ATTACK UPON A HYENA. 41 



calibre still remained, but what was once a flourishing city 

 was now a mass of shapeless ruins, overgrown by jungle and 

 brushwood; no doubt the haunt of the tiger and leopard, 

 and where I got some good pea-fowl shooting. At this place 

 I witnessed a curious proof of the toughness of a hyena's 

 skin. Some of our companions had observed an animal of 

 this species enter a hole in one of the ruins, and a Shikaree, 

 who happened to be in camp at the time, offered for a small 

 reward either to catch it, or make it bolt from its lair, as we 

 pleased. 



We chose the latter, and several of the party stationed 

 themselves immediately above the mouth of the hole with 

 hog-spears, whilst others stood close by, their guns loaded 

 with ball. 



The Shikaree commenced operations by making a second 

 opening in the earth, some distance behind the first, and 

 after removing some large stones, and gradually feeling 

 his way with a long and sharp spear, a low growl was 

 heard, and a large dummel gundy made his appearance at 

 the mouth of the hole, from which he had no sooner half 

 withdrawn his body than several spears were thrown, or 

 poked at him; but which, although sharp as penknives, 

 bounded off his hide like a racket-ball, and had only the 

 effect of accelerating his pace upon emerging from his 

 hiding-place and gaining the open ground. Several shots 

 were fired at him at very close quarters, none of which 

 appeared to take effect, or at least to retard the ungainly 

 canter, which soon carried him far beyond our reach. I 

 really believe these animals bear charmed lives, as I have 

 many times seen them escape in almost a' similar way from 

 apparently certain destruction, and have myself planted a 

 hog-spear, sharpened to the finest edge, right between the 

 shoulders of one that I had ridden down on the plains 

 near Jaulnah, without being able to pierce the impene- 



