THE TEAK KEGION 183 



being mucli more tolerant of the propinquity of man and 

 of grazing herds of domestic cattle. While the crops of 

 the table-land and lower plains are green the herds of 

 sambar come out to feed on them at night, remaining 

 during the day near the edge of the jungle, unless disturbed 

 and driven into the depths of the forest by man. They 

 also feed, however, on a great variety of jungle products : 

 and move about in apparently the most capricious manner 

 in search of them. The short green grass that clothes the 

 banks of pools and springs, and the tender shoots of young 

 trees and bushes, may be said to be at all times the founda- 

 tion of their fare, and during the rainy season almost 

 their only resource. Later on, in late autumn, the young 

 wheat and grain crops of neighbouring clearances are 

 made to pay heavy toll ; and with the commencement of 

 the hot season comes a great variety of wild fruits, all 

 greatly relished by the deer. At one time (March and 

 April) it is the luscious flower of the Mhowa tree, which 

 they share with the G-ond and the bear and most other 

 animals and birds. The Tendii, the Chironji, the Aoldj 

 the Bher, and many other trees, also fruit plentifully in 

 spring; and a little later the pods of numerous species 

 of acacia, chiefly Babill,^ Reunja,^ Kheir,^ and of the 

 tamarinds which have overgrown many deserted village 

 sites, and the fruit of several species of wild fig,* amply 

 support the sambar through the hot season. Wherever 

 any of these are plentiful, there the marks of nightly 

 visits by sambar will be found in the morning. But by 

 the earliest break of day the animals will have disappeared ; 

 and, having drunk well at some neighbouring water, will 

 probably be well on their way to their resting-place for 

 the day. For the next hour or two they are often to be 

 found at a few miles' distance, apparently loitering about, 

 but all the time slowly making their way in a certain 

 direction, higher up the hills and towards denser cover, 

 and keeping a heedful watch on possible pursuers. As 

 they penetrate deeper into the waste country their watch- 

 fulness diminishes, but they generally take a long and 



^ A. Ardhica. ^ A. Leucophlcea. 



^ A. catechu. * F. indica, F. reUgiosa, and F. guleria. 



