344 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA YS 
CHAP. 
In India the cheetul is generally found in thick 
jungles upon the banks of rivers, where the country 
is much broken, and intersected by nullahs and 
water-courses. 
Stalking the spotted deer in Ceylon was always 
an enjoyment, as the animal was, like most other 
deer, always on the alert, and the sport required 
both skill and patience, combined with accurate 
shooting. 
In India I have never seen them in any numbers 
approaching to my early experience in Ceylon. I 
remember at Illepecadewe we had nine bucks 
hanging up in camp as the produce of one day’s 
sport. Fortunately we had a great number of 
coolies to consume the flesh, but even then a 
portion decayed before they had time to prepare it 
thoroughly. 
Whenever there is an excess of supply in a 
tropical country, the flesh should be cut into long 
thongs about i inch thick. A framework of green 
rods should be made about 4 feet high, beneath 
which a smoking fire should be well sustained. 
The strips of flesh should be laid upon the frame, 
and the smoke will prevent the flies from laying 
their eggs; which they otherwise will certainly 
do, before the sun has power to sufficiently dry the 
meat. 
The smoke improves the flavour, and, when the 
flesh has been thus exposed for ten or twelve hours, 
it may be hung upon bushes in the sun, on the 
following day, until perfectly dry. A stock of dried 
