114 SPORT IN ASIA AND AFRICA 



numbers of animals, other than the carnivora, 

 which may be shot annually in the Zamindaris is 

 limited, and a sportsman must obtain a shooting 

 permit, which is available for a fixed number 

 of days only. A permit thus granted authorises 

 the holder to shoot a specified number of animals ; 

 but permission to shoot more than one buffalo 

 or one bison is not given, and the sound rule 

 is also in force that an animal wounded counts 

 as an animal killed. The sportsman must follow 

 and bag his wounded buffalo or bison, or must 

 withdraw from the scene. 



Fortunately, also, the Gonds in this part of the 

 country, although they will eat almost anything, 

 will not, for some reason or other, eat the wild 

 buffalo, and have, therefore, no temptation to 

 kill these animals. They are passionately fond of 

 bison meat, but the bison usually live in more 

 difficult ground than the buffalo, and have, 

 therefore, a better chance of escape. 



The country is, moreover, malarious and un- 

 healthy, and this affords some measure of pro- 

 tection, as the forest land is not likely to be 

 broken up for cultivation. It is to be hoped, 

 therefore, that this splendid hunting-ground 

 may be preserved to provide sport for many 

 future generations. 



I paid my first visit to the Zamindaris while 

 I was still in the Indian Civil Service. A con- 

 troversy between the Government of Madras and 

 the Governments of Bengal and the Central Pro- 

 vince provided an occasion for a visit to the 

 Madras border ; and the direct road from the 

 Central Provinces to the border lay through the 



