THE MUSK-DEER. 197 



When caught young the Musk-Deer may be easily domesticated, but many go blind 

 and die. In 1865, I bought one from a shepherd-boy near Malari, below the Ni'ti Pass. I 

 got a milch- goat for it, but though the little thing soon took to its foster mother, she did not 

 appear to reciprocate its affection, and always had to be held while it was sucking. This 

 it did in a curious way, jumping up and crossing its fore-legs every instant, and uttering a 

 singular plaintive cry. It would not remain long with the goat, but after satisfying its hunger 

 it would go away and hide in some bush. I kept it for more than a fortnight, when it went 

 blind and died, apparently suffering much pain. 



A friend of mine was more fortunate. In 1867, he procured a young Musk-Deer in the 

 hills near Murree : it soon became perfectly tame and seemed to thrive remarkably well on 

 bread and milk, leaves, and flowers. It was very bold and fearless, and used to play with 

 my friend's children, and with a little dog. The dog was equally fond of the deer, and it 

 was amusing to see him attack any stranger who presumed to touch it. I saw the 

 deer in November, after it had been brought down to the plains, and it was then in perfect 

 health. I rather think that it was eventually sent to England. I have since seen another 

 Musk-Deer that was nearly equally tame. 



I have never gone out of my way to shoot Musk-Deer, and have let numbers go 

 without a shot, but during numerous expeditions to the hills, I have shot a good many at 

 different times ; and when I am in want of meat and there is no fear of disturbing nobler 

 game, I am always glad to have the opportunity of bagging one. The flesh is excellent, 

 without the slightest flavor of musk, and it is a pleasant change from the leathery mutton 

 which the higher hills afford in the early months of spring. 



Those I have killed have been shot under varied circumstances: some have been 

 come upon suddenly in the forest, affording an easy chance within a few yards : others 

 have been first discovered at a great distance and regularly stalked : while others again 

 have jumped up at my very feet and bounded away, only pausing for an instant to look 

 back, and being knocked over by a lucky snap-shot. 



After a long morning's walk in search of Markhoor, of which I had been unable to 

 find any recent traces, I was one day sitting eating my breakfast on a grassy slope over- 

 looking a wide ravine. I had not been there very long before I saw two Musk-Deer, one 

 chasing the other, on the opposite slopes ; and after playing about for some time, they dis- 

 appeared among the bushes at the bottom of the ravine. Shortly afterwards, I saw one of 

 them coming up the hill towards me. I sat perfectly quiet, and it approached to within a 

 hundred and fifty yards, when, as it was about to enter the forest, I fired at it with my 

 miniature Express. As it did not fall, I fired another shot, but could not see with what 

 result. My Shikaris, who had gone to an old hut a short distance off to smoke, now came 

 to see what I was firing at, and I sent one of them down to ascertain whether the deer was 

 hit or not. On reaching the spot where I had last seen it, he drew back and beckoned to 

 me. I at once ran down, and on looking over some low bushes, I saw the Musk-Deer within 

 five yards licking the blood from its side, where the bullet had slightly grazed it. I knock- 

 ed it over, and as it rolled down the hill, my Shikari seized it, and in doing so received 



