunting grounds, but 

 was ordered home to the Depot, but my friend who 

 went there, told me he saw herds of ibex numbering 

 seventy individuals, which was probably an amalgamation 

 of several smaller herds which had been attracted by better 

 pasturage or been driven by stress of weather from the 

 higher peaks. 



He obtained seven good bucks, three bull bison, and a 

 shot at a tusker during his last expedition, which extended 

 for a period of six weeks. 



The ibex stalker always endeavours to get above the 

 herd, as they never seem to expect danger from this 

 quarter, and the sentinel which is always posted on 

 the look out devotes his attention to the ground lying 

 on a level with, or below the herd. The sport is exciting 

 in itself apart from the dangerous nature of the ground on 

 which it is carried out the scenery is beautiful, the climate 

 cool considerable woodcraft is necessary to obtain a 

 prize, and altogether it is one of the most enjoyable sports 

 of Southern India. 



