. The diary of a sportsman naturalist in India. Hunting; Game protection. HAPPY DAYS AS AN ASSISTANT 25 walking up the fire-line, come across numbers of sambhar, and with moderate luck bag a good stag. In March and April—the period varies with the differ- ences in climate throughout India—the mhowa tree comes into flower. Like other deer the sambhar are very fond of these flowers and collect in the jungles in which the tree is abundant. A knowledge of this fact will enable the sportsman to pick up many a good head and will save him many weary hours' search in areas in which at other periods of
. The diary of a sportsman naturalist in India. Hunting; Game protection. HAPPY DAYS AS AN ASSISTANT 25 walking up the fire-line, come across numbers of sambhar, and with moderate luck bag a good stag. In March and April—the period varies with the differ- ences in climate throughout India—the mhowa tree comes into flower. Like other deer the sambhar are very fond of these flowers and collect in the jungles in which the tree is abundant. A knowledge of this fact will enable the sportsman to pick up many a good head and will save him many weary hours' search in areas in which at other periods of the year he may confidently expect to find the deer, but from which they will have migrated to the tracts in which they know they will find this favourite food. It furnishes a good illustration of the paramount necessity, if he wishes to enjoy successful sport, that the shikari should make himself acquainted with the jungle lore of the district in which his operations are carried out. After the rains had broken and we were all back in the Head-quarters Station again, Bishu would now and then come in or send word that he had marked down a good sambhar. At this season when rice crops were coming up, the sambhar used to come out from the recesses of the great forests and take up their quarters for the time in the outer fringe of the jungles. From the position so chosen they would issue forth at night and walk down into the fields and take toll of the crops. By careful watching it was possible to mark down a particular stag, who might have a doe or two with him, and with luck get a shot at him. I remember an occasion of this kind, one of many similar incidents. Having received word from Bishu I sent off a breakfast-basket with a couple of men and rode out after dinner about eight miles from the Station. Arriving at a small bungalow I rolled up in a thin blanket on a camp bed to sleep for four hours. Bishu awakened me almost to the minute with that wonderful sense or instinct,
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjecthunting, bookyear1920
