284 SPORT IX BENGAL. 



may carry off a calf now and then, and the young may be 

 destroyed when severe cyclones sweep over their resorts ; 

 but, after all, such casualties are few and far between, while 

 at other times their lives must be as smooth and easy as 

 those of Archdeacons and members of Boards of Revenue. 

 There must therefore be many places in those woods in 

 which they are plentiful, even allowing for epidemics, which 

 are well known to occur among wild animals, such as that in 

 Upper Assam in 1869-70, which carried off great numbers of 

 deer and wild buffalo, and that of about the same time which 

 destroyed many bears in Birbhoom and the Santhal Per- 

 gunnahs. Allowing for all causes affecting their increase, it 

 still seems certain that rhinoceri must be now more numerous 

 in some portions of the " Soonderbuns " than they ever were 

 before, more so perhaps than anywhere in Assam and the 

 Terai at the present day. It is unfortunate therefore for the 

 sportsman that their haunts are so unsuited for stalking that 

 none but the most enthusiastic care to seek them. A few 

 native gunners make their pursuit a profitable one, and by 

 crawling noiselessly up to them when feeding or wallowing, 

 till within fifteen or twenty yards, despatch them with heavy 

 charges, or, severely wounding them, follow their tracks a day 

 or two after and secure the spoils. It may be added, for the 

 information of those unacquainted with the " Soonderbuns," 

 that elephants cannot be made use of in them, in consequence of 

 the thick growth of trees and the infinity of small and great 

 muddy creeks which intersect them in all directions, and 

 which cannot be crossed by elephants on account of the deep 

 mud of their sides and beds. 



