310 SPORT IN BENGAL. 



approach within range, under the impression that it is only 

 one of those they are in the daily habit of seeing manned by 

 fishermen and others, they will not be deceived by a contri- 

 vance such as the above. 



The canoe is propelled by poles in shallow, and by paddles 

 in deep water, by two men, standing or sitting, one at each 

 end. Sometimes when nearing a flock of birds on the alert 

 and ready to take wing, the men step out if the depth of 

 water be not more than four feet, and hiding behind the stern 

 as far as is possible, they push the canoe gently onwards till 

 a shot be obtained. When there is no current, nor obstruction 

 met with from weeds and water lilies, such a canoe can be 

 worked with paddles up to a speed of six miles an hour ; and 

 if poled through weeds, at half that rate, if the boatmen be 

 strong and experienced. 



The usual custom is to take a servant on such occasions, 

 who should sit behind his master on the bottom of the boat, 

 and not upon the bamboo deck, and his dress should assimi- 

 late as nearly as possible with that of the boatmen ; in other 

 words, it should consist of only a yard or two of cotton stuff 

 in addition to the skull-cap, or <( pugree." The gunner him- 

 self must eschew white and all brilliant colours on his own 

 person, restricting himself to grey, green, or brown. Lastly, 

 a basket containing the materials for a substantial meal, a 

 flask of whisky or brandy, a bottle or two of soda, and a 

 " serai " of drinking water should always form a part of the 

 duck -shooter's outfit, since starting as he should at sunrise, 

 he may not return to camp before nightfall. A good bin- 

 ocular and an umbrella will prove useful ; the former to dis- 

 tinguish the varieties of the birds, and the latter for protection 

 against the mid-day, or the still hotter post-meridian sun of 

 Southern Bengal or Orissa, when the sport is over for the day 

 or the gunner rests an hour for refreshment. 



Such boats as have been described above can be hired 

 without difficulty in the inland "jheels"and lakes, but not 

 so easily on the " Chilka," where a different kind is commonly 

 used. The daily hire is a rupee each, i.e., eight annas to be 



