196 The Hunting Grounds 



gave chase with our boar-spears, but the old vixen 



was close to her cave, and gave us the slip, to D 's 



intense disgust. 



On arrival at Combei, which we found to be a 

 small deserted village, abandoned by its original 

 inhabitants on account of fever, and occupied only by 

 four families of the Mulcher caste (a jungle tribe), 

 things did not appear very promising, so we pitched 

 our camp under a large peepul-tree by a beautifully 

 clear stream full offish. 



When all was arranged to our satisfaction, we 

 strolled out in different directions to look out for bison. 

 D and B came across fresh trails, but re- 

 turned immediately, as it was too late to follow them 

 up. I was not so fortunate, although I killed a 

 young spotted-deer, and found out a salt-lick, where 

 there were innumerable fresh marks of elk, spotted- 

 deer, jungle-sheep, and some old ones of bison. 

 These animals come for miles round about to eat the 

 earth which they find here and there in the jungle, 

 strongly impregnated with salt, of which they are 

 extremely fond. 



At dinner I mentioned the salt-lick 1 had dis- 

 covered, and, as it was not more than half a mile 

 from our tents, we resolved to try the Burmese 

 experiment of shooting deer by aid of an artificial 

 light, as the moon did not favour us. Accordingly, 

 Chineah made a lamp with pieces of rag, and a 



