I IS THE INDIAN ANTELOPE. 



I happened to pay the station of Sialkot a visit, and one day my friend D. proposed 

 that we should go out and try for Black Buck, two or three of which were still to be found 

 not far from cantonments, though, owing to their being constantly hunted, they were 

 unusually wary. 



Not having my own rifles with me, I borrowed a single-barrelled "450 Henry Express 

 from another friend. We had not ridden above three or four miles when we saw a buck and 

 a couple of does lying on an open plain. When we were still a quarter of a mile off, he rose 

 and trotted off, and as thee was little or no cover, we found it quite impossible to approach 

 him. As D. wished me to have the shot, I concerted a plan by which the buck was, if pos- 

 sible, to be driven up to me. 



There were a few bushes scattered about at wide intervals on the plain, and we walked 

 together with our horses led behind us until we had placed one of the bushes between us 

 and the buck, who was now standing about half a mile from us. On reaching the bush I 

 dropped behind it, while D. with the syces and led horses walked quietly on and made a wide 

 circuit until they had placed the buck between themselves and me. 



They then separated, and very skilfully proceeded to drive the Antelope towards me 

 without unnecessarily alarming them. From my place of concealment I could watch every 

 movement, and I soon saw that the Antelope were making straight for the place where I lay 

 hidden. They came on very slowly, occasionally stopping to nibble at a bush or tuft of grass, 

 but at last the buck approached to within one hundred and twenty yards, and offered a fair 

 broadside shot. Not knowing the sighting of the rifle, I aimed a little too low, and my bullet, 

 as I afterwards discovered, merely cut the lower part of the buck's brisket. He at once 

 bounded off, and as he passed me at full speed with his horns thrown well back, I inserted 

 another cartridge and let drive at him again. The bullet cracked loudly on one of his horns, 

 which it knocked off, and the now dazed buck continued his headlong flight, and had placed 

 three hundred yards between us before I could fire another shot. This third bullet struck just 

 beyond him, and the buck, frightened and confused, at once changed his course and came 

 past me within one hundred yards. My fourth bullet passed through his heart, and the buck 

 was at last mine. 



I was most favorably impressed with the Henry Express, the rapidity of its action being 

 superior to anything that I had then seen ; and subsequent experience has confirmed me in 

 my opinion that it is about the best weapon yet invented for Antelope and Deer shooting. 



The chase of the Antelope by the Chita or Hunting Leopard is a favorite sport with 

 Native Princes and Nobles. As it involves no personal exertion, it can be enjoyed by those 

 whose age, obeseness, or indolence prevent them from engaging in more active sports. 

 Although it is well worth witnessing for once, it is not an amusement that an energetic sports- 

 man will much care for. 



To be of any use for training, the Chita must be captured when full grown, and accus- 

 tomed to kill game on its own account ; and there is a certain class of men in Central India 

 who make their livelihood by Chita catching. I believe that the course of training is on 

 much the same principle as that of training Hawks, vis., first to thoroughly tame the animal 



