294 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL INDIA 



bred, hound-like head, and well feathered on ears, legs, and 

 tail. He shows a good deal of resemblance to the Persian 

 greyhound, but is stouter built, and with a squarer muzzle. 

 Probably this wandering race of gipsies may have brought 

 the origiaals with them from western Asia, the subsequent 

 modification of them being due to a cross with some of 

 the indigenous breeds. The Banjara breed possesses 

 indomitable pluck, can go about as fast as a foxhound, and 

 will run all day. His nose is superior to that of any other 

 domestic breed in a hot climate ; but he wants better speed 

 for coursing deer, and attachment to Europeans. 



The common black sloth-bear of the plains of India ^ 

 is very plentiful in the hills on either side of the Narbada, 

 between Jubbulpiir and Mandla. Indeed, there are few 

 parts of these highlands where a bear may not at any time 

 be met with. They are generally very harmless until 

 attacked, hving on roots, honey, and insects, chiefly white 

 ants, which they dig out of their earthen hillocks. The 

 natives call them ddam-zdd, or " sons of men," and, con- 

 sidering them half human, will not as a rule molest them. 

 Really, their absurd antics almost justify the idea. Some- 

 times, however, a bear will attack very savagely without 

 provocation — ^generally, when they are come upon suddenly 

 and their road of escape is cut off. As a rule, in frequented 

 parts, they do not come out of their midday retreats, in 

 caves and dense thickets, until nightfall; but, in remoter 

 tracts they may be met with in the middle of the day. 

 I was once charged by four bears all at once, which I had 

 come upon near the high-road between Jubbulpiir and 

 Damoh, feeding under a Mhowa tree. I had two guns, and 

 hit three of them; but had to bolt from the fourth, who 

 chased me about a hundred yards, and then dived iato 

 a ravine. Returning to the scene of action,- 1 found one 

 sitting at the foot of a tree, bewailing his fate ia most 

 melancholy whines, and finished him with a ball in the 

 ear. The other two had gone down the slope of a lull, and 

 I started off to head them. The ground was rocky and 

 very shppery, and I had not gone far when I fell, my rifle 

 shdang away down the hill, to the considerable damage of 

 its stock and barrels. I picked myself up, however, and 



^ Vrsus labiatus. 



