POSTSCRIPT. 



237 



only see his head and hind quarters ; I therefore waited for him to move and expose 

 his shoulder. 



For at least a minute he remained perfectly motionless, gazing at me, and then turned 

 slowly round and walked two or three paces. I raised my rifle, and as the movement caught 

 his eye he wheeled rapidly round and faced me, lowering his head in a threatening manner. 

 I was on lower ground, so I could still see his chest, and I fired for the centre of it, sending 

 the bull staggering back. He only went about ten yards, and then halted and again faced 

 me, apparently meditating a charge. If such was his intention I forestalled him, for 

 stepping forward, I gave him another shot which stretched him lifeless. My attention was 

 now directed to two other bulls, which trotted across the flat, and began to ascend the hill. 

 I opened fire on these and dropped one dead, but failed to secure the other, which I either 

 missed or only slightly wounded. I hope the former. 



I now had time to examine the big bull, which proved to be a grand specimen. His 

 horns were very massive and rugged, and his head was scarred and abraded by fighting ; a 

 curious horny excrescence on his forehead giving him a peculiarly savage appearance. 



His horns measured sixty-nine inches from tip to tip, but were a good deal broken at 

 the tips : the sweep was thirty-six inches. His hide was nearly devoid of hair on the 

 back and sides, and was of a curious purplish hue, like Indian rubber. 



The heat was so intense that the hair was blistered off both the Gaur before the skinners 

 could arrive, although they were on the spot in less than two hours after the bulls had fallen. 



I was now thoroughly satisfied with my bag, and as the rainy season was rapidly 

 approaching, when travelling becomes extremely difficult, and in fact impossible for carts, 

 I gave up shooting and returned home. 



It may not be out of place to mention that I killed all these Gaur with a 12-bore rifle, 

 with seven drams of powder, and a hardened spherical bullet. Such a rifle has been 

 condemned by many people, — including some high authorities on sporting matters — as an 

 inefficient weapon against large game. After very considerable experience I am convinced 

 that, if the shooting is careful, there is seldom any necessity for the employment of 8 bores 

 and 4 bores against anything smaller .than Elephants. 



A. A. A. K. 



Ferozpur, 



December, iSSj.. 



