FIELDSPORTS IN FAR-FLUNG PLACES
RECOLLECTIONS OF THE HIMALAYAS
1871 I will recollect an amusing incident while bear stalking. Two young officers engaged a Cashmeree to direct them to the nearest possible situation where a black bear could be discovered. Bruin was found accordingly on the topmost branch of a tall mulberry. The two hunters made for the trunk and fired simultaneously, when down dropped Bruin like an avalanche at their feet; but, losing no time in getting on his own, he seized first one, then the other, and tossed them from him, then scampered off into the jungle and was never heard of afterwards; whilst the native hunter, who turned out afterwards to be no Nimrodian at all but a tailor, decamped and was never seen by the party again.
I accompanied my two discomfited friends on the following day to the scene of the disaster, in quest of their rifles, which had been thrown away during the stampede of the previous night. Neither of the hunters sustained any hurt but the firearms were much damaged and a spare one was missing with the tailor. Moreover, there was no sign whatever that Bruin had received any personal injury beyond the fright caused by the report of firearms.
Taken from The Field, 25 November, 1871
A KANGAROO HUNT
1878 Three of us were riding out early one October morning. Two fine kangaroo dogs, Parson and Publican, trotted at our heels.
One of the dogs presently overtook us and went after a big kangaroo, that only ran a few hundred yards before he ‘stuck up’. The dog – it was Publican – at once sprang at the kangaroo and was caught in his arms. Joe was close up, but his horse became frightened and would not go nearer. We thought the dog would be killed before we could render assistance. Joe apparently thought so also, for he dismounted, picked up a stick and hit at the kangaroo. The stick was rotten, so broke short off, the brute was still holding on to the dog, trying to disembowel it with his hind claw. To save Publican, Joe seized the kangaroo by the tail, so that to kick any more was impossible. The kangaroo then dropped the dog and struggled to get away; each great jump he made lifted Joe off his feet, but he dared not let go; he knew that the kangaroo, in spite of the dog worrying at his side, would turn on the biggest of his enemies, and an ‘old man’ kangaroo is an awkward customer to deal with. Joe sang out lustily for help, but the situation was too comical. Jack and I sat our on horses and shrieked with laughter. To see a man
