CH. xv.] ANGLO-INDIAN DOGS. 251 



doubtless, prove extremely useful. Their strength of constitution 

 would compensate for acknowledged inferiority in every other re- 

 spect. A cross with the Spanish I)on would probably be the best, 

 and the easiest broken in, as he is so steady and full of point. But 

 the Hidalgo would be of little service out of the kennel. From 

 his natural inactivity and weight, he would soon knock up under 

 an Indian sun. Three or four pups would be enough for the dam 

 to rear. Those most like the sire should be preserved ; and they 

 might be kept in good health, if they were occasionally treated to 

 a little calomel overnight, with castor oil in the morning, and 

 allowed full liberty to run about for an hour every morning and 

 evening. I knew some greyhounds of a purely English breed, but 

 born in the country, which were thus maintained in capital health. 

 They belonged to the only litter that the mother ever had. The 

 climate, which is generally fatal to. England-born dogs, killed both 

 the parents within a year after their arrival in India. It is best that 

 the pups should be whelped in the latter part of the year, as they 

 would then acquire some strength before the setting in of the hottest 

 weather, and be of an age to commence hunting at the beginning 

 of the following cool season. The companionship of dogs in the 

 jungle adds much to the security of the pedestrians. A timid yelp or 

 a clamorous bark gives timely notice of the vicinity of every dis- 

 agreeable, dangerous neighbour, and enables the sportsman to take 

 a cool deliberate aim, instead of having to make a hurried snap- 

 shot at some stealthy panther or tiger, or the far more formidable 

 foe, a solitary buffalo. The habit of placing the fore-finger along- 

 side the stock, and not letting it touch the trigger, until the moment 

 of firing, proves very valuable in these critical circumstances. Many 

 a barrel has gone off, even in the hands of an old sportsman, before 

 he properly covered some vital part of his first royal tiger. The 

 certainty of ignition afforded by a detonator gives great confidence 

 to the present generation of sportsmen. Even in the wettest 

 weather, the waterproof caps manufactured by Eley and others, 

 seem to insure an instantaneous fire. 



449. Great presence of mind in moments of unforeseen, sudden 

 peril is undoubtedly a gift ; but calmness and self-possession, for- 

 tunately for sportsmen seeking " large game " (burrah shicar), as it 

 is technically termed in India, can be acquired by reflection and 

 habit. 



450. A friend and old fellow-passenger of mine, one of the 



Colonels K g, a name that will long be remembered at Hythe 



evinced in 1816 as much coolness as I ever heard of. He was 



I was in the country, but I speak parts of Arabia, where an admi- 



of many years ago, I never saw a rable, short-coated greyhound is 



decent one. A far better descrip- reared for different kinds of cours- 



tion of dog, and one which would ing. The best dogs are greatly 



keep healthy in the hottest weather, valued, and it is a question whether 



might be imported (if expense was our noble breed is not originally 



no consideration) from the upper derived from this stock. 



