1 60 THE OORIAL. 



On ascending either bank an extensive view was obtained of undulating ground inter- 

 sected by an intricate network of ravines, stretching as far as the eye could reach in every 

 direction except to the south-east, where it was bounded by the more abrupt ridges of the 

 Salt Range. 



From time to time, the tracks of Oorial were visible in the soft sand, where they had 

 either come to drink or merely crossed the valley ; but I had gone several miles before I 

 observed a fresh footprint. At last I reached a place where the valley was rather wider 

 than usual, and here we found tracks so recent that it was evident that the herd could not 

 be far off. I was accompanied by a Sepoy, who did a little shooting on his own account, 

 and who had a very fair knowledge of the country ; another man carried my rifle. Leaving 

 my horse, and ordering the syce to proceed to camp, I ascended the slopes to the right, 

 and soon gained a commanding position, from which I could see into several likely-looking 

 ravines. The sun was still high, and it was probable that the Oorial would be lying some- 

 where in the shade. 



After carefully reconnoitring all the ground within sight, I went slowly on along a 

 narrow ridge, sending my gun-carrier and a shepherd whom I had just met, to explore two 

 ravines to the right and left. One of the men detached a few stones, which rattled down 

 a steep bank, and presently a fair-sized ram sprang out of some bushes among which he 

 had been concealed, ascended the opposite bank of the ravine, and after galloping a couple 

 of hundred yards, took up his position on a small level plateau. Seeing nothing— for we 

 had of course crouched behind shelter — he presently became reassured, and being apparently 

 convinced that his alarm was needless, lay down. 



The stalk was an easy one, but I had to approach from the direction in which he was 

 looking and on peering over the ridge which I had ascended, I found that I could only see 

 about half his body. I could not raise myself higher without the certainty of being seen, 

 so I took the best aim I could, and fired. The bullet went high and the Oorial sprang to 

 his feet and rushed across the plateau ; before descending, however, he paused for a moment, 

 and half turned round to look for his still unseen enemy. That moment of indecision was 

 fatal : I had time to slip a fresh cartridge into my single-barrelled Express, and though 

 nothing was visible when the smoke cleared away, I knew that my aim had been true, and 

 on going up I found the ram struggling on the ground. 



Having cut his throat, we were tying him up so as to form a convenient load, when we 

 heard a distant shepherd shouting, and soon made out that he wished to attract our atten- 

 tion to a herd of Oorial which had been disturbed by my shots. Following in the direction 

 which they had taken, I found that they had not been much alarmed, but had moved slowly 

 off feeding as they went. It was not very easy to make out their tracks on the stony 

 ground, but here and there the slight indications which catch the eye of the experienced 

 hunter showed us where they had passed, and we soon came to a sort of basin in which it 

 seemed very probable that they might linger for a time. In spite of my caution, however, 

 the moment I looked over the intervening rising ground I was seen, and the herd, which 

 consisted entirely of rams, went off at full gallop. My first shot was successful, bringing down 



