From Dalhousic into Chamba 85 



last degree, and have been known, though rarely, to 

 become man-eaters. The wounds they inflict, even 

 apparently harmless scratches, have proved mortal 

 owing to their very poisonous nature. 



The sheep-dogs in the hills are often furnished 

 with heavy, iron-spiked collars to protect them against 

 leopards, which always haunt the neighbourhood of 

 sheepfolds, and splendid beasts they sometimes are, 

 capable of killing a leopard single-handed in a fair 

 fight. This has been known ; but as a rule they come 

 to an untimely end through being taken unawares and 

 sprung upon from behind. Common as leopards really 

 are, it is curious how comparatively few are shot by 

 Englishmen, except in certain favourable localities. 

 The shikari who has sent home a dozen tiger-skins 

 has only two or three panthers to show at most ; 

 while a black panther's or a snow leopard's skin is 

 one of the most precious trophies a hunter can 

 possess. 



The cunning cats have an extraordinary faculty for 

 concealing themselves in the most scanty cover, their 

 beautiful spotted skins harmonising with rock and 

 reed and grass alike ; besides which they lie in caves 

 and holes or thick cover through the daytime and 

 prowl about at night. Most of those which are killed 

 are shot at night or in scant daylight over the carcases 

 of animals which they have destroyed ; but sitting up 

 for them is a work of patience, for they often will not 

 return the first, nor second, nor even the third night, 

 by which time the body of their victim is putrid, and 



