NEILGHAU SHOOTING. 83 



gained and passed, and we were proceeding to put the latter 

 part of our intentions into execution, when suddenly, and 

 within a few yards of us, we were startled by a harsh roar, 

 or rather screech, and a large chetah sprang up before us, 

 that had evidently been watching the neilghau with quite 

 as much anxiety as we had, and probably with much greater 

 appetite. We saluted him on his retreat with the united 

 contents of our guns, but without much damage to his 

 person or speed, and had the annoyance of observing the 

 deer bound away and vanish in the distance. 



Daily shooting parties, in a most beautiful and interesting 

 country, inspecting the many and wonderful curiosities of 

 the Caves, and pleasant and social evenings in our cool 

 retreat, all tended to make a fortnight at Ellora pass 

 quickly and agreeably. Several times subsequently I have 

 passed many days there, and in my favourite resting-place, 

 the great hall of Key las, both alone and with companions, 

 the remembrance of which will always be marked with a 

 " white stone" in my memory. At the period I now allude 

 to, my leave of absence had nearly expired, and I first of 

 all returned to the hospitable roof of my friend Johnson, 

 at Aurungabad, his unexceptionable cuisine Orieniale, and 

 another nautch, and then to my old quarters at Jauliiah, 

 with its dull, hot, and unhealthy routine. 



