PREFACE. 



MY only apology for venturing to write this little book 

 is the encouragement thereto in the many references made 

 to me from time to time by young sportsmen and new comers 

 as to the sport to be obtained, the game birds and beasts 

 to be met with, and lastly, the best seasons and localities to 

 seek them in the Lower Provinces. 



Drawing then upon the experiences of forty years of an 

 active life, during which I have hunted or shot over every 

 district, spending no small portion of it too in the wild 

 woods or broad savannahs of the frontiers, as well as in the 

 open plains and jungles of the interior, I have put together 

 some notes bearing on these subjects, in the belief that they 

 will prove useful and entertaining to some readers. 



I do not pretend to write a book of Natural History, 

 every properly constituted little British boy knowing more 

 of it than his grandsires did in their old age; nor do I 

 presume to offer my poor experiences for the edification of 

 " old Shikarees," whose knowledge is far greater than I 

 can pretend to ; but an attempt is here made to lay 

 before the young sportsman a few hints for his guidance. 



Every incident is related exactly as it occurred; and 

 whenever I have not myself been an actor or a witness, I 



