294 
WILD BLASTS AND THEIR WAVS 
CHAP. 
sports; and the native princes of India have from 
time immemorial been accustomed to train the Felis 
jubata for hunting deer and antelopes, precisely as 
European nations have adopted the greyhound for 
the coursing of hares. 
The Guikwar of Baroda possesses first-class 
hunting leopards, and I had an opportunity of 
witnessing many good hunts when enjoying his 
hospitality at Dubka in 1880. The whole of that 
country is rich alluvial soil, which produces vast 
agricultural wealth. The fields are divided by 
exceedingly thin live fences formed by a species of 
Euphorbia; the country being flat, it affords the 
perfection of ground for riding, therefore such 
sport as pig-sticking or coursing may be enjoyed 
to the fullest extent. During our visit the Guikwar 
had most kindly arranged every kind and style of 
sport, including a pack of hounds, half a dozen 
well-trained cheetahs (hunting leopards), and a 
posse of hawks and falcons with their numerous 
attendants. The position of Dubka was supposed 
to be most favourable for a hunting centre, about 
18 miles from the capital Baroda. There was a 
large palace for the Guikwar, and a convenient 
bungalow for his friends, situated about 30 yards 
from the cliff, which, 100 feet above the stream, 
commanded an imposing view of the river; this 
flowed beneath, about f mile in width during flood¬ 
time, but was now reduced to 300 or 400 yards in 
the dry season. A few miles from the bungalow 
there was a magnificent country for the cheetahs, as 
