A SHOOT IN INDIA IN 1911-12 149 



the few inches of water had deflected the bullet, 

 which merely tore off a large piece of the hide, 

 about six inches square, and caused the animal 

 no injury. It appears to be useless to fire at any 

 animal through even a few inches of water ; and 

 some of my readers may profit by the experience. 



By this time it was nearly dark, and the buffalo 

 took refuge in a thick part of the forest about 

 one mile from my camp. We tracked him during 

 the whole of the next day through the forest, 

 but failed to come up with him, though we found 

 one place where he had lain down facing his track 

 and waiting for his pursuers. 



On the third morning Kana was confident 

 that the buffalo must have left the cover to 

 drink during the night, so, making a wide circle, 

 we visited before dawn all the pools of water in 

 the vicinity, and eventually we picked up the 

 track. The ground was soft and the track was 

 easy to follow, and Kana soon whispered that 

 we were near him, and, after going a few yards 

 farther, we found him grazing. I was abso- 

 lutely amazed, as I thought he was grievously 

 wounded. His shoulder was hidden from me by 

 a tree, but I thought I could hit him far enough 

 forward to stop him, and fired. Off he went, and 

 we again followed in pursuit, coming up with 

 him once, but having no chance of a shot. I then 

 made for my camp to get some breakfast, and, 

 as we emerged from the forest, the buffalo, which 

 had apparently come to the conclusion that this 

 part of the forest was no longer a desirable 

 residence, appeared in the open, parallel to us, 

 and at about 200 yards' distance. He was making 



