Sept. 30, 1886.] 



187 



He refers to the fact that raih'oads are scarce up there, 

 and the facilities for moving large quantities of game a,t 

 f5hort notice are not good. He even calls over the fence 

 advising Aunt Susan to run low on provisions, and for a 

 parting shot, as the team rattled away, "Kellupl you 

 want to keep a close watch on that dog o' yourn and not 

 let the rabbits get a hold of 'im." 



The ride tlu-ough the early morning is delightful. At 

 first they meet an occasional smart appearing milk wagon 

 from the suburbs, a well fed farmer behind a hungry 

 looking horse, and by the time the first village is rea ched 

 the beil is'tolling in 'the stragglers. Wliile the horse is 

 jogging along he can't help moralizing a little, getting a 

 text from the acclivities that seem so insm'motmtable in 

 the road ahead but vanish on near approach. He finds 

 some amusement, too, in sijeculating as to what new 

 vision may be presented around the oend or when the 

 summit is reached. 



Far away and below the meadows are wliite with hoar 

 frost, and'filmy clouds of mist have floated up a little 

 way and poising there have set the familiar landscape all 

 afloat in a sea of fantastic mu-age. This i^leases liim, but 

 when he comes to where a forest hillside has been stripped 

 and left denuded ^vith its rocks and stumi^s and stacks of 

 cordwood he feels sorry. We cannot follow them through 

 a,ll the foi-tunes of the day, suffice to say it passed off 

 happily, excepting in tins one particular, a coolness 

 sprung up between Uncle Kellup and the dog. It seems 

 that when they had arrived in the middle of the woods 

 where game was said to abound, and none appeai'ed, it 

 was natm-ally expected that some material assistance 

 would be rendered by the dog. But he seemed to have no 

 curiosity in the matter at all. There were no symptoms 

 of anything like a bm-ning desu-e to go and look for 

 things that would have pleased Uncle Kellup so well, and 

 when he even pointed out the exa ct spot where a partridge 

 had aUghted and run into the bnish. Dodger only affected 

 a well-bred interest in the discovery, until after a while 

 becoming mildly enthusiastic, he seemed disposed to en- 

 courage the old'gentleman to follow up the trail. Wlien 

 it da-svned upon him that he was actually expected to 

 undertake something in the way of a private exploration 

 he lost all interest in the expedition. 



Perhaps this was the reason the game pockets were not 

 filled. Be that as it may, the old man had a glorious 

 time stamping about and once, while era whng tlu-ough 

 the bushes with gun at half cock and nerves on the qui- 

 vive, a partridge whir-r-red suddenly up in front. He 

 stood lost in admiration until the bird was disappearing 

 over the bushes and then conscientiously fired. No, he 

 is not very truculent. It is glory enough for him if he 

 only sees the pretty creatures, they will all count in the 

 mental game bag at the close of the day. 



It became dark very early in the woods and soon after 

 we could just descry them for a moment making the best 

 of their way toward the opening, Dodger trudging sulkily 

 a long way in the rear. And so they disappeared in the 

 gloom. Jefferson Scribb. 



HUNTING IN THE HIMALAYAS. 

 Lights and Shades of an Indian Forester's Life. 



X.— CONTINUED. 



THE day had well broken when we sat down to om- 

 coffee, which we did not linger very long over, and 

 on coming out we found our nags ready, and saw R. at 

 his tent door waiting oiu- signal to mount. He came 

 mounted on a likelj^ looking Arab, and being but a light- 

 weight, appeared to have a very good chance of first 

 sj)ear. G. too, strode an Arab, which at even weights 

 might have proved the speedier animal, but G.'s weight 

 weight exceeded R.'s or mine by a good two stone. My 

 own mount was a country bred, about half Arab, and 

 warranted to face a pig. The other two had two shoi-t 

 Bengal spears heavily weighted, but I had been initiated 

 in the sport m the Bombay Tei'ritory, and from habit, 

 perhaps, I still give the preference to the 10ft. spear, and 

 was no wise discomposed by G.'s mild allusion to my 

 "lance." 



The country was precisely that I had come through on 

 my way from Hurdwar, but the annual fires had 

 changed the whole face of it. The long grass was gone, 

 and a fresh green crop was springing up between the 

 chan-ed roots — a gra.nd level plain' for a gallop as far as 

 the eye could reach, just dotted at distant inter\^als with 

 tree clumps shading a fairly dense imdergrowth, or strips 

 and spots of green in Ioav lands, too green to bm-n when 

 the fii'e passed over. Clump after clumj) of grass was 

 ridden through, and nothing better than a sounder of 

 young pig put up, until we had ridden four miles, when 

 I, being on the right, put up a boar and got well away 

 with him before the others heard my halloo and gave 

 chsae. My pony showed a tm-n of speed, and although 

 the boar had the legs of him in the first quarter of a mile, 

 we began to shorten distance after, and before the half 

 mile was reached, I was within 10yds. of him, and lessen- 

 ing the distance at every stride. But at this point 

 R. was alongside of us, and seeing it was in vaia 

 to contend with him for first spear, I steadied my 

 horse and gave him the lead. He soon went up 

 alongside, and sent his spear down between the ribs. The 

 boar turned on him so suddenly that the spear held be- 

 tween the ribs was wrenched from his hands, his horse 

 saving himself with a dexterous leap, which well nigh 

 cost R. his seat. The boar was now facing me, and for- 

 tunately the spear on the off side from me. I heard G. 

 thundering along behind me, and bringing my arm down 

 for an under thrust, I gave the pony one touch of the 

 spm'S and the next moment my spear entermg his throat, 

 passed right through him, I made no effort to recover 

 it, but it was wi-enched from me with a jerk as the boar 

 fell over on his side. We were soon dismounted in a 

 grouj) aroimd the fallen foe and indulged in a pipe, while 

 om* horses were breathing themselves. R. offered the 

 best excuse he could for his gaiicherie in losing his spear, 

 but my own mishap wanted no apology; I had thrust 

 underhand, as I always do in the rare cases in which I 

 meet the boar in full charge, and to recovera long spear 

 from a home thrust so delivered is impossible. 



Another two miles and G, put up a boar and stuclc close 

 to him. I was about 50yds. from him at the start and 

 having no thought of trying to ride him do\vn, I kept on 

 at a steady pace. R. came up at a ratthng pace, getting 

 alongside me in less than half a mile. I kept a steady 

 pull on the rein and let him pass, G. was now close to 

 the boar, riding steadily, and as he heard R, thundering 

 up behind hjni, he rode in, delivered a thrust, which a 



sudden spurt of the boar rendered a few inches too far 

 back, and x-ecovering his spear neatly wheeled off, leaving 

 the boar struggling on his haunches. R. was not far 

 behind him, and delivered a thrust as he came up, which 

 just grazed the boar's head as he wheeled round. G. had 

 by tins time brought Ids horse round, but seeing me com- 

 ing up, held on a minute to give me a chance. It was an 

 easy underhand thrust for me, but I wanted to vindicate 

 my lance and caiTied it overhand; the point crashed clean 

 through the shoulder, and the boar falling over on the 

 off side I was able to disengage my spear and bending 

 over and whirling it over my head recovered it neatly. 



I got no first spear and had little chance of it against 

 a couple of good Arahs, but I had my full share of pleasur- 

 able excitement and flattered myself I had done very 

 well. We beat about for another hour but saw no more 

 boars, and G, pleading that he wanted to march in the 

 evening, we turned our horses' heads homewaixl, can-ying 

 with us at any rate good appetites for breakfast. 



Shikaree. 



NORTH CAROLINA DEER AND QUAIL. 



THERE are other "tired nature's sweet restorers" 

 besides "balmy sleep," There must be added to this 

 a withdrawal from active labor. This view controlled my 

 action, several days ago, when I left home to spend a few 

 days at this place.' I brought with me my httle hammer- 

 less and a few shells loaded with buckshot. Besides rid- 

 ding myself of my usual avocation — for I ajn a "laboring 

 man," somewhat Laterested in and having charge of a cot- 

 ton mill — I thought it possible that somebody having a 

 good dog would take a notion to suggest that I might, 

 while the dew was on the grass, place myself in the hol- 

 low just beyond the old grog shop or at some other well- 

 kno-wm place, and get a shot at a deer as he was fleeing 

 from the hound. I did not come here to sleep soundly; 

 that I can do at home. Nor did I come to rest from my 

 severe labors. At all events, that was not the only object 

 I had. My view was to get into a cool place and drink 

 delight and water imjiregnated with the sulphate of lime 

 and the carbonate of iron, and take things in easy style, 

 my coat laid aside and all "glistening grief s" and "golden 

 sorrows" avoided. 



And here I am sitting on the piazza of my summer 

 house, looking down toward the bubbling fountain which 

 has been discharging its sparkling waters from the "time 

 whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary." 

 The clouds in the southwest indicate the probability of a 

 rainfall during the afternoon. I am thinking of the 

 chances of my ear being gratified by "the horn of the 

 hunter as heard on the hill" when morning has come. 

 Turnmg to the right I see JeiTy Green, "a gemman of 

 color," with his old muzzleloader on his shoulder, fol- 

 lowed by his hound. Now Jerry and I are old associates 

 in the Avoods, and he approaches with a famihar saluta- 

 tion, "How dee do, Jedge?" I never was a judge of any- 

 thing except shotguns, venison steak, cofl'ee, soap, towels, 

 and the like, but I have sometimes been given that title! 

 "Tolerably well, Jerry; how are you?" "Jest sorter, I 

 cut my foot a few weeks ago, and haint been able to do 

 no work sence that time." "What are you doing with 

 your gun?" ' 'Well, I was at the Far Ground [Fair Ground , 

 a well-known locality a mile south], and seed Mr. Oas- 

 kill, who told me you was here and mout want to take a 

 Httle drive. So I thought I'd come down, and ef you did, 

 why I'd go with you. There's deer about, and I "think ef 

 we was out I could put you to a 'stand' where you could 

 get a shoot," I told him that I had just seen John Joy- 

 berry, and we had made arrangements for the mori'ow, 

 and how I thought it best to postpone the hunt. He 

 agreed to this, and it is understood that at 7 A. M. he is 

 to meet us with his dog at the old Crouch place, a mile or 

 two east of the spring where I am sojourning. 



Just north of my house is a covered arbor, about twenty- 

 five feet long and fifteen feet wide, in which the elections 

 in Mineral Spring township are held every two years. 

 Near by are two hickory trees, to which a stout plank was 

 once nailed, from which I once saw four fine deer hang- 

 ing at the close of a day's hunting in the Sand Hills, 

 which stretch eastward for many miles, and in whose 

 wastes there are still quite a number ot these noble beasts 

 of the chase. From the field just to my left I hear, now 

 and then, the voice of Bob White, and cherish the hope 

 that after the Ist of November I may have an opportunity 

 to see whether my ' 'right hand has lost its cunning" 

 when Argo and Eok shall make a suggestive stop in their 

 ranges thi'ough grass and stubble. 



Dark clouds are overhead and soon heaven's ai"tillery is 

 heard. A gentle rain is falling. There is more of it in the 

 east, and it is in that quarter we propose to go in the 

 morning to see whether Jerry Green's and Foot Bostick's 

 dogs can find a deer. So much the better. All appear- 

 ances are favorable for a glorious morrow. Will the 

 result be only another instance of the vanity of human 

 wishes or shall it be as portrayed by the pencil of fancy? 

 I do not know. But I am free to say that in my past life 

 I have had far more joy in reveling in the luxury of an 

 active imagination than in contemplating the fruits of a 

 hard day's tramp or in the realization of the desires of the 

 heart. 



Early the following morning my friend John Joyberry 

 makes his appearance on his mule and tells me that the 

 dogs and hunters have gone on and we must hurry. My 

 old horse Frank is hitched to the buggy and in it I get 

 with my boy George who has a g-un and also two other 

 Httle fellows who go along only as "lookers on in Vienna," 

 and who are gorged with the hope of seeing papa bring- 

 down a buck, or at the very least of looking at one as he 

 makes his gallant bounds to escape his pursuers. Accord- 

 ing to the plan we tm-n to the left about one mile from 

 the spring, and traveling north up the old Crawford road, 

 go a few hundred yards until we reach the old Plank 

 Road, which was constructed from Fayetteville in 

 the direction of Albemarle, in the county of Stanly. 

 At that point we tiu-ned to the right and followed 

 the old road for about 100yds. Here we stopped, un- 

 hitched and secured the horse and went on. I left George 

 with one of the boys at a chosen sjjot not far from where 

 the buggy was stopped, while with the other I walked 

 across the branch, up the hill and stopped at a well known 

 inn. At this point I spent two hom-s in the vain hope of 

 even hearing a dog. My patience was exhausted and I 

 went to the Croucli house, about SQOyds. off. 



After remaining there for nearly an hour, the himters 

 came up and reported that though they had seen fresh 

 signs they were unable to start the deer. Then I was 

 told to go to another place not far from where the buggy 



was, and a drive would be taken in wliich it was certain 

 there were deer, and one or more woiild surely pass by 

 me, I knew it was certain that a deer had gone into that 

 drive some time dm-ing the preceding night, for I had 

 seen the tracks — but that I should see it was a matter of 

 grave doubt. But I went. At that stand I waited until 

 I was worn out, and heard nothing of either di-iver or 

 dogs. And then I reached a wise conclusion. I deter- 

 mined to go back home. The plan was duly executed, 

 and in less than a half hour I was at a sput where the 

 joys of quiet, if no others, could be had. Thus ended a 

 hunt so radiant in promise, so blank in result. 



Late in the afternoon my friend John J. came up and 

 reported that I had missed one of the opportunities of my 

 Hfe; for that soon after I left my stand, a fine deer had 



Eassed within 30yds. He said also that a fine buck had 

 een started and had escaped one gun; that it passed him 

 about 135yds., and he had shot it down; the others were 

 then in p'ursuit, and he had heard had caught it. His 

 description of what I had lost was graphic as well as 

 proHx. But I knew bis weakness. I had heard him talk 

 on many previous occasions, and was well aware that 

 what he said upon hunting matters must always be taken 

 cnm. monte salis. I cross-examined him, especially about 

 the distance he shot, and at last brought out the fact that 

 he did not think the deer was hm-t. My conclusion was 

 that no deer had passed within a half niile of any point 

 where 1 had been standing, and that it was even some- 

 what doubtful whether one had been seen by any one of 

 the party, 



John knows a great deal about hunting deer, and is 

 better j)osted on all drives and stands within miles of this 

 place than -Any one whom I know. I hope to have his 

 company on several occasions during the present season, 

 and think that on some of them we shall fare much better 

 and have our hopes and labors rewarded by a nice piece 

 of venison steak. Just now the weather is too hot for 

 much pleasui-e in the effort to get deer. Besides, in the 

 aftemoon, the dogs find it difficult to follow the track. 



Now, let no one upbraid me about hounding deer. This 

 is not a mountain region, where sportsmen (?) place them- 

 selves on lakes where they have a convenient canoe, and 

 get nearly every deer which is started. There are just a 

 thousand" and one places where the "hart" plunges into the 

 "water brooks" and eludes his pursuers. The localities 

 are so uncertain that no man ever thinks of waiting at 

 one of them. Indeed, he could not find them if he so 

 desired. With us, the plan does not drive off or destroy 

 the deer more than any other i)lan, except that on a stiU- 

 hunt (or stalk) no spit would exhale the odor of ven:i^on 

 once in a twelve month. Even as it is, my nostrils have 

 not enjoyed that perfume within the last two years. The 

 great destruction here comes in the winter when we have 

 snows which lie for more than a week. Then by stalking 

 and hounding the poor creatures which, are too lean for 

 food, are mercilessly slaughtered. 



In our uplands all over the State the prospect for Bob 

 White is dubious. The floods, it is thought, were very 

 destructive of the nests and yotmg chicks in the bottoms. 

 It may be, however, that inany escaped, that there will 

 be late broods in these places, and that there wiU be some 

 immigi-ation from the adjacent hills. I have several trips 

 in view after the 1st of November, in one of wliich my 

 companion wiU be G. T. L., of New York, a native of 

 this State, who has indicated to me more than once that 

 he would be glad to have a trial of 14-bores with me, and 

 would neither unduly rejoice in triumph nor sorrow in 

 defeat. I think we would suit to hunt in couples. Neither 

 he nor T claim all the birds which fall anywhere within 

 a half mile of our gtins, nor have we the ability to caiTy 

 lOlbs. of grm iron, with shells loaded with 5drs. of gun- 

 powder and l-joz. of shot. Wells. 



ROCKXNGHAM, N. O. 



AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DEALERS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



A number of the sportsmen of this State have united in 

 a call for the formation of the "Virginia Field Sporting 

 Association," and our meeting for organization will take 

 place at Richmond, Va., Oct. 21, 1886. This is the time 

 of the meeting of our State fair. We have secm-ed a 

 room on the fair grounds as headquarters for the sports- 

 men, and will have on hand a number of traps and birds 

 for the amusement of the members. Much interest has 

 been shoAvn so far in om- organization, and from present 

 indications a large assemblage of sportsmen will be 

 gathered here. The near approach of the shooting season 

 %vill make them unusually keen for sport and anxious to 

 provide themselves with sporting appliances. Our people 

 are proverbially keen sportsmen and dehghted with all 

 that pertains thereto, especially the new inventions and 

 conveniences, with which they have little opportmiity 

 to become familiar because they do not travel about 

 much. It occurs to me that this is a splendid opportunity 

 for some of the enterprising dealers in firearms and sports- 

 men's outfits to turn an honest penny by sending an 

 atti-active line of their goods to the State Fair. The Sec- 

 retary, Mr, George W. Mayo, Richmond, Va., assures me 

 he will reserve ample space for aU such as wish to exhibit, 

 and I will be glad to give further information to any who 

 wish to inquire. 



I feel sm-e that if the Chamberlin Cartridge Company, 

 for example, would send down one of its machiaes and 

 let it be operated on the grounds, it would sell enough of 

 its cartridges to amply repay the outlay. So, too, any or 

 all of the flying target comiSanies could easily repay their 

 outlay and make a profit. 



Any entei-ijrising dealer in sportsmen's Avear, such as 

 coats, leggins and cartridge bags, etc., will find it to his 

 interest to send an attractive Hne of his goods here, for he 

 will seldom strike a larger assemblage of sportsmen, and 

 even if he does not sell much on the spot will introduce 

 himself and his business. I would not suggest to dealers 

 to send guns, or at any rate, not many; for as a rule men 

 do not buy goods off-hand, and take some time for inves- 

 tigation and inquir.y as to a pm-chase of that magnitude. 

 But I feel certain this wiU be a fii-st-rate chance for ex- 

 hibitors of the lighter class of sportsmen's goods to intro- 

 duce and seU their wares, and I hope they wiU not over- 

 look it and give us an attractive display. Please give this 

 a free insertion in your paper, and thereby help to make 

 our first mooting attractive. John S. Wise. 



Richmond, Va., Sept. 21, 1886. • 



Of Course it should read "over" shooting not "our" 

 shooting in my item of Sept. 16 on Highgate marshes.— 

 Stanstead. 



