THE NUKHTA OR COMB DUCK. 95 
numbers of these birds than in any other locality. But where- 
ever found they appear to prefer clear water with a gravelly 
or stone bottom, and are never seen in shallow, muddy jhils 
or marshes, which attract such hosts of other kinds of Wild 
Fowl. In this respect they resemble Casarca rutida (the 
Brahminy or Ruddy Goose). They are very wary, and, as they 
take to wing generally at a long shot distance, and have both 
skin and plumage exceedingly thick, it is difficult to kill them 
with an ordinary fowling piece; and if winged on the water, 
they dive so incessantly as to require the help of several 
people, even in small ponds, to catch them. 
“At Bhandra, in January 1840, I had an odd adventure 
while stalking a fine gander nukwa, which was swimming on 
one of the rocky pools I have above described. The ground 
was entirely composed of great horizontal slabs and fields of 
granite, garnished everywhere with jujube or “bair”’ bushes ; 
and about two hundred yards behind me rose a mass of 
towering perpendicular rocks, which cast a cool grey shade 
over the pretty little tarns or “lakelets” spread at their feet. 
Now “Bandra pahar,” as these rocks are termed, is, or was, 
a notorious stronghold or refuge for all the vagabond bears 
in the vicinity, who, after roaming the livelong night over 
the country, repaired, as dawn broke, in twos and threes, to 
the fissures and caves within these huge boulders. As evening 
drew on, these nocturnal marauders would creep stealthily 
out of their fastnesses, and as darkness increased sally out 
into the surrounding plain. And thus it came to pass that 
on the day, aforesaid, as I drew warily towards the “ nukwa” 
a bear, which had emerged from a black crevice in the rock 
behind me, followed.in my wake—with no evil intentions, I 
believe, for I do not think he spied me for a considerable time, 
but simply in pursuit of his usual evening meal of bairs and 
white ants, for which he scratched and snuffed in the manner 
peculiar to these beasts. The noise he made soon caused me 
to be aware of his propinquity; and ere long I began to feel 
in that condition which the natives of India designate as “do 
dil” (two hearts), or, as we should say, of two minds—whether 
to continue advancing to the attack of the Goose, or turn to 
cover my rear from that of the bear. Those were not the 
days of breech-loaders, when I could have shot the first, and 
then, whipping in a ball cartridge, have so disposed of the 
second, Jfzne wle lachryme—‘ hence my quandary.” I looked 
at the bear as he dug and grubbed and approached, and then 
cautiously at the “nukwa” with his snowy-white breast 
reflected on the pool. The sight of the latter was irresistible. 
I was nearly within shot, and continued my insidious approach, 
determined that if the bear charged me, I would let him come 
close, bang both barrels of shot at his eyes, and then take 
to my scrapers. So, like a red Indian in the forest, I stole 
