CONSERVATORS’ WORK 125 
lows in the district. But there is not much big 
game in the forests of Gorakhpur, though spotted- 
deer and pig are not uncommon ; while to the north, 
towards the Nepal frontier, tigers are often found 
in the grasslands on the banks of the Gundak 
River, and these sometimes stray some distance to 
the south. 
Gorakhpur had a special interest at that time, as 
being the last stronghold in the United Provinces of 
the wild-buffalo, though these are still frequent in 
the adjoining territories of Bengal and Nepal. 
There were then reported to be a few cows and 
calves and one sizeable bull in the forests, and it 
was common knowledge that many sportsmen were 
eager in their pursuit. The animals roamed in the 
Government forests in the north of the district, and 
when we were camping in this direction fresh tracks 
were soon found, whereupon the local “shikari” 
was called in, with the offer of a reward of Rs. 100 if 
he was instrumental in affording the chance of a 
clear shot at the bull. Now began a dance that 
might have been recognized at the commencement’ 
as futile. At 3 a.m., in the blackest and mistiest 
of mornings, we passed in silence through the dark 
forest to lie in wait close to a ford by which the 
animals had certainly crossed some time before, but 
did not again do so. We spent the daylight in 
crawling up to mud-holes where they had once 
wallowed, but did not revisit. Often we heard the 
snort of alarm as the herd crashed through the 
forest, till at last the conviction could not be with- 
stood that the buffaloes were my tracker’s stock in 
trade, that to see one killed was the last thing he 
