OUT ON THE HUNT. 155 



had recently been harvested. On the other hand, though a 

 large and powerful beast, the bull was somewhat old, and 

 probably not so vigorous as he would have been without the 

 wound he had received, and the irritation caused by it. On 

 bad and broken ground I believe we should hardly have 

 succeeded in slaying him without some accident to man or 

 horse, or at least without the utmost difficulty or a prolonged 

 battle. 



I have known a good rider, admirably mounted, taken 

 full twelve miles by a wounded bull before the latter fell; 

 and as an example of what lusty young males can do in speed 

 and wind, the following adventure may be related here 



My chum in many a bout with the beasts of the field, 

 Dr. P., and I, were encamped near Kulkapoor, on the Soobun- 

 reeka river, in the Midnapoor district, one fiery week in 

 April, when the hot west winds were blowing uncommonly 

 free from nine a.m. till sunset, about which time, or a little 

 later, the south sea breeze set in and cooled (?) the air down 

 to about 90 or 92 under canvas. During the afternoon, 

 from noon till five, the temperature must have been over 

 100, and yet it was tolerated willingly for sport, though 

 soldiers and their leaders are considered martyrs to duty 

 if they suffer such heat. I have been glad to get under a 

 table for protection when the mercury in my boat or tent has 

 stood at something over 100 Fahrenheit in Bengal, the climate 

 of which is " temperate " when compared with that of many 

 parts of India. We were out for the special object of securing 

 some black buck, which were still to be found in some 

 numbers in that neighbourhood, not of course in great herds 

 as in the North-west and Central Provinces, but in some 

 flocks of six or eight. We varied our sport by stalking 

 spotted deer in the early mornings, and had a turn with a 

 herd of sixty or eighty wild buffaloes, which held possession 

 of a low plain not far from camp ; but they were not parti- 

 cularly sought by us on that occasion, though the country 

 admitted of their pursuit on horseback. Our practice was to 

 sally out soon after dawn and a light " chota haziree," and to 



