280 SPORT IN BENGAL. 



and was conducted the following morning to a patch of 

 jungle on the banks of the Pealee river, a mile or two from 

 camp, and there shown fresh footprints which were, beyond 

 all doubt, those of a large rhinoceros. 



Ordering some elephants and a portion of the camp to 

 remain at a village close by, our friend hastened to Calcutta 

 with the information of what he had seen with his own eyes, 

 and to form a small party to beat up the quarters of the 

 distinguished stranger, which being promptly done, the next 

 evening five of us were on our way to the appointed place 

 of meeting. 



Driving in our dog-carts to within a few miles of Barra- 

 poor, we mounted our horses, and leaving the road, we 

 went on five or six miles to the banks of the Pealee, over- 

 taking our servants, who had been despatched early in the 

 day with guns, rifles, and other requisites. 



Arriving at the river side, where two boats had been 

 hired for our use, we found a strong flood tide flowing in, 

 and were thus detained till past midnight. Under the beams 

 of a brilliant moon near its full, and of a clear sky, sparkling 

 with myriads of stars, an al fresco supper was prepared on 

 the river bank, to which full justice was done; but neither 

 it, nor draughts of iced claret-cup could outweigh the dis- 

 comforts arising from the sultry air and the stings of swarms 

 of rapacious and venomous mosquitoes, till we stept into 

 the canoes on the ebb setting in, and gliding down stream 

 we met the southerly air blowing up the river, which drove 

 away the pestilent little tormentors and lulled us to sleep. 

 Landing again an hour before daybreak, our early breakfast 

 was got ready while the elephants were sent for to camp, 

 from a village distant a mile or two, where they had been 

 ordered to remain till our arrival, so that the jungle near 

 the camp might not be disturbed by their movements and 

 foraging. 



The information which awaited us on coming ashore was 

 that the fresh spoor round the covert showed that up to 

 the previous evening Rhino had not deserted it or crossed 



