Falconry in the Land of the Blackbuck

Author: Drs.Satish and Suruchi Pande

Year of Publication: 2009

Source: letter from Kenyon GIbson

Publisher: Eryr Press

Place of Publication: London

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It will be from the introduction to: Falconry in the Land of the Blackbuck, compiled and translated by Drs. Satish and Suruchi Pande, in publication at the Eryr Press, London, Kenyon Gibson, editor. The encampment was formed at some distance from the lake, much in the same order and with the same arrangement as before. The resident, however, was not with us - his tents and retinue were wanting. The king went out shooting as before; but the marshy character of the banks rendered it by no means so pleasant for him as it was at the other lake. Herons abounded in the neighbourhood, and the hawks were brought for the ward. For several days we enjoyed keenly this delightful sport. None of us, except the king, had seen hawking before in its perfection. The flight of the bird when released, his swooping round and round in the air, slowly at first and then more rapidly; the sight gained of the rising heron, and the hawk's instant flight upwards to overtop the fugitive; the anxious watching for the result, as the pursuer gradually gained the desired position right above his prey; the instant dart downwards, like a lightning flash, whilst beak and claws were buried simultaneously in the heron's back; and then the twirling tumble of both birds as they fell, turning round and round rapidly in their fall;- all this was worth gazing at - all this was a scene not to be easily forgotten when once witnessed. But this was not all. No sooner was the blow struck than we dashed off on horseback to witness the fall. Quiet elderly gentlemen, much given to port and portliness, might then be seen - over a very difficult and wild country too, as if fleeing from destruction behind, instead of being impelled simply by curiosity forwards. Everyone was anxious to be in at the death - to witness the hawk extricated from his prey, both birds perhaps bruised and wounded with the fall. It was a pleasant thing to see the care with which the attendants inspected the feathery warrior, to see what injury he had receive; it was interesting, too, to see the eagerness with which, in spite of any amount of injury, the hawk seized his dainty morsel of the prey. Knighton in turn footnotes Major Edward Archer's book Tours in Upper India, written in 1833, for an account which took place in Bhurtpore. Jan. 15. - The Rajah had promised his hawks and cheetahs for a morning's amusement, and at daylight we sallied out. We were not out long before some royal curlews were discovered feeding in a field, quite unconscious of the array against them, but upon being put up they were fully aware of their danger. It may prove interesting to those unacquainted with Indian field-sports to have that which relates to hawking described; and the present day's sport is instanced to commemorate as gratifying a specimen of this particular kind as ever witnessed. The curlew being roused, and seeing its enemies, screamed loudly and began to mount perpendicularly. The hawk, which was of the long-wing soaring kind, named a bhyree, proceeded in chase. Aware of his inability to rise so fast as his quarry, he went away, as if not disposed to come back, but imperceptibly ascending. Having gone far enough, he tacked, and continued to do so until he was above the curlew. These turns which the hawk makes are very beautiful, and evince great sagacity. In the mean time, the curlew had got so high as scarcely to be within ken, having also gained a considerable distance from where it rose. It is necessary, therefore, that those following this sport should ride very hard, and the eye and the mind being intent on the birds in the skies, renders the work of a hazardous nature. The hawk continues his tacking, though far away from the curlew, until he finds himself above the level of his prey, and then he goes with the speed of lightning; the curlew perceives his disadvantage, and hastens to get over water, as the hawk knows that he is then in great danger, and refuses to strike. If, however, no water is near, the curlew makes for the ground as fast as he can fly, and it is only known by his descending that the hawk is above him, both are so high and so far away. At this moment the greatest delight is experienced. The hawk closing his wings rushes down with a velocity incredible to those who have not witnessed it, and such is it that his passage through the air sounds like a mighty wind. The curlew cannot escape, and before he has time to reach the hawk has stricken him senseless. The latter is too careful to come with all his own force with the curlew to the ground, as he would most likely be killed; but he instinctivelu drops him when within a few yards, and then follows and secures his prey. The keepers and amateurs come and prevent the hawk being injured by the fluttering or pecking of the curlew. The riding, the hawk's manouvring, and the attempts of the curlew to escape, make this sport one of great excitation. If the hawk can merely see his quarry, and he is a staunch bird, there is no fear in quitting it, though he may set off in a contrary direction. Aid must be at hand to free him from water, or any birds, such as kites and crows, who invariably attack him if without defence. After breakfast we accompanied the Rajah in some boats upon the lake to hawk for waterfowl; there were plenty of teal, ducks, and coots; these were pursued by the baz or short-winged hawk, and brought to land. It was amusing to see the hawk get on the body of a bird, if they both fell in the water; for some of the coots and ducks were too heavy for them to carry; this was rather dull sport.

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