P L A T E XXXI.
JACKALS RESCUING A HUNTED BROTHER.
A L L European ilogs degenerate extremely in India. Hounds, after the lliird
or fourlli generalion, lose iheii- characteristic (|na[i|]catioos, and-for the most
part l)ecoine arrant curs. Tliis niaj' be considered as a general rale from which,
liovvever, some few exceplions have been found; whence some persons are led
to believe the defect arises from want of due precaution. Sueii has perhaps
hceu partially tlic case, but ihe majority of sportsmen are ])erfeclly sensible,
that, even when the utmost caution had been used to select such parents as
were not only good in lliemsclves, but of the best blood, the degencracy proved
as invetenUe as under the most heedless managemenl.
The hounds received from England are sure and eager, but the cliinatc soon
destroys tliem. I'or this reason they arc mostly purcha.«ed to breed from ; and
are kept from the field for tlie (irst season ; after which, the original intention
being fulfilled, and the dogs I li em selves better seasoned, they are blended with
the iiack, where they rarely fail to distingnish themselves. Not but what at
times a gentleman has been very much imposed upon by ]>urchasiug an imported
])ack consisting of half-bred or babbling dogs!
It is surprising to see what a mortality is often ])revalent among Europeanborn
hounds. The chases are in genera! very short, rarely exceeding seven or eight
miles, and being often at a fault or crossed ))y otfier game, tlie burst is never
so animated as in this climate, where tlie sceni lies so well, and where game is
jjy no means so abundant. If a jackal can get a good lieading, and find a
cover, wliicb is generally very easy lor liim to do, lie may stand it out for two
or three liours, and after all probably be killed in some jungle, wliere the horsemen
cannot follow, and thus render the sport dull and insipid. From this it
will be seen that the mortality is not to be imputed to excess of fatigue;
especially as, on account of the scent breaking up shortly after the sun's appearance,
the dogs are seldom out more than three hours in a day; while at the
same lime they are rarely hunted more than twice or thrice in a week.
On the other baud the remarkable cunning of the jackal proves very
obnoxious. He will so harass the hounds, by incessantly crossing the haunts
of his brethren, that the pack is fre(|uently broken into four or five divisions,
each following a separate course. This, as the packs are in general very weak
as to numbers, proves very destructive, especially if such dogs as follow any
one of the various chases be not matched as to speed. The necessity for tying
u p dogs in their kennels is a considerable advantage to their wind. Tliey are
besides fed too indiscriminately, and if not closely watched, have too nuicli food
given them at a time. The dooreahs, or dog-keepers, tliink it sufficient if they
furnish to each dog bis daily allowance, at once, disregarding all but how to
save themselves trouble. They are in this instance like the man who, on receiving
a box of ])ills, was told, tliat when he had taken them all he would be
well ; in consequence of which he speedily swallowed all the contenl.s of the
box, and Death cured him of every ailing !
The great expense attendant on the original purchase, and on the keeping of a
r e g u l a r suppl y for renovation, added to the consequent trouble and vexation, and
the chance of a gentleman being removed to .some other station, after havino-,
perhaps at a great charge, completed his kennels, as well as the very great
losses occasioned by the severity of the climate, all operate as insuperable obstacles
to llie keeping of bounds with any pleasure or elTecl; and, as I before
remarked, is the cause why so few hounds are kept in India.
In questing for jackal s it is very common to come upon bogs an<l other game :
in a former Number an incident lias been recorded when a tiger was roused and
h u n t e d by a pack. Such circumstances, however, arc by no means desirable ;
for they often in a few hours <lo as much mischief as a sickly season. Perhaps
the danger, added to the facility with which the diversion of hog and deer
h u n t i n g may at all times be followed, should be considered as being equally
severe drawbacks on jackal hunting as all the foregoing objections put together.
The surest and most pleasant mctliod of coursing jackals, for which strong
greyhounds should be particularly selected, is to entice them into a large trap