134 THE TAHR. 



appeared, and another solitary fellow also showed himself, but they remained high up till it 

 was too late to go after them. 



On the 25th I again went out early in a different direction, and high up the hill I dis- 

 turbed some small Tahr. These gave the alarm to a flock of old males, which I first observed 

 as they were making off up some steep rocks two hundred yards off. I fired with the Henry 

 rifle and hit one, and as the flock stood to gaze I hit another, and then hit the first one again. 

 Some of my cartridges (which had got damp) missed fire, and I now found to my disgust that 

 I had no more, while the distance was too great for my heavy double barrel. The Tahr that 

 had been twice struck, however, seemed unable to accompany the flock, and at once lay down. 

 I therefore proceeded to stalk him, feeling sure that I should easily get him. I had to make 

 a long round, and when I at last reached the place from which I expected to get a shot, the 

 Tahr had gone. There was a great pool of blood, and there was plenty on the tracks, but 

 after following them for a long distance over very precipitous ground and through thick 

 bushes, the blood suddenly ceased and we were unable to track any farther. This was one 

 instance of the uselessness of solid bullets and small charges from small-bore rifles: had I been 

 using Express charges I should almost certainly have bagged both these Tahr ; as it was I 

 went home empty handed, a succession of bitterly cold hailstorms making me seek the shelter 

 of the tents earlier than usual. 



I did not go out again till the following afternoon, when I went in search of the three 

 old Tahr that we had seen on the 24th. After going very high up I found them close to 

 where we had previously seen them. The stalk was a long and difficult one, but Mahidr's 

 knowledge of the ground enabled us to get within about one hundred and twenty yards of 

 our game. They were feeding unsuspiciously, and I was capitally concealed among some low 

 bushes. I picked out the biggest one and hit him low in the shoulder with my double 

 barrel. He did not fall, but at once turned down the ravine in which he had been feeding, 

 and came past me at a great pace. The other two stood to gaze, but profiting by past expe- 

 rience I determined to make sure of the wounded one. I therefore followed him down the 

 ravine as hard as I could go, constantly slipping and falling on the steep hill-side, but occa- 

 sionally getting a shot at the Tahr. I was so shaky from the violent exertion that I did not 

 shoot very well, and it was not until he had received four or five bullets from the Henry that 

 the old Tahr finally rolled over. He proved to be a very fine specimen with good horns and 

 a shaggy coat. His portrait is here given. I did not reach the tents till after dark. 



I only went out once more after Tahr at Mangli, when I again lost a fine old male in an 

 extraordinary manner. I had gone out with A. — a brother Officer — more with the intention 

 of assisting him than of shooting on my own account. As usual when two people go together, 

 we were unlucky, and did not get a chance at old Tahr till we were on our way home, when 

 we saw a fine old fellow come out of the forest and commence to feed on a grassy slope. He 

 was very wide awake and suspicious, but as he came down the hill I thought we were sure to 

 get an easy shot. However, as we were stalking him, we had to cross a rather awkward place 

 at which A. was delayed and made some noise. The Tahr either heard or saw us and set off 

 at full speed. I ran for a shot, and fired at him as he stopped for a moment. I hit him hard 



