AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 



67 



HAWKING AND TIGER-HUNTING IN INDIA. 



The Rajah had promised his hawks and cheetahs for a 

 morning's amusement, and at day-light we sallied out. 

 We were not out long before some royal curlews were dis- 

 covered feeding in a field, quite unconscious of the array 

 against them; but upon being put up, they were fully 

 aware of their danger. It may prove interesting to those 

 unacquainted with Indian field-sports, to have that which 

 relates to hawking described; and the present day's sport 

 is instanced to commemorate as gratifying a specimen of 

 this particular kind as ever was witnessed. The curlew 

 being roused, and seeing its enemies, screamed loudly, 

 and began to mount almost perpendicularly. The hawk, 

 which was of the long-wing soaring kind, named a bhyree, 

 proceeded in chase. Aware of his inability to rise so fast 

 as his quarry, he went away, as if not disposed to come 

 back, but imperceptibly ascending. Having gone far 

 enough, he tacked, and continued to do so until he was 

 above the curlew. These turns which the hawk makes 

 are very beautiful, and evince great sagacity. In the 

 mean time, the curlew had got so high as scarcely to be 

 within ken, having also gained a considerable distance 

 from where it rose. It is necessary, therefore, that those 

 following this sport should ride very hard, and the eye 

 and mind being intent on the birds in the skies, renders 

 the work of a hazardous nature. The hawk continues his 

 tacking, though far away from the curlew, until he finds 

 himself above the level of his prey, and then off he goes 

 with the speed of lightning. The curlew perceives his 

 disadvantage, and hastens to get over water, as the 

 hawk knows that he is then in great danger, and refuses to 

 strike. If, however, no water is near, the curlew makes 

 for the ground as fast as he can fly, and it is only known 

 by his descending that the hawk is above him, both are so 

 high and so far away. At this moment the greatest de- 

 light is experienced. The hawk closing his wings rushes 

 down in the pursuit with a velocity incredible to those 

 who have not witnessed it, and such is it that his passage 

 through the air sounds like a mighty wind. The curlew 

 cannot escape, and before he has time to reach the earth 

 the hawk has stricken him senseless. The latter is too 

 careful to come with all his own force with the curlew to 

 the ground, as he would most likely be killed; but he in- 

 stinctively drops him when within a few yards, and then 

 follows and secures his prey. The keepers and amateurs 

 come up and prevent the hawk being injured by the 

 fluttering or pecking of the curlew. The proceedings are 

 similar to those in European countries after the flight and 

 capture, such as breaking the poor creature's wings, and 

 permitting the hawk to find his own way to the victim's 



heart through his breast, and having the marrow of the 

 legs drawn out by a feather of his wing, and given as a sop 

 of reward for his success. It was seldom the keeper had 

 the kindness to ease the curlew's sufferings by killing it 

 at once. 



The riding, the hawk's manoeuvring, and the attempts 

 of the curlew to escape, make this sport one of great excita- 

 tion. If the hawk can merely see his quarry, and he is a 

 staunch bird, there is no fear of his quitting it, though he 

 may set off in a contrary direction. Aid must be at hand 

 to free him from water, or any birds such as kites or 

 crows, who invariably attack him if without defence. 



After breakfast we accompanied the Rajah in some boats 

 upon the lake to hawk for water-fowl; there were plenty of 

 teal, ducks, and coots; these were pursued by the baz, or 

 short-winged hawk, and brought to land. It was amusing 

 to see the hawk get upon the body of a bird, if they both 

 fell into the water; for some of the coots and ducks were 

 too heavy for them to carry. This was rather dull sport. 

 In the evening we dined with the Rajah in the tent. 



March 1. — To the right bank of the Ganges, (eight 

 miles.) From two to three miles before reaching camp 

 we quitted the high grounds, and came down into what are 

 termed kader lands, i. e. those flooded in the rains, and 

 yielding nothing but long grass, used in thatching 

 houses, and such like purposes. This belt of land is 

 on both sides of the river; it varies in width from half a 

 mile to two miles, and continues for a great distance. 

 There are a few scattered villages where a higher patch of 

 ground offers some chances of harvest for the toil of cul- 

 ture, but for the most part, being low and swampy, with 

 very thick grass and bushes, it is almost in the undisputed 

 possession of tigers, and myriads of other game. 



In the forenoon, flying rumours were about that sundry 

 bullocks had been killed over night by a party of maraud- 

 ing tigers; nothing certain of their being near came in till 

 three o'clock, when it was decided to mount and go in 

 quest of them. Out the party sallied, his Excellency at 

 its head. There were nine elephants with sportsmen 

 in howdahs, and twelve others with pads only; these 

 twenty-one made a good line, and we bent our course to 

 the remains of the deceased bullocks. We beat up and 

 down for an hour, putting up quantities of black partridge, 

 hog-deer, and other game. The grass had been set on fire 

 in some places by the herdsmen, for the purpose of their 

 flocks being able to get at the young sprouts underneath: 

 these fires, from the high wind, burnt with amazing fury, 

 and the roaring noise was almost alarming; it required some 

 ingenuity to get out of its course. After beating about 

 for some time in the swamp we came upon a tiger. When 

 the elephants found out what sort of play we were after, 



