A Hawhing Episode. 
123 
we really mean, and the local Shikari who gave the new.-: 
is not to be found. At last a man is discovered who knows 
what I have come for and the spot where the birds were 
seen, and guided by him wo reach the right place; this 
consists of a number of fields of wheat growing in .some- 
what sandy soil; on every side a'o stony ravines most un- 
suitable for riding, but trusting to luck we form a rough line 
and start to search for the Honbara. The Hawk's jesses are 
loosed from the leash and she is held in readiness to l)e un- 
hooded and .slipped at a moment's notice. 
For a good hour we quarter the ground without a 
sign or trace of a Bustard; at last one hopeful I'oports tracks, 
but on investigation, it appears that he is unable to dis-^ 
tinguisli the difference in size between Partridges and our 
quarry; and that gleam of hope is quenched. At last we are 
on the point of giving up and the line has become very 
straggly, when up springs a Honbara and flaps away in a 
grotesque Owl -like fashion. It is marked down, and the 
Falconer, who did not see it, is shown the spot. 
Collecting, we advance together, and the Eustard rises 
somewhat ahead of where it had settled; it is just out of 
gunshot, but the Peregrine is slipped and at once launches 
in pursuit. The Honbara realises his danger — it is a very 
fine old cock bird — and plunges down into a convenient nul- 
lah before the Falcon can come to terms, so the latter takes 
•JD a commanding position on a rock above and waits for the 
Shikari to climb down into the ravine and dislodge her prey. 
The Honbara rises; like a flash the Peregrine stoops 
and both birds ave rolling in a confused mass on the iground; 
Dut the Falcon is caught by a thorny "bush and the Honbara 
breaks away — a respite which gives him time \o get well 
into his flight before the Falcon can extricate herself. Now 
the fun begins, and T gallop like mad to join in the flight. 
As I cut off a corner and catch up the Bustard, the Falcon 
comes up, but the latter is young and her ignorance gives 
a respite to the pursued, for as hunter and hunted pass over 
my head I see the former trying to bind to her quarry from 
behind — a manoeuvre which gives the Bustard lime to get 
ahead affain. This was the •besinuiny of a desperate rsce, 
both birds straining every nerve, and T should have been 
outpaced at once, had not the pursuit kept circling back to 
