1091 
H. R. H. THE PRINCE OF WALES’ SHOOTING IN INDIA 
IN 1921 AND 1922.— Part II. 
By 
BERNARD C. ELLISON, C.M.Z.S. — {Naturalist to the Shoot'ng.) 
F.R.O.S. 
{With three plates and a map and 2 text fibres.) 
BHOPAL.* 
The Prince arrived at Bhopal on a bracingly cold morning, February 4th, 1922. 
But this account is not concerned with shivering officers dressed in white, nor 
with red carpets, bands, banners and booming guns, but with wooded hills and 
glades, and the free unfettered life of a shooting camp. 
Before we plmige into the jiuiglcs, a word to those to whom Bhopal is but a 
famiUar name. Thousands are hurled into the Bhopal railway station yearly 
and thousands pass on, little knowing, for the sight is not for them, that a mile 
beyond the utilitarian rows of station buildings lies one of the most beautiful 
places in all India, imique, with a charm wholly its o^vn. 
Here on the northern edge of two large sheets of water rises the city, white 
palaces gleaming amidst green trees, while tall minarets, their glittering spikes 
dominating all, mark unmistakably the religion of the Ruler. 
On the southern shore stands the residence of General Obeidullab IChan with 
its magnificicnt view over the lakes, and, at a lower elevation, the comfortable 
“ Lai Kothi ” in whieh His Royal Highness resided during the visit. This faces 
across the lower lake towards the group of old palaces, the grim city walls, and 
the Fatehgarh Fort which so stoutly withstood the Maratha hordes in the 
18th century. To the west, towards Sehore, the coimtry is level and cultivated, 
but to the north and east the land is full of hills which, as one gets further from 
the eity, become rougher and covered with fine jungle, an ideal haunt for wild 
animals of every kind. 
The intervenhig time from the 4th till the evening of the 5th was spent in a 
round of fimctions and amusements comprising the State visits, the Banquet, 
Polo, Tennis, Yachting and Shooting, all provided by the hospitable Bi^gum of 
Bhopal in honour of her Royal guest. The shooting proper was to take place at 
Kachnaria, about 20 miles as the crow flies out of Bhopal, where had been 
pitched a standing eamp out in the jungle. 
Some sport was enjoyed roimd Bhopal before the party went to Kachnaria. 
Sir Godfrey Thomas went out from Bhopal for buck on the afternoon of the 
4th February towards Duraha, but, although the country promised well, a glimpse 
of two Chinkara out of shot was all the reward he obtained for his exertions. 
Admiral Halsey who went towards Ashta also had a blank day. There had 
been a lot of recent traffic on these roads on account of the Prince’s visit 
w’hich had disturbed all buck and chinkara and made the herds go far from the 
main roads. 
Captain Dudley North, Captain Piers Lcgh and Commander Now'port went 
out after stiipe and had some sport, bringmg in 18| couple. A good morning 
was spent wdth sand grouse on the Sehore Road. A nullah was found where 
the grouse watered and about 1 5 brace were got, mostly pintail. 
Anoth- r party amused themselves on the lake at Bhopal with duek, wMeh 
were vt;ry numerous but difficult to got at. Attempts were made to circumvent 
them in boats, but it was of no avail. Staying out for Heir evening flight was 
tried by another party who had good sport at the top end of the lake among the 
• I am largely indebted to Colonel Luard for this article. 
