SHOOTING BISON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 80

SHOOTING BISON.

AN EXPERIENCE IN SOUTHERN INDIA.

Writing of shooting bison in Southern India, Mr C. E. Giouldsbury says in the Field :—": — " Some dark objects at the further edge of the jungle attracted my attention. They looked at first like anthills, those curious creations of the white ant, but presently, to my amazement, they seemed to me to move! Thinking this must be an optical illusion due to the waving of the grass, I examined them through the glasses, when, to my inexpressible delight, I discovered that what I had mistaken for tops of anthills were the tvithers of the bison. I had hit them off exactly, and there they were, barely 50 yards in front of me, and seemingly quite unconscious of my presence, for they were evidently grazing ; but as I stood watching them I saw a head or two roused suspiciously in the air, then slowly 6ink down again, as if still thinking that something was amies. I crouched down at once, then, again on hands and knees, crept silently through the grass till I had almost reached the edge, and could now see the herd distinctly. They had moved farther into the open, and were now about 30 yards from me, all grazing except the bull, who was lyinc down in front of them, nearer to me than the others.

"Keeping my eyes fixed on him, I now laid myself flat upon the ground, and was just about to bring my rifle to the shoulder when some cartridges in my pocket unfortunately rattled. He was up in an instant, and, glaring savagely around, stood sniffing the air, evidently

— Trying to Locate the Sound. —

Now was my opportunity, for 'he was standing broadside on to me. Trembling with excitement, I held my breath, and, raising the rifle carefully, pulled for his head just behind the ear. As the smoke cleared off I saw that he had dropped upon his knees, then rolled over and lay kicking on his side, I sprang up immediately, shouting loudly at the herd, for at the sound of the report they had come charging down upon me ; but, yelling with' all the energy of despair, I fortunately succeeded in changing their direction, and, turning sharply to the left, they went scampering up the valley. So close had they approached that I could have toudhed them with my rifle ; in fact, another yard and I must have been trampled under foot, killed outright perhaps, or at least probably maimed for life. It was truly a marvellous escape, and all due to a powerful pair- of lungs. " But I had no sooner escaped one danger than I was threatened with another, for I had hardly recovered from my fright and" was stooping to pick up a cartridge I had dropped when I heard a sound behind me, and, turning quickly round, saw to my horror that the bull was on his feet. Standing there, with glaring eyeballs and the blood pouring from both nostrils, he was not a pleasing sight at euch close quarters. Not that I had much time to study his appearance, for the next moment, having either scented or caught sight of me, down went his head, and, with a bellow that shook the very ground, he came thundering down upon me. I had barely time to bring 'my rifle to the shoulder, and when I fired he had almost reached me. I had aimed roughly at his head, only too thankful to get in a shot at all, but, fortune favouring me, the bullet, as I subsequently cljeoo-rered, struck exactly where it should, and he j rolled over at my feet. Reloading my j empty rifle, I stood prepared for a second resurrectdon, for I did not know then that my bullet had pierced the brain, but presently, as his struggles ceaeed, I saw blood oozing from his forehead through a hole which had not beem there before, and I knew then that I had won. However, my late experience had taught me caution, ' a©, cQntraUin.tr my longing to examine him,

I waited for a time. Hie looked mon> strous as he lay, and even in death

— An Awe-inspiring Sight ; — but this only enhanced -my joy at having conquered him, and proud of my achieve^ ment T shouted for the horsekeeper. 1 would have summoned a whole village hadt there been any near, so elated did I feel at my success, and so anxious to proclaim' it to the world. The man soon, appeared^in answer to my call, running quickly andfdragging the pony after him, to its evideno annoyance. He had my camera slung round him, and with it I took a. photo o£ my prize, exactly as he had fallen, andf with the blood still pouring from hvit wounds.

"The first bullet had struck below the' ear, and must have proved fatal in the end, but the second was through thi centre of the forehead, penetrating tha brain — a lucky shot to which I probably owed my life, for, fired more or less atf random, it might easily have struck & far less vital spot, and thus given the furious animal time to wreak its venjgeance. However, 'all's well that ends well ' is a very true old maxim, and on© I quite agreed with as I contemplated tha fine head I had secured, and the onry thought that troubled me now was bois; to take it off. My hunting knife was useless for the purpose, and the "oorsekeepet; had nothing more suitable about him. Bufr presently he remembered that there were* some coolies working near, and suggested ,* that one of them might possibly have art axe. Th's being the very thing I wanted I 6ent him off at once, and in the meantime I commenced operating with tha knife. An Ebur later he returned witK the weapon and half a- dozen men. Butt even with an axe we found the task m«Bti difficult ; however, we accomplished it ab last, and then cut off the feet, for I was anxious to possess as many trophies as I could. The carcase I made over to ilie; coolies, who had now come up in scores, and fell upon it like vultures on their, prey. Despatching the housekeeper and the coolies to the bungalow with my spoil, v I stood for a time watching the curious spectacle of human beings fighting like \sildl beasts for their food, and with an ea^eiv ness which might lead -one to believe they, had been starving for a month."