FAIRLY IN THE WILDS 129 



out mishap, and instantly measured the 

 horns with their hands. " Very thick horns, 

 but only thirty-five inches," shouted Muk- 

 sooda ; " and not a breath in him, so he can't 

 be ' hilaled.' " " What a pity," said Lassoo ; 

 " for a good meal of meat would have done 

 us all good." The process called " hilal " 

 is that of cutting an animal's throat, repeat- 

 ing the prayer laid down by Mahomed for 

 the occasion. No true follower of the 

 prophet would think of eating the meat of 

 an animal which had not been thus treated, 

 any more than he would eat the flesh of the 

 unclean and forbidden pig. They are very 

 strict about this, only very low caste men 

 ever fail, and many a good meal have I 

 seen wasted in this way. They do not, 

 however, require that much life should be 

 in the animal, and if he has a breath any- 

 where in him, that is quite good enough 

 for their scruples. 



On one occasion I was standing by a 

 barasingha, which I had killed, and we 

 could not find a breath anywhere in him, 

 K 



