24 THE JURROW. 



the deep -toned voice of the former, or the succession of 

 hoarse grating sounds — like the sawing of wood — made by 

 the latter, might often be heard through the still night air. 

 There also the jurrow-deer sought refuge from the fierce 

 noonday heat, among tangled masses of the gigantic creeper 

 called " maloo " or " maljoon," beneath the impenetrable 

 shelter of which it delights to ruminate. The crags and 

 precipices above were the haunt of the "gooral," or Himalayan 

 chamois as it is sometimes called. 



After an al fresco repast, for which our appetites had been 

 sharply whetted by a refreshing dip in the river, we prepared 

 our tackle under the grateful shade of the trees, before pro- 

 ceeding to business later in the day, for the sun's rays in this 

 low-lying valley were overpowering. 



Towards evening, when the heat became less intense, we 

 commenced proceedings in a splendid pool where the Surjoo 

 forms a junction with another fine stream. But our hopes of 

 success that evening were small, for the water was too big, 

 and in colour too "drumlie," as they would have said north 

 of the Tweed, and " the fush wadna force." We, however, 

 plied it most perseveringly with every kind of fish-lure we 

 possessed, until darkness brought our fruitless efforts, for 

 that day, to a close. 



On our return we found that one of the Goorkhas we had 

 with us had been more successful on the hillside than we 

 were on the river. He had taken one of our rifles and had 

 managed to bring down a good jurrow. This fine large deer 

 is identical with the " maha" of the Terai, and the " sambur" 

 of other parts of India. It affects heavy forest or its im- 

 mediate vicinity, and is widely distributed over Hindustan 

 from the higher ranges, close to the perpetual snows, to Cape 

 Comorin. The colour and texture of its pile, which nature 

 has adapted for the various climates of the localities where 

 this animal is found, differ considerably. The prevailing hue 

 of the stags is, however, a dark slaty brown, the throat and 

 neck being covered with long wiry hair. The coloui* of the 



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