Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-06
Sons OF Veterans
The Confederate Dead-
CATCHING WILD GEESE IN INDIA.
Tactics That Nust he Surprising to
the Coveted Fowls.
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In India ducks, teal, and geese abound
in all the numerous jheels, az do also
coots. or water fowl. These jheels are
large water storages for irrigatng pur-
poses. and are kept filed by the heavy
fall in the rainy seasons. They afford
most excellent sport.
Sometimes. for company's sake, several
form II party and so out for the day,
but thorough, keen sportsman, meaning
business generally prefers going out alone.
OF course. with a jolly party. IL is more
enjoyable in one way, but the difficulty
is that each interferes with the others
sport. more especially when careful stalk
ing is necessary, no matter how well or
carefully organized the plan is, and for
this reason | generally preferred going out
alone The jheel 20 be first visited having
been determined upon. ones syce and
coolies are sent on by daybreak After
an early breakfast, an hour or SOS gal
lop lands one among the haunts OF the
feathered tribe. This kind OF shooting
is all the more enjoyable. because OF the
variety II affords. a double shot at the
ducks and teal. and then quiet hunt
after snipe around the marshy parts of
the theel. Then. If a village is near.
which Is generally the case, sport In the
shape OF black partridge. quail, and pea
fowl, and an occasional shot at a deer
can be had before remounting and FOL
lowing up the ducks, etc, 10 other Jheeis
in the vicinity. In this way an exciting
days sport is obtained. and thoroughly
good mixed bag Is the result. AS these
jheels are mostly coverless and wen In
the open, every precaution has TO be
taken to enable near approach to the
ducks not forgetting the direction OF
az keen as antelopes, and any careless
ness I'm detail would soon see the black
and living mass on the wing. and away
weu ont of range. Often have l had
10 creep fat on the ground for very long
distances. placing my gun seVerai rect
in advance of me, ana WEIGHING UP 10
II. and 50 on. THIS - slow means OF
progression, but Il Is sure when against the
wind. A further precaution ~ 10 take
off your helmet. and place a ven the
color Of the ground over your face, Tor
nothing shows out palmer or SO scares
birds or animals as a white face.
Once the edge OF the water Is reached
nerchance the duck ard teal have moved
far out. in which case there Is nothing
for n hut TO continue crawling. In spite
Of the slush and dirt. keeping as low as
possible. until the depth OF the water ad-
mits of more comfortable attitude.
enabling one TO wade, stll lowering ones
self keeping the gun above water. Now
the greatest care has 10 be taken for
fear OF slipping out OF ones depth, The
man | always adopted was To advance
the left foot, shuttle along 10 the front
with II, and bring up the right foot. and
SO on until had approached sufficiently
near TO insure successful shot. We'll
do | remember one most excellent days
stalking some twenty miles from Luck
now. when, with n right and left, l actu-
ally bagged fifty ducks and teal. After
which being in the vicinity Of village
where peafowl were said 10 abound, l
determined to try my hand al them.
and. with the aid Of my coolie heaters.
secured thirty in one hour, all In
fine condition, and the peacocks particu-
larry handsome. The mixed bag OF
duck, teal. geese. partridges. quail. and
peafowl which l was enabled to send In
10 the mems mess at the close OF the
DAVIS proceedings was greatly appre-
ciated BY the recipients. and my going
ont shikar was always hailed with de-
llsht by the men, who knew ! never for
got them
Geese are also to be found in very large
docks. but only in the larger jheels.
and they generally keep we'll out in the
middle. in the open. deem water during
the day, coming into the shallow parts
10 feed late In the afternoon. ! sO.ne-
times went out after them In canoe
when such could be got: II not,
manufactured raft made OF bamboo
which | made my coolies cut from the