News — Hunting

Prosenjit Dasgupta reviews Undiscovered Corbett by Ian Douglas

“Undiscovered Corbett” by Ian Douglas is a notable contribution to popular knowledge about Jim Corbett, that renowned hunter of man-eating tigers in Kumaon in early 20th century and the widely-read author of stories of Indian wildlife. No doubt there have been earlier books on Corbett, but Douglas has broken new ground in providing many more interesting details about Corbett’s life and times with the Bengal and North-Western Railways at Mokameh Ghat, as in-charge of a Labour Corps in World War I and later in Waziristan. Of particular interest is the reproduction of letters written by Corbett to Maggie, his elder sister and to others, as well as press reports, which serve to corroborate the hair-raising experiences of Corbett in pursuing man-eaters such as the Chowgarh maneater and the Thank man-eater. Douglas’ narration of his simulation of a one-handed handling of the .275 Rigby rifle as Corbett had done in shooting the Chowgarh tigress is most interesting. The book provides useful information about Corbett’s role in training troops for jungle warfare during World War II as also about Corbett’s assistance in organizing hunts for Lord Linlithgow (Viceroy of India, 1937 to 1943) and his family. The photographs and personal notes by Lady Doreen Hope (daughter of the Viceroy) in the book provide important pointers to Corbett’s personality and jungle skills. The book has the benefit of many new, hitherto unpublished photographs that Douglas was able to obtain from the Corbett’s Archives available with the Oxford University Press, who were the publishers of Corbett’s books, as well as from members of the Linlithgow family and others. Well-annotated and attractively produced, “Undiscovered Corbett” should be a welcome read to fans of Corbett’s hunting tales.

Back by popular demand in paperback: Confessions of a Shooting Fishing Man

Throughout 1995, Laurence's diary records his hopes of buying some precipitous shooting ground in the Pennines, his fishing days on the Eden, Wharfe and other rivers, the arrival of a second gundog and days spent together on shoots. All this activity is interspersed with Laurence's quest for his true motives in killing what he most loves. He looks at foxhunting, vegetarianism, man as a hunter, man as created in God's image and man as a creature doomed, himself, to die.

This diary remains highly topical, thought-provoking and original. Its tone is also very human and it comes from the pen of a true nature-lover.

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