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dogs with notes on the special features of the dogs coming from these countries. This is followed with a special description of the dogs and bitches required in hunting. Two bitches should be let loose on promise of a reward to catch a hare at its resting place. She that catches first is successful and gets the reward. If both of them catch the hare at the same time they are considered equal. For catching a boar many dogs should be let loose. When the boar makes a fierce attack on the dogs, the king should have the boar pierced and battered with iron clubs, spears and arrows. The wild boar then is caught by the shoulders, neck and ears by the dogs and is then devoured by them.
Then comes the Syenavinoda or the pleasure of hawking. Here the author describes the different kinds of falcons. The male falcon is of a small size while the female one is of a much bigger size. The female provides better amusement than the male. Four methods are described for catching the falcons: 1 catching by the hand 2 by means of nets 3 by means of nooses and 4 by means of a sticky substance. Young ones in the nests can be caught by the hand. The method of catching them by means of nets and nooses is also described later. The fourth method that is described next is interesting. The milky juice of the Asvattha tree should be collected and put in a vessel over fire till it becomes sticky. This should be applied to all the sticks placed around a bird that is to serve the purpose of a bait for the falcon. When a falcon is attracted it usually sits on these sticks and is unable to move. When thus the falcon is caught, the sticky substance should be removed from the body. Its body should be covered and a string should be tied to the feet. It should be often touched to remove its fear and should not be allowed to sleep that night and the following. Then after three days the falcons should be taken out with their eyes closed for being trained. The two ends of a long rope should be held in hand by two
men, namely the keeper and the trainer. When the training is over, they should be used for amusement. On the preceding day the falcons should not be given any food nor should they be allowed to sleep. This process makes them specially furious. Then they should be taken to a place green with grass and abounding in trees peopled with birds. The beaters should beat the bush so that the hare and birds may run away in fear. The falcons should then be let loose. By the strength of their wings they are able to catch birds at heights where they are almost invisible to the ordinary eye. The king is recommended to amuse himself with falcons in this manner.
Aho! Shrutgyanam
