CAMPING IN CHAMBA. 483 



gooral to their list of animals hunted, I have written the following notes on 

 Chamba, how to get there from Bombay, and what preparations to make for 

 a satisfactory tour. 



First then, I should lay down that Chamba is essentially a suitable place 

 for short leave, say forty-five to sixty days. You can go farther and see a 

 greater variety of game in Kashmir ; but a shooting trip to Kashmir — 

 a first trip certainly — should not be undertaken on less than three months' 

 leave ; and four, or four and a half, would be better ; whereas Chamba is 

 easily reached in a week from Bombay; sport is to be had within three or 

 four marches of the town itself ; the country is not shot out, or over-run 

 with sportsmen as Kashmir is ; and probably, if you have long leave, you 

 will know of other places better worth spending it in. 



I had sixty days' leave, from April 14th; my wife and child were with me, 

 and very rapid marching was not contemplated. We were chiefly in quest 

 of a cooler climate than that of Baroda, so I determined to wander among 

 the hills, without expecting to get any shikar, except perhaps a chance shot 

 or two at a gooral or a bear. Still, moving by easy stages, we did get to 

 Chamba by the 1st of May, and I had 25 days on shooting ground, during 

 which time I shot 26 heads, and should have got more if I had not missed 

 some shots. I bagge.d 11 gooral, besides catching a young one that I allowed 

 to rejoin its mother ; 4 black bears (and 2 lively cubs, now at Naosari) ; 

 6 thar, 2 mountain foxes, 2 flying squirrels, and .1. Kalij pheasant, all with 

 the rifle ; and I wounded and:lost 1 serow, 1 bear, and 1 gooral. I got all the 

 thar fired at, but missed a number of more or less wild shots at gooral. 

 However, considering I was only one march from Chamba, most of the time, 

 and was only shikaring round the camp, with the exception of two expeditions 

 of four days' each, after thar, one march further, I was satisfied with my luck, 

 aod think that most sportsmen would be content with a similar bag in the 

 time. 



When a shooting trip to Chamba is resolved on, the very first thing to do is 

 to write to the Private Secretary to His Highness the Bajah of Chamba, 

 Chamba State, to ask His Highness's permission to shikar in the Chamba 

 territories. In reply you will receive a courteous letter, and a license to 

 shoot ; and if you ask for it, an order also to the lambardars, &c, to render 

 you assistance in the matters of coolies and ordinary supplies. The receipt 

 of this general shooting license does not do away with the propriety of sub- 

 sequently calling on the Rajah himself and of obtaining a further special 

 permission to shoot in some reserved nullah. 



Next, you will do well to send on to Pathankot by goods train your tents 

 and heavy luggage, at least 25 days before you set out yourself. Or you 

 can have these things sent right through — it is a little more expensive— by 

 the Railway Co. to Dalhousie, if you address them to The Parcel Out- 

 agency, N.-W. Ry., "Dalhousie. You should give them quite 30 days start of 

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