CHAPTER XI 



Take three months' leave — A shooting trip to Central Provinces — A fine 

 shooting country — Local shikaris — A monster tiger bagged — Hear 

 of many bears— Sitting up at night — A great fusillade — Sui*prising 

 result — My feat with a '360 — Hitting the right spot — A fine bison 

 brought to bag — Stalking a herd — Within ten yards of a bull — A 

 tempting shot — Taking a risk — The 'SeO scores again — Astonishing 

 my friends — A remarkable performance — Small bores not suitable 

 for big game — Exceptional cases — The Indian bison — Where to be 

 found — Average size of — General appearance — Description of the 

 horns — Difference bet^t-een buUs and cows — Difficult to approach — 

 SoUtary bulls — Savage and morose — Stalking two bulls — Risking a 

 shot — *' Missed ! " — A long chase — Come upon them at last — Off 

 again — Another long chase — Found once more — A right and left — 

 Doubt as to result — Following up — A pleasing surprise — Both found 

 dead — Camping out for the night- — A favourite resort for bison — 

 Encounter with a soUtary bull — The first shot — Following up tracks 

 — A determined charge — Effects of an 8-bore — Why solitary bulls 

 are savage — Dangerous not only to sportsmen — Expelled from herds 

 — Sohtary' wild elephants and buffalo. 



In the early part of the year 1888, I took three months' 



leave and accompanied by I D of the Civil 



Service, and T-: S of the Public Works Department, 



went on a shooting trip to the Central Provinces. 



This part of India had not been much shot over in 

 those days, hence we had some excellent sport, our bag, 

 as far as I remember, amounting to eleven tigers, three 

 panthers, six bear, besides several buffalo and bison. 



We took a party of the Bhil Corps with us, and were 

 therefore independent of the local shikaris, though we 

 found the Ghonds * excellent beaters, and very useful 

 in the matter of supplying information of tigers, etc., in 

 the neighbourhood. 



We were greatly assisted, too, by the Forest Officer of 

 the Chanda District, who, poor fellow, was shortly after- 

 wards killed by a buffalo. 



* A local tribe. 

 80 



