CONCLUSION 



The last chapter brings my narrative to a close. Except 

 to the keen sportsman anxious to learn something of small- 

 game shooting in India, Chapter XXIX. will, I fear, make 

 dull reading ; but in the pursuit of prey so harmless, 

 startling adventures can hardly be expected. The previous 

 chapters, however, will, I trust, prove more generally 

 entertaining. 



In my account of adventures with tigers and other 

 dangerous game, I have, as I proposed when setting out 

 to write my story, confined myself to recording those only 

 which seemed to me to possess some special interest, for 

 bare tales of animals slaughtered are apt to become weari- 

 some if too often told. 



I have endeavoured, therefore, to make each incident 

 recorded as interesting as possible, consistent with truth 

 and, when opportunity offered, have given facts and 

 figures derived from personal observation and experience 

 regarding the various animals I have encountered, together 

 with their description, hoping that this information may 

 be useful to sportsmen contemplating a shooting trip to 

 India. 



At the same time it must be borne in mind that I am 

 writing of sport in that country as it was some twenty-five 

 or thirty years ago ! With the progress of civilization and 

 clearing of the forests, game — more especially tigers — has 

 decreased. Big-game shooting is not so easily obtainable, 

 nor is it to be had at such comparatively little cost. 



However, with an exercise of patience, tact and judg- 

 ment, as well as a judicious cultivation of the natives, much 

 may yet be accomplished. But above all it is advisable 

 to obtain introductions to the civil authorities of the 

 district, or district selected, especially the Police and Forest 

 238 



