Fourteen Thousand Feet High 207 



advantage." Little as we expected it, we were 

 unfortunately destined to meet with a bear under 

 these aspects. 



The black bear is a thorough gourmand, and shifts 

 his quarters so as to be within easy reach of the 

 delicacies of the season, whatever they may be. In the 

 jungle he will put up with roots, berries, scorpions, 

 ants, acorns, or such other trifles as he may meet with 

 during his wanderings ; but as the various cereals and 

 fruits ripen in the vicinity of the villages, he takes up 

 his abode in some well-wooded ravine or tangled copse 

 within easy reach of the fields and orchards, and 

 plunders them regularly every night. Maize and 

 buckwheat among grains, apricots and walnuts among 

 fruits, are his favourite food, and he is partial to 

 mulberries, clambering up the trees, devouring and 

 shaking down the ripe fruit. At times he likes to 

 vary his usual vegetarian diet, and takes to killing 

 sheep, cattle, and ponies. Like the rest of his race, 

 he has a passion for honey. 



The next day was, I believe, one of the longest I ever 

 spent, and one of the most delightful, albeit devoid of 

 any great excitement. It merits description, however, 

 for it must be borne in mind that it is not every day, 

 nor indeed in one day out of seven, that success crowns 

 the sportsman's efforts ; there must perforce be many 

 " blank " occasions, which should be chronicled if any 

 true idea is to be given of what shooting bigger game 

 means. 



We were called by Sala Bux at 4.30 a.m., and were 



