188 The Hunting Grounds 



beaters began to show unmistakeable signs of distress, 

 we adjourned to the shade of a widely-spreading 

 peepul-tree, and were enjoying our " kieff" (a Turkish 

 word signifying a state of dreamy existence, when 

 the body is motionless, all the senses are at rest, and 

 the mind dormant), and discussing cheroots and 

 brandy-panee, when a villager who was passing by 

 informed us that he had just seen a large herd of 

 antelope on a " maidaun " or plain about two miles 

 further on. 



We loaded our rifles, and after a few minutes' 

 canter arrived at the place indicated, where we saw 

 a herd consisting of about sixty does and seven or 

 eight bucks, which were easily distinguishable, on 

 account of their long spiral horns and much darker 

 colour. They caught sight of us almost immediately, 

 and our sudden appearance caused some consterna- 

 tion ; for the does collected in a body behind the 

 bucks, who stood as if on sentry, carefully watching 

 our movements, although we were at least six hundred 

 yards distant. I saw at once that they were very 

 wild, and that the utmost caution would be necessary 

 in stalking so as to get within shot: we therefore 

 rode slowly away, until I could see by my field-glass 

 that they had ceased to take any notice of us. 



I then directed B and D where to take 



post under cover of some bushes, whilst I undertook 

 to stalk the leader, a fine black buck with a beautiful 



