of the Old World. 15 



him on trail. On scent, no jungle, however thick, 

 or rocks, however steep, could check his course; 

 no stream, however rapid, would discourage him; 

 he would enter without splashing, cross and double 

 about until he recovered the scent and came up 

 with his quarry, which he would keep at bay until 

 his master came. He was also first-rate after 

 small game as a retriever, and was very successful 

 in putting up florakin (or the lesser bustard), 

 which bird generally makes a practice of running 

 when disturbed. 



Walter was an adept at tracking, and under his 

 guidance we had no difficulty in following up the 

 trail, the slots not being more than an hour old. 

 I remember being much struck with the extraordi- 

 nary facility he had in discerning the trail over the 

 most difficult ground ; the slightest mark, an up- 

 turned stone, a bruised leaf, or a bent twig, being 

 sufficient to indicate the route pursued by the 

 game with the greatest certainty. 



The gift of tracking or following up spoor, 

 appears to be innate, or a kind of instinct, in the 

 red men of the " Far West," and to certain jungle 

 tribes of Hindostan; but it takes careful study, 

 great observation, and long experience, before 

 " dwellers of cities " are able to mark and under- 

 stand forest signs with any certainty. 



We found the elk had left the cholum fields and 



