XX 
THE ANTELOPE 
167 
there were some acres of irrigated land, and this 
being soft, although apparently sound turf, the buck 
was at a disadvantage. The dogs did not sink in 
the treacherous soil, and after a short run they 
closed, and at once pulled the buck upon the 
ground. 
Some natives who had been watching me ob¬ 
served the hunt, and they came from the direction 
of the village, running like so many hounds; but no 
sooner did they arrive upon the scene than they 
commenced hammering the good dogs with their 
heavy bamboos as though they intended to kill them 
on the spot. It was with some difficulty that I 
stopped them ; but in spite of the assault the plucky 
dogs had not relaxed their hold, and they gripped 
the throat of the buck with determined fury. After 
some trouble the natives choked them off; but again 
and again they returned to the attack, exhibiting a 
savage nature that I foresaw would make them 
invaluable allies. 
I hired both these dogs, together with their 
owners. They were a cross between the ordinary 
native dog and the large breed which is known 
as belonging to the Bandjarahs. The latter is a 
tribe somewhat similar to the gypsies of Eastern 
Europe. These people are hereditary carriers, and 
travel enormous distances, conveying the various 
productions of India to the different commercial 
centres, upon pack oxen. They are accompanied 
by a peculiar breed of dogs, large and fierce, which 
guard their animals during the night’s bivouac. 
