Two days later , Rishi ( our loyal Gurkha coolie ) and l set off with our respected client and his wife towards the the horel fields near the Kudai kills where excellent bird shooting could be had.With us were three other coolies to carry the equipment and refreshments for our client and madame . Rishi carried our client’s Remington 12 bore auto loader. I carried my own Ishapore 12 bore shot-gun loaded with SG cartridge in each barrel , in case an ill tempered boar should rush out of the bushes to do harm to our client. We reached the field and in fifteen minutes gun shots rang out , one after the other.
View attachment 310038
Our client getting ready to open fire
It is wrong and unethical and shallow to label people , however back when l was young , l used to try to predict what kind of shot-gun a client would bring by seeing their nationality. An English gentle man should bring a side by side shot-gun. An European gentle man should bring an over-under shot-gun. An American gentle man should bring a pump operation shot-gun or an auto loader. Please forgive me for my shallow attitude at that time , dear readers. I was merely a young man trying to see if certain nationalities had a preference for certain types of fire arms.
At any rate , our client laid waste to 19 horels using 24 cartridges of number 6 shot .
View attachment 310039
That magnificent Remington 12 bore auto loader
In the mean time , Gautam was busy boiling water over a fire for madame . Madame was an avid coffee drinker and she had brought her own coffee for us to make for her. They came in packets from the firm , Nestle . As Gautam prepared the madame’s coffee , Rishi used a Haat Pakha ( hand fan ) to keep the madame cool , as she sat on a folding chair and complimented her husband’s excellent shooting . Madame however seemed to constantly look at her feet in apprehensive way. I asked her “ Mem Shahib , is everything alright ? “ . Madame asked nervously “ Are there any snakes in these areas “ . I immaturely , but truthfully told her “ Some times , madame . But not very big . Do not worry . Maybe five or six feet size “ . Madame was terrified . As an older man now , l realize what it was that l said , which had unsettled madame. Rishi ( who understood English ) told me “ Bhai , Mem Shahib ke bolen je shaap ashle ami kheye nibo “. ( Brother , tell madame to not worry. If any snake comes , l will eat it ) . I told this to madame , but rather than comfort her , it increased her terror even more.
View attachment 310040
An excellent photographic capture of our client shooting one of the last horels . By this time , my skills at photography were also improving somewhat
Eventually, l had the coolies collect the horels and we then drove our client and madame back to Darjeeling Circuit House. Madame and sir were very kind . They let us take ten birds home to our families. The flesh of the horel is most succulent when marinated with yogurt and tandoori spices and roasted over red coals. However , this is a Shikar forum and not a cooking forum , and thus , let us proceed to the titular climax of this account : The crocodile Shikar
