IO4 Sport and Life in the Further Himalaya 



ground they leave very little scent. And one 

 wants good cartridges too. One strong lot of 

 cartridges I used in a gun that was not so tight 

 in the action as when it left its maker, used to 

 leave some fouling in the breech. "There are 

 cartridges if you like," said my Chitrali servant 

 when cleaning the gun one day in genuine ad- 

 miration. "They not only shoot out of the 

 muzzle, but out of the breech too ! " 



The sporting Chitralis, though they prefer their 

 hawks, appreciate good shooting. A remark once 

 made to the writer after a high bird had been 

 crumpled up was, " Ah, Sahib, what sport ! what 

 shooting ! Before the English came, the height 

 of skill was to bring a dove down plump from 

 the top of a high tree ! " In justice to the 

 Chitralis, however, it must be said that when 

 they do use a gun it is the native match- or 

 flint-lock with a small round bullet, so it is 

 evident that the feat of bringing a dove down 

 from the top of a high tree did not at all deserve 

 the contempt with which the flattering Oriental 

 spoke of it. 



One of the best drives near Chitral, and a very 

 characteristic one, is that near a village called 

 Ayun. It was a famous drive for hawking in 

 the days of the old kings, and as the manner 

 of it is peculiar, some description may be given. 



