31 4 SPORT IN BENGAL. 



very precious in the estimation of snipe-shooters; and as they 

 are plentifully scattered over Manbhoom, a couple of guns 

 may, in the course of a long day, shoot over six or eight, 

 riding from one to another, securing without fail good bags of 

 gadwals, pochards, pintail, and teal, as well as twenty or 

 thirty couple of snipe, with a few grey partridges, quail, and 

 hares. A light boat of some sort should accompany the 

 sportsman, slung on a pole, and utilised on the march as a 

 convenient mode of transport for refreshments and reserve 

 ammunition. As labour is cheap in that part of the country, 

 the cost of carriage will be small, while the usefulness of the 

 boat will be very great. 



The bar-headed goose is rarely found on these waters, 

 and, so far as I am aware, there is only one tank or " bund " 

 to which the black-backed goose ever resorts in the proper 

 season. It is in the Kaipoor jurisdiction, and is enclosed on 

 three sides by tree-jungle, very convenient for the stalker ; 

 but I know no reason why it alone should attract that fine 

 bird. 



The lover of pretty scenery will be well repaid for a trip 

 to the rapids of the " Soobunreeka " river in the south of the 

 same district, while his gun will find ample employment 

 among the wild-fowl which resort to them in numbers, par- 

 ticularly that beautiful little bird, the true teal. The popula- 

 tion is very sparse thereabouts, and the hills are well wooded, 

 some of the forest being comparatively open and admirably 

 suited to the habits of big game ; one would expect there- 

 fore to find them abundant in that locality, but such is not 

 the case. In the rainy season a few wild elephants are passing 

 visitors, and " gour " also may occasionally be such, but I can- 

 not say that I have ever seen their foot-prints there, nor have 

 I ever shot sambur or axis in that neighbourhood, although 

 both are to be found, no doubt, in small numbers. Tigers are 

 almost unheard of, and panthers are by no means common ; 

 bears and barking-deer seemingly keep possession of these 

 beautiful coverts. 



It is strange that more of the large game of the country 



