164 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA VS 
CHAP. 
obtain a fair start, and I should certainly imagine 
that a first-class greyhound would catch a black-buck 
if it could be slipped within 100 yards upon 
a level uncultivated plain, where the surface was 
absolutely smooth. 
A couple of years ago, when I was in the district 
of Damoh, where black - buck were plentiful, I 
procured two excellent dogs from the village of 
Bertulla. My first introduction to them was 
accidental. Our camp was pitched upon the raised 
bank or bhund of a tank which adjoined the village. 
Upon this were several fine tamarind trees which 
shaded the tents, also a large peepul [Ficus religiosa), 
from the centre of which a wild date-palm grew like 
the mast of a ship for about 40 feet in height, its 
spreading crown appearing like a plume of feathers 
above the highest branches of the peepul. From 
our rather elevated position we had an extensive 
view of the slightly undulating surface, and upon a 
rough uncultivated slope about half a mile distant I 
observed a very black buck lying down alone. 
It is easier to approach a solitary buck than when 
surrounded by a herd, and I commenced a stalk, 
walking behind a bullock-cart, driven by one of my 
men who understood the work. 
It is high art to conduct the cart properly. 
Bullocks are awkward animals to drive, and they 
will not go in the required direction without 
considerable trouble. The driver has a tolerably 
easy time if the cart forms one of a train along a 
good highway; in that case the bullocks will follow 
