CHAPTEE XYIL 



THE POETRY OF FOREST LIFE.— BISON SHOOTING. 



Return to the Hills. — Benighted in the Jungle. — Native Meanness. — Doray< 

 sawmy, the "Gentleman's God." — A Jewel of a Servant. — Prospects. — 

 Fever again. — Bass' Pale Ale. — Glorious Weather. — Fine Forest. — The 

 Poetry of Life in the Forest. — Our Mode of Hunting. — A Bison Hunt. — 

 Death of a Solitary Bull. — A Noble Animal. — Characters and Habits of 

 the Species. — Another Hunt. — Four Bison in Five Shots. — The Bison as an 

 Antagonist. — Mr. Morgan's Encounter with a Wounded Bull. —A Close 

 Shave. — A Typical English Sportsman and his Battery. — How to Preserve 

 a Bison skin for Mounting. 



Leaving my collection stored at Palghaut, I weut by rail up to Co- 

 imbatore, laid in a full stock of provisions and preservatives, and on 

 tbe 25th of October returned to Animallai village. Ai'riving there 

 I learned that Mr. Theobald's health was veiy bad, that he had been 

 granted leave to change posts, and was soon going to leave the 

 Animallais for Nelumboor. Being attacked by fever again myself, 

 I was detained at Animallai until he came down, bag and baggage, 

 and we had our farewell visit there. During this short delay, I 

 collected my old hunting-gang, gave the men an advance of money 

 and rice, and sent them to Moochpardi to erect a good large hut 

 for me. We were certain there would be plenty of elephants around 

 that camp by the time I should return to it. 



"When I made ready to return to my old himting-grounds, Mr. 

 Theobald fairly loaded me with favors. He insisted uj)on lending 

 me a fine young milch cow and calf, which he could not well take 

 with him, his elephant gun, as before, and quite an array of camp 

 conveniences which I had before done without. On November 3d 

 we were ready, and loading our baggage upon six pack-bullocks, 

 six coolies, and a bandy, we started about noon, which was as early 

 as those wi-etched natives could be pulled together and shoved oS. 

 We tried to start the day pre-vdous, but owing to an vinusual deveL 

 opment of native cussedness, failed utterly. 



