THE INDIAN GAZELLE. 99 



The favorite haunts of the Gazelle are extensive wastes of sandy or rocky ground, 

 sprinkled with low bushes, and interspersed here and there with patches of cultivation. 

 Thick jungles they avoid ; and they are seldom to be met with in districts which are entirely 

 under crop. During the day time, they resort to secluded spots where they are not subject 

 to annoyance, and in the mornings and evenings they frequently repair to fields of young 

 grain, sometimes in close proximity to villages. 



In some places they are extremely wild, and can only be approached by the most careful 

 stalking ; in other localities they are comparatively tame, and will allow the sportsman to 

 walk openly to within easy range. At most times, however, they are restless little animals, 

 continually on the move ; and they have a provoking way of trotting off with a switch of 

 their black tails, the moment that they suspect danger. 



On open plains, the best way of getting within shot of them is under cover of a 

 steady shooting horse. As they afford but a small mark, and seldom remain still very long, 

 quick as well as accurate shooting is required, and beginners in the art of rifle shooting will 

 find them excellent practice. 



The Officers of the Guides used to hawk the Gazelle in the neighbourhood of Hoti 

 Mardan, the Falcons used for the purpose being nestling ' charghs' (Falco Sacer). Adult 

 caught birds cannot be trained for this sport, and the nestlings had to be obtained from the 

 distant province of Balkh by the assistance of some of the Kabul Sirdars. In the present 

 state of our relations with Afghanistan, the Falcons cannot be procured, and the sport has, 

 for the present at any rate, died out. The hawks alone could not kill a Gazelle, but were 

 assisted by greyhounds, which used to pull it down after the hawks had confused and 

 stunned it by repeated blows. I regret that I never had an opportunity of witnessing the 

 flight, which has been described to me as very interesting and exciting. 



The flesh of the Gazelle, though rather dry, is by no means to be despised ; and a whole 

 one, boiled down to jelly, forms splendid 'stock' for the foundation of a large 'all blaze' 

 stew. I have pleasant recollections of such stews, of which hare, sandgrouse, chukor, quail, 

 pigeon, wild duck and koolun, were among the ingredients ! 



Among the many days' sport which I have enjoyed at various times on the plains of the 

 North-West Provinces, or amidst the low hills and intricate ravines of the Upper Punjab, 

 not a few have been spent in the chase of the Antelope and Gazelle ; but I cannot recall to 

 memory many incidents worth recording. Though pleasant enough at the time, the sport 

 is not sufficiently varied to be interesting in narration. 



I had a favorite ' Cape ' shooting horse who was so steady that when leading him I could 

 let him walk on while I prepared to shoot, and as he cleared me I could fire right under his 

 tail without alarming him ; while on several occasions I killed from off his back. 



I first met with Chikara when quartered at Delhi in 1863, and the two which first fell 

 to my rifle were shot in a rather curious way. 



On the 20th of June, when, as may be imagined, it was blazing hot, I rode out to 

 Nanglof, a small village about seven miles from Delhi on the Rohtak road. Some low 

 sandhills in the neighbourhood were said to be a favorite resort of Chikara, and it was not 



