344 SPORT IN BENGAL. 



and less costly. I have a rifle made for me by the last- 

 named famous firm which has been in use thirty years, and 

 is as good as it ever was, and a better no man ever had. It 

 cost 55, but being a muzzle-loader (10-bore polygroove), I 

 suppose no one would give Rs. 250 for it now ; that is about 

 a third of the original price at the current rate of exchange. 



Some men when out stalking are addicted to hanging on 

 their belts revolvers and huge hunting knives, which rarely 

 come into use for defence, and are rather useless burdens than 

 necessary articles of equipment. A knife of moderate length 

 which will readily take a keen edge on a hone, will always 

 prove handy to the sportsman, whose second gun-bearer 

 should carry a bill-hook or a Nepalese knife (" kookree "), the 

 latter for choice. Even in the howdah these last are indis- 

 pensable, as branches of trees, creepers, and canes have often 

 to be cut and cleared away in forcing a passage through dense- 

 and tangled covert. As a rule the steel of which English 

 knives and spear-heads are made is too hard, and difficult to 

 sharpen sufficiently. A pair of English butchers' knives, kept 

 clean and keen, should also be provided for skinning. 



In howdah shooting a thick rug or two ought to be 

 carried, to afford a defence against wild bees, which will now 

 and then scatter a line of elephants and send them flying 

 across the open ; add a " serai " or earthen pitcher of water, 

 a few biscuits, cheroots, matches, a flask of whisky or brandy,, 

 a binocular, and a stout umbrella, to complete the equipment. 

 A basket or two of substantial refreshments will always 

 accompany the party, fastened securely on the pad of a steady 

 elephant, with a table servant clinging on monkey-fashion to 

 his precious charge ; but it is absolutely necessary that the 

 occupant of each howdah should be independently provided 

 with some refreshments of his own, in case of separation or 

 other accident. An umbrella may sound a queer adjunct,, 

 nevertheless it is not to be omitted, because considerable dis- 

 tances have frequently to be traversed between jungles, or in? 

 returning to camp in a scorching hot sun. In the wet season, 

 or when rain may be expected, a blanket poncho and a water- 



