CHAPTER VI

THE TIGER (continued)

There is no more delightful study than Natural History in its practical

form, where the wild beasts and their ways are actually presented to the

observer in their native lands, and he can examine their habits in their

daily haunts, and watch their characters in their wild state instead of

the cramped limits of zoological collections. At the same time we must

confess that the animals of a menagerie afford admirable opportunities

for photography, and are most instructive for a rudimentary preparation

before we venture upon the distant jungles where they are to be found in

their undisturbed seclusion. It is commonly supposed that wild animals

that have never been attacked by fire-arms are not afraid of man, and

that deer, antelopes, and various species which are extremely timid may

be easily approached by human beings, as the creatures have no fear of

molestation. My experience does not support this theory. Nearly all

animals have some natural enemy, which keeps them on the alert, and

renders them suspicious of all strange objects and sounds that would

denote the approach of danger. The beasts of prey are the terror of the

weaker species, which cannot even assuage their thirst in the hottest

season without halting upon the margin of the stream and scrutinising

the country right and left before they dare stoop their heads to drink.

Even then the herd will not drink together, but a portion will act as

watchers, to give notice of an enemy should it be discerned while their

comrades slake their thirst.

It is a curious and inexplicable fact that certain animals and varieties

of birds exhibit a peculiar shyness of human beings, although they are

exposed to the same conditions as others which are more bold. We see

that in every portion of the world the curlew is difficult to approach,

although it is rarely or never pursued by the natives of the

neighbourhood; thus we find the same species of bird exhibiting a

special character whether it has been exposed to attack, or if

unmolested in wild swamps where the hand of man has never been raised

against it.

The golden plover is another remarkable example, as the bird is wild in

every country that it inhabits, even where the report of fire-arms never

has been heard. The wagtails, on the contrary, are tame and confiding

throughout all places, whether civilised or savage. The swallows are the

companions of the human race, nesting beneath their eaves, and sharing

the shelter of their roofs in every clime. Why this difference exists in

creatures subjected to the same conditions is a puzzle that we cannot

explain. In like manner we may observe the difference in animals, many

of which are by nature extremely timid, while others of the same genus

are more bold. The beasts of prey vary in an extraordinary degree

according to their species, which are in some way influenced by

circumstances. Tigers and lions are naturally shy, and hesitate to

expose themselves unnecessarily to danger; both these animals will

either crouch in dense covert and allow the passer-by to continue his

course, or slink away unobserved, if they consider that their presence

is undetected. Nevertheless these animals differ in varying localities,

and it is impossible to describe the habits of one particular species in

general terms, as much depends upon the peculiarities of a district

which may exercise an effect in influencing character. The tigers that

inhabit high grass jungle are more dangerous than those which are found

in forests. The reason is obvious; the former cannot be seen, neither

can they see, until the stranger is almost upon them; they have

accordingly no time for consideration, but they act upon the first

impulse, which is either to attack in self-defence or to bound off in an

opposite direction. If the same tiger were in a forest it would either

see the approach or it would hear the sound of danger, and being

forewarned, it would have time to listen and to decide upon a course of

retreat; it would probably slink away without being seen.

Although the usual bait for a tiger is a young buffalo, there is no

animal that is held in greater respect by this ferocious beast than an

old bull of that species.

It is by no means an uncommon occurrence that should a tiger have the

audacity to attack a buffalo belonging to a herd, the friends of the

victim will immediately rush to its assistance, and the attacking party

is knocked over and completely discomfited, being only too glad to

effect a retreat.

A few months ago, from the date at which I am now writing, a native came

to my camp with the intelligence that a large tiger had suddenly sprung

from a densely wooded nullah and seized a cow that was grazing within a

few yards of him. The man shouted in the hope of scaring the tiger, when

two buffaloes who were near the spot and were spectators of the event at

once charged the tiger at full speed, knocked it over by their onset,

and followed it as it sprang for safety into the thick bush, thus saving

the cow from certain destruction. The cow, badly lacerated about the

throat, ran towards its native village, followed by its owner. I lost no

time in arriving at the spot, about two miles from camp, and there I

found the recent tracks precisely tallying with the description I had

received. We organised a drive on the following morning, but the

crestfallen tiger had taken the notice to quit, and had retreated from

the neighbourhood.

An example of this kind is sufficient to exhibit the cautious character

of the tiger. My shikari, a man of long experience, differed in opinion

with the native who had witnessed the attack. This man declared that the

tiger must be lying in a dense thicket covering a deep hollow of about

10 acres, to which it had retreated when charged by the two buffaloes;

he advised that we should lose no time, but organise a drive at once, as

the tiger, having been frightened by the buffaloes, would probably

depart from the locality during the night.

My shikari argued against this suggestion. He was of opinion that the

tiger might not be lying in the hollow, as there was much broken ground

and jungle in the immediate neighbourhood, including many dense and deep

nullahs that might have formed a retreat: if the tiger should happen to

be within one of those places, it would be outside the drive, and would

be frightened away by the noise of the beaters should we drive the

hollow, and it would escape unseen. If, on the other hand, the tiger

should be lying in any spot within a radius of half a mile, it would be

very hungry, as proved by its attack upon the cow during broad daylight,

and it would assuredly kill one or both of the baits, and remain with

its prey, if we should tie up two young buffaloes that night; we should

then be certain to have it within the drive on the following morning.

This was sound reasoning, and according to rule; but the native argued

that the tiger, having been knocked over and pounded by the buffaloes,

would be so cowed that it would decline to attack the young buffaloes

that might be secured to trees as baits; it would, on the contrary,

avoid anything in the shape of a buffalo, and if we neglected to drive

the jungle at once, we should find a blank upon the following morning.

The sequel proved that the man was correct, as the buffaloes were

untouched on the following day, and the tiger had disappeared from the

locality.

The tiger, although hungry, was sufficiently disturbed by its defeat to

abstain from any further attack; although the baits were only twelve

months old, it was too shy to encounter anything in the shape of a

buffalo.

In the grassy islands of the Brahmaputra there were a vast number of

tigers some twelve or fourteen years ago, but their number has been

reduced through the development of the country by the various lines of

steamers which have improved the navigation of the river. Formerly a

multitude of small islands of alluvial deposit thrown up by the

impetuous current created an archipelago for 60 or 70 miles of the

river's course south of Dhubri, in the direction of Mymensing; these

varied in size from a few hundred yards to a couple of miles in length,

and being covered with high grass and tamarisk, they formed a secluded

retreat for tigers and other game at the foot of the Garo Hills. The

river makes a sudden bend, sweeping near the base of this forest-covered

range, from which the wild animals at certain seasons were attracted to

the island pasturage and dense covert, especially when the forests had

been cleaned by annual firing, and neither food nor place of refuge

could be found. As these numerous islands abounded with wild pigs,

hog-deer, and other varieties of game, they were most attractive to

tigers, and these animals were tolerably secure from molestation, as it

was impossible to shoot or even to discover them in grass 10 feet high

without a line of elephants. The improvement introduced by steam

navigation gave an increased impulse to cultivation, as the productions

of the country could be transported at a cheap rate to Calcutta by the

large barges termed flats, which are fastened upon either side of the

river steamers. These are 270 feet in length, and of great beam. The

steamers are from 270 to 300 feet from stem to stern, and are furnished

with hurricane decks capable of stowing a large cargo, although the

draught of water is limited owing to the numerous sandbanks that

interrupt the channel. The peculiar conditions of the Brahmaputra, which

render it necessary that these large vessels should be of very shallow

draught, entail the necessity of a rudder 17 feet in length to afford a

sufficient resistance for steering when running down the stream. The

shock when striking upon a sandbank is sufficient to bury the stem

without straining the vessel, as the flat bottom remains fixed upon the

soft soil for a few moments, during which the force of the stream upon

so large a surface brings the steamer broadside on to the obstruction

and releases the stem. It is then an affair of an hour or more to get

her off the bank by laying out kedge anchors, and heaving upon the

hawsers with the steam winches.

The Brahmaputra is an extraordinary river, as it acknowledges no

permanent channel, but is constantly indulging in vagaries during the

season of flood; at such times it carries away extensive islands and

deposits them elsewhere. Sometimes it overflows its banks and cuts an

entirely new channel at a sudden bend, conveying the soil to another

spot, and throwing up an important island where formerly the vessels

navigated in deep water. This peculiar character of the stream renders

the navigation extremely difficult, as the bed is continually changing

and the captains of the steamers require a long experience.

During inundations the islands are frequently drowned out, and the wild

animals are forced to swim for the nearest shore. Upon such occasions

tigers have been frequently seen swimming for their lives, and they have

been killed in the water by following them in boats. The captain of the

steamer in which I travelled told me of a curious incident during a

great inundation, which had covered deeply all the islands and

transported many into new positions. Upon waking at daylight, the man

who took the helm was astonished to see a large tiger sitting in a

crouching attitude upon the rudder, which, as already explained, was 17

feet in length. A heavily-laden flat or barge was lashed upon either

side, and the sterns of these vessels projected beyond the deck of the

steamer, right and left.

The decks of these large flats were only feet above the water, and the

tiger, when alarmed by a shout from the helmsman, made a leap from the

rudder to the deck of the nearest vessel. In an instant all was

confusion, the terrified natives fled in all directions before the

tiger, which, having knocked over two men during its panic-stricken

onset, bounded off the flat and sought security upon the deck of the

steamer alongside. Scared by its new position and by the shouts of the

people, it rushed into the first hole it could discover; this was the

open door of the immense paddle-box, and the captain rushed to the spot

and immediately closed the entrance, thereby boxing the tiger most

completely.

There was only one gun on board, belonging to the captain: the door

being well secured, there was no danger, and an ornamental air-hole in

the paddle-box enabled him to obtain a good view of the tiger, who was

sitting upon one of the floats. A shot through the head settled the

exciting incident; and the men who were knocked over being more

frightened than hurt, the affair was wound up satisfactorily to all

parties except the tiger.

The progress of science in the improvement of steam navigation has had a

wonderful effect throughout the world during the past half century, and

it is interesting to watch the development resulting from the increased

facilities of steam traffic upon the Brahmaputra. Although a residence

upon the islands is accompanied by extreme risk during the period of

inundations, there are many villages established where formerly the

tigers held undisturbed possession; and the rich alluvial soil is made

to produce abundance, including large quantities of jute, which is

transported by the steamers to Calcutta. The danger of an unexpected

rise in the river is always provided for, and every village possesses

two or more large boats, which are carefully protected from the sun by a

roof of mats or thatch, to be in readiness for any sudden emergency.

When the natives first established themselves upon the islands and along

the dangerous banks of the Brahmaputra, they suffered greatly from the

depredations of the numerous tigers, and in self-defence they organised

a system by which each village paid a subscription towards the

employment of professional shikaris. These men soon reduced the numbers

of the common enemy, by setting clever traps, with bows and arrows, the

latter having a broad barbed head, precisely resembling the broad arrow

that is well known as the Government mark throughout Great Britain. The

destruction of tigers was so great in a few years that the

Lieut.-Governor of Bengal found it necessary to reduce the reward from

fifty rupees to twenty-five, and tiger-skins were periodically sold by

auction at the Dhubri Kutcherry at from eight annas to one rupee each.

In this manner the development of agricultural industry brought into

value the fertile soil, which had hitherto been neglected, and the wild

beasts were the first to suffer, and eventually to disappear from the

scene; precisely as indolent savage races must vanish before the

inevitable advance of civilisation. and their neglected countries will

be absorbed in the progressive extension of colonial enterprise.

I believe there are very few tigers to be found at the present time in

the islands or "churs" of the Brahmaputra, and although I never had the

good fortune to know the country when it was described to me as

"crawling" with these animals, I look back with some pleasure to my

visit in 1885, when through the kindness of Mr. G. P. Sanderson, the

superintendent of the keddahs, I was supplied with the necessary

elephants.

The Rajah of Moochtagacha, Soochikhan (or Suchi Khan), had started from

Mymensing with thirty-five elephants, and he kindly invited me to join

him for a few days before I should meet Mr. Sanderson at Rohumari, about

38 miles below Dhubri, on the Brahmaputra. I had a scratch pack of

twelve elephants, including some that had been sent forward from the

keddahs, and others kindly lent by the Ranee of Bijni. These raised our

number into a formidable line, excepting one huge male with long tusks

belonging to the Bijni Ranee, who was too savage to be trusted with

other elephants in company. This brute, as is not uncommon, combined

great ferocity with extreme nervousness. He had just destroyed the

howdah, which was smashed to atoms, as the animal had taken fright at

the crackling of flames when some one had ignited a patch of long grass

in the immediate neighbourhood. This had established an immediate panic,

and the elephant bolted at full speed, destroying the howdah utterly

beneath the branches of a tree; fortunately there was no occupant, or he

would certainly have been killed. The sound of fire is most trying to

the nerves of elephants, but a good shooting animal should be trained

especially to bear with it; otherwise it is exceedingly dangerous.

The Rajah's elephants were his peculiar enjoyment, and there was the

same difference in their general appearance, when compared with the

keddah elephants, as would be seen in a well-kept stable of hunters and

a team of ordinary farm horses. At the same time it must be remembered

that Suchi Khan's elephants did no work, but were kept solely for his

amusement, while the keddah animals had been working hard in the Garo

Hills for many months upon inferior food, engaged with their experienced

superintendent Mr. Sanderson in catching wild elephants. Nevertheless

there was a notable superiority in the Rajah's shikari animals, as they

had been carefully trained to the sport of tiger-hunting; they marched

with so easy a motion that a person could stand upright in the howdah,

rifle in hand, without the necessity of holding the rail. They appeared

to glide instead of swaying as they moved, and in that respect alone

they exhibited immense superiority, the difficulty of shooting with a

rifle from the back of an elephant in motion being extreme. Several of

these elephants were so well trained that they showed no alarm when a

tiger was on foot, at which time an elephant generally exhibits a

tendency to nervousness, and cannot be kept motionless by his mahout.

A favourite shikar animal had been badly bitten by a tiger a few days

before my arrival, and it was feared that she might become shy upon the

next encounter. Although the elephant is enormous in weight and

strength, the upper portion of the trunk is much exposed, as it is the

favourite spot for the tiger's attack, where it can fix its teeth and

claws, holding on with great tenacity. A wound on the trunk is most

painful, and when an elephant is actually pulled down by a tiger, it is

the pain to which the animal yields in falling upon the knees, more than

the actual weight and strength of the tiger that produce the effect. A

tiger, when standing upon its hind legs, would be able to reach about 8

feet without the effort of a spring; it may be readily imagined that a

female elephant unprotected by tusks must certainly be injured should a

tiger rush determinedly to the attack; nevertheless the female is

generally preferred to the male for steadiness and docility. When a

really trustworthy male elephant is obtainable, well grown, of large

size, easy action, and in perfect training, it is simply invaluable, and

there is no pleasure equal to such a mount; the sensation upon such an

animal is too delightful, and you long for the opportunity to exhibit

the power and prowess of your elephant, as the feeling of being

invincible is intensely agreeable. The only sensation that can approach

it is the fact of being mounted upon a most perfect hunter, that you can

absolutely depend upon when following the hounds in England; an animal

well up to a couple of stones more than your own weight, who never bores

upon your hand, but keeps straight, and never makes a mistake; even that

only faintly approaches the pleasure of a good day upon such an elephant

as I have described.

Mahouts will always lie concerning the reputation of the animal in their

charge, and I had been assured that the great male belonging to the

Ranee of Bijni was the ideal character I coveted; but I discovered that

his temper was so well known that the Rajah positively declined to

expose his line of elephants to an attack, which he assured me would

take place if the animal became excited; in which event some valuable

elephant would suffer, as the long tusks of the Bijni elephant had not

been blunted, or shortened by the saw. This splendid animal was

accordingly condemned to the ignominious duty of conveying food to the

camp, for the other elephants upon their return from their daily work.

The neighbourhood of the Brahmaputra is rich in plantain groves, and for

a trifling consideration the natives allow those trees which have

already produced their crop to be cut down. A full-length stem will

weigh about 80 lbs., therefore an elephant is quickly loaded, as the

animal for the short distance to camp will carry 18 cwts. or more. The

operation of loading a pad elephant with either boughs or plantain stems

is very curious. Two men are necessary; one upon the ground hands the

boughs, etc., to the man upon the animal's back, who lays the thin or

extreme end of the branch across the pad, leaving the thick or heavy end

outwards. He places one foot upon this to keep it from slipping off

until he has placed the next bough across it upon the opposite side,

arranged in a similar manner. In this way he continues to load the

elephant, each time holding down with his foot a separate bough, until

he has secured it by the weight of another, placed in the same position

opposite. This plan enables him to build up a load like a small

haystack, which is then secured by ropes, and almost hides the animal

that carries it. My mighty beast was condemned to this useful but

degrading employment, instead of being honoured by a place in the line

of shikari's elephants, and we started into the valleys among the Garo

Hills, led by a native who declared that he would introduce us to

rhinoceros and buffaloes.

We started at 6 A.M., and marched about 14 miles, extending into line

whenever we entered a broad valley of high grass, and slowly thrashing

our way through it. In many of the swampy flats among the hills the

reedy grass was quite 14 or 15 feet in height and as thick as the

forefinger; so dense was this herbage, that when the elephants were in

line you could only see the animals upon the immediate left and right,

the others being completely hidden. It struck me that this system of

beating was rather absurd, as there were no stops in the front, neither

scouts on the flanks, therefore any animals that might be disturbed by

the advance in line had every chance of escape without being observed.

The grass was a vivid green, and occasionally a rush in front showed

that some large animal had moved, but nothing could be seen. This was a

wrong system of beating. I was second in the line of six guns, the Rajah

Suchi Khan upon my left; we presently skirted the foot of a range of low

forest-covered hills, and after a rush in the high reeds I observed a

couple of sambur deer, including a stag, trotting up the hill through

the open forest, all of which had been recently cleared by fire. A right

and left shot from Suchi Khan produced no effect, but the incident

proved that the system of beating was entirely wrong, as the game when

disturbed could evidently steal away and escape unseen. Our right flank

had now halted at about 400 yards' distance as a pivot, upon which the

line was supposed to turn in order to beat out the swamp that was

surrounded upon all sides by hills and jungles. Suddenly a shot was

heard about 200 yards distant, then another, succeeded by several in

slow succession in the same locality. I felt sure this was a buffalo,

and, as the line halted for a few minutes, I counted every shot fired

until I reached the number twenty-one. Before this independent firing

was completed we continued our advance, wheeling round our extreme

right, and driving the entire morass, moving game, but seeing absolutely

nothing. Although the jungles had been burnt, the valley grass was a

bright green, as the bottom formed a swamp; even at this season (April)

the ground was splashy beneath the heavy weight of our advancing line.

Having drawn a blank since we heard the shots, we now assembled at the

spot, where we found a bull buffalo lying dead surrounded by the

elephants and four guns. These had enjoyed the fusillade of twenty-one

shots before they could extinguish the old bull, who had gallantly

turned to bay instead of seeking safety in retreat. It was a glorious

example of the inferiority of hollow Express bullets against

thick-skinned animals. The buffalo was riddled, and many of the shots

were in the right place, one of which behind the shoulder would have

been certain death with a solid 650 grains hard bullet, from a .577

rifle with 6 drams of powder. The buffalo, finding himself surrounded by

elephants, had simply stood upon the defensive, without himself

attacking, but only facing about to confront his numerous enemies.

We were a very long way from camp; we therefore retraced our course, and

having avoided some dense swamps that were too soft for the elephants,

we sought harder ground, shooting several hog-deer on our way, and

arriving in camp after sundown, having been working for twelve hours, to

very little purpose, considering our powerful equipments.

Although we had covered a very large area during the day's work, we had

seen no tracks of rhinoceros, and so few of buffaloes that we determined

to abandon such uninteresting and unprofitable ground; accordingly we

devoted the following day to the churs or islands of the river, where we

should expect no heavy game, but we might come across a tiger.

In driving the grassy islands of the Brahmaputra some persons are

contented with the chance of moving tigers by simply forming a line of a

quarter of a mile in length with forty elephants, without any previous

arrangement or preparation. This is wrong.

To shoot these numerous islands much caution is required, and unless

tigers are exceedingly plentiful, the whole day may be fruitlessly

expended in marching and counter-marching under a burning sun, with a

long line of elephants, to little purpose.

There should be a small herd of at least twenty head of cattle under the

special charge of four shikaris, and five or six of these poor beasts

should be tied up at a distance of a mile apart every evening as bait

for tigers. At daylight every morning the native shikaris should visit

their respective baits, and send a runner into camp with the message

should one or more have been killed. The elephants being ready, no delay

would occur, and the beat would take place immediately. In that manner

the tiger is certain to be found, as it will be lying somewhere near the

body of its prey.

There is a necessity for great precaution, lest a tiger when disturbed

should steal away and escape unobserved from the dense covert of high

grass. To effect his destruction, at least two scouting elephants should

be thrown forward a quarter of a mile ahead from either flank of the

advancing line; and, according to the conditions of the locality, two or

more elephants with intelligent mahouts should be sent forward to take

up positions ahead of the line at the terminus of the beat. These men

should be provided with small red flags as signals should the tiger show

itself; the waving of flags together with a shout will head the tiger,

and drive it back towards the advancing line of elephants; at the same

time the signal will be understood that a tiger is afoot, and the

mahouts will be on the alert.

When a tiger is headed in this manner it will generally crouch, and

endeavour to remain concealed until the elephants are close upon it.

Upon such occasions it will probably spring upon the first disturber

with a short harsh roar, and unless stopped or turned by a shot, it will

possibly break through the line and escape to the rear, as many of the

elephants will be scared and allow the enemy to pass.

Should this occur, it will be necessary to counter-march, and to reverse

the position by sending some active elephants rapidly upon either flank

to take up certain points of observation about 500 yards distant,

according to the conditions of the ground. This forms the principal

excitement of tiger-shooting in high grass, as the sport may last for

hours, especially if there are only two or three guns in a long line of

elephants. If there is no heavy forest at hand, but only grass jungle,

no tiger should be allowed to escape if the management is good, and the

patience of the hunters equal to the occasion.

I must give every credit to the Rajah Suchi Khan for this virtue, and

for the perseverance he and his friends exhibited in working for so many

hours in the burning sun of April to so little purpose. There was very

little game upon the islands near Dhubri beyond a few hog-deer and wild

pigs, and it appeared mere waste of time to wander in a long line of

beating elephants from sunrise till the afternoon with scarcely a hope

of tigers. However, upon the second day, when our patience was almost

exhausted, we met a native who declared that a tiger had killed one of

his cows only two days before. Taking him as a guide, he led us about

two miles, and in a slight hollow among some green tamarisk we were,

after a long search, introduced to a few scattered bones, all that

remained of the native cow which had been recently killed, and the

skeleton dislocated by jackals and wild pigs. Unless the tiger had been

disturbed there was every chance of its being somewhere in the

neighbourhood; we therefore determined to beat every yard of the island

most carefully, although it extended several miles in length, and was

about one mile in maximum width.

The line was formed, but no scouts were thrown forward, nor were any

precautions taken; it was simply marching and counter-marching at

hazard. Hours passed away and nothing was moved to break the monotony of

the day but an occasional pig, whose mad rush for the moment disturbed

the elephants.

It was 2 P.M.: hot work for ladies--my wife was in the howdah behind me.

I confess that I am not fond of the fair sex when shooting, as I think

they are out of place, but I had taken Lady Baker upon this occasion at

her special request, as she hoped to see a tiger. We were passing

through some dense green tamarisk, growing as close and thick as

possible, in a hollow depression, which during the wet season formed a

swamp, when presently the elephants began to exhibit a peculiar

restlessness, cocking their ears, raising their trunks, and then

emitting every kind of sound, from a shrill trumpet to the peculiar low

growl like the base note of an organ, broken suddenly by the sharp

stroke upon a kettle-drum, which is generally the signal of danger or

alarm. This sound is produced by striking the ground with the extremity

of the trunk curled up.

I felt sure that a tiger was in this dense covert. The question was how

to turn him out.

The tamarisk was about 20 feet high, but the stems were only as thick as

a man's arm; these grew as close together as corn in a field of wheat;

the feathery foliage of green was dark through extreme density, forming

an opaque mass that would have concealed a hundred tigers without any

apparent chance of their discovery.

Although this depression was only about 6 feet below the general level

of the island, it formed a strong contrast in being green, while the

grass in the higher level was a bright yellow. The bottom had been

swampy, which explained the vigorous vegetation; and although this lower

level was not wider than 80 or 90 yards, it was quite a quarter of a

mile in length.

Neither the mahouts nor their animals appeared to enjoy the fun of

beating out this piece of dense covert, as they were well aware that the

tiger was "at home." As it was absolutely necessary to form and keep a

perfect line, the elephants being shoulder to shoulder, I begged the

Rajah and his friends to ride towards the terminus of the tamarisk

bottom, placing a gun at the extreme end and upon either side; while I

should accompany the beaters to keep a correct line, and to drive the

covert towards them. I felt sure that by this arrangement the tiger

could not escape without being seen.

This was well carried out; they took their places, and after some delay

I managed to collect about forty elephants into a straight line, not

more than 4 or 6 feet from each other. The word was given for the

advance, and the effect was splendid. The crash through the yielding

mass was overpowering; the dark plumes of the tamarisk bowed down before

the irresistible phalanx of elephants; the crackling of the broken stems

was like the sound of fire rushing through a cane-brake, and this was

enlivened by sudden nervous squeals, loud trumpets, sharp blows of

kettle-drums, deep roars, and all the numerous sounds which elephants

produce when in a state of high nervous excitement. I felt sure that at

times the tiger was only a few feet in our advance, and that it was

slinking away before the line.

The elephants increased in excitement; sometimes two or three twisted

suddenly round, and broke the line. A halt was ordered, and although it

was impossible to see beyond the animal on the immediate right and left,

the order was given to dress into an exact line, and then to advance.

In this manner, with continual halts to re-form, we continued our

uncertain but irresistible advance. Suddenly we emerged upon a swampy

piece of grass interspersed with clumps of tamarisk; here there was

intense excitement among the elephants, several turned tail and bolted

in an opposite direction; when the cause was quickly discovered, by a

large tiger passing exactly in front of me not 20 yards distant, and

showing himself most distinctly, giving me a lovely chance.

The elephant we rode was a female named Sutchnimia, and she had been

introduced to my notice as infallible, her character as usual being well

supported by her mahout; but no sooner did this heroic beast descry the

tiger, than she twisted herself into every possible contortion, throwing

herself about in the most aimless attitudes, with a vigour that

threatened the safety of the howdah and severely taxed the strength of

the girth-ropes.

The tiger (a fine male) suddenly stopped, and turned three-parts round,

apparently amazed at the gesticulations of the elephant; and there the

beast stood, exposing the shoulder to a most certain shot if the

elephant would have kept decently quiet for only two seconds. The fact

of the tiger having halted, and remaining in view within 20 yards, only

aggravated the terror of Sutchnimia, and she commenced shaking her

colossal body like a dog that has just emerged from water. It was as

much as we could do to hold on with both hands to the howdah rails; my

watch was smashed, the cartridges in my belt were bent and doubled up

against the pressure of the front rail and rendered useless, while the

mahout was punching the head of his refractory animal with the iron

spike, and the tiger was staring with astonishment at the display upon

our side.

This picture of helplessness did not last long; the tiger disappeared in

the dense covert, and left me to vent my stock of rage upon the

panic-stricken elephant. Twice I had endeavoured to raise my rifle, and

I had been thrown violently against the howdah rail, which had

fortunately withstood the shock. The tiger had broken back, therefore it

was necessary to repeat the beat. I was of opinion that it would be

advisable to take the elephants out of the tamarisk jungle, and to march

them along the open ground, so as to re-enter exactly in the same place

and in the same order as before. There could be no doubt that the tiger

would hold to the thick covert until fairly driven out, and it would

probably break upon the second beat where the guns were protecting the

end and both sides of the hollow.

The elephants were this time intensely excited, as they knew as well as

we did that the game was actually before them. I ordered them to keep

within a yard of each other, to make it impossible for the tiger to

slink back by penetrating the line. Several times as we advanced in this

close order the animal was evidently within a few feet of us, as certain

elephants endeavoured to turn back, while others desired to dash forward

upon the unseen danger, which all keenly smelt. At last, when several

elephants trumpeted and made a sudden rush, a shot was fired from the

gun upon the left flank, stationed upon the open ground slightly above

the hollow. The line halted for an explanation, and it appeared that the

Rajah had fired, as the tiger for an instant showed itself upon the edge

of the tamarisk jungle.

We now continued the advance; the tiger had not spoken to the shot,

therefore we considered that it was without effect, and I felt sure that

in such compact order we should either trample upon it or push it out at

the extremity of the covert.

At length, having carefully beaten out the tamarisk, which had now been

almost destroyed by the tread of so close a line of elephants, we

emerged at the extreme end of the hollow, where, instead of tamarisk, a

dense patch of withered reeds much higher than an elephant were mingled

in a confused growth, occupying an area of hardly 10 yards square. I

felt sure that the tiger must have crouched for concealment in this

spot.

Suchi Khan had brought his elephant upon the left, another gun was on

the right, and a third in the centre at the extreme end, while I was in

the bottom with the line of elephants. Begging the outside guns to be

careful, and to reserve their fire until the tiger should bolt into the

open, I ordered the elephants to form three parts of a circle, to touch

each other shoulder to shoulder, and slowly to advance through the

tangled reeds. This was well done, when suddenly the second elephant

upon my left fell forward, and for the moment disappeared; the tiger had

made a sudden spring, and seizing the elephant by the upper portion of

the trunk, had pulled it down upon its knees. The elephant recovered

itself, and was quickly brought into the position from which for a few

seconds it had departed. The tiger was invisible in the dense yellow

herbage.

Very slowly the line pressed forward, almost completing a circle, but

just leaving an aperture a few yards in width to permit an escape. The

elephant's front was streaming with blood, and the others were intensely

excited, although apparently rendered somewhat confident by pressing

against each other towards the concealed enemy.

Presently a mahout about two yards upon my right beckoned to me, and

pointed downward with his driving-hook. I immediately backed my elephant

out of the crowd, and took up a position alongside his animal. He

pointed at some object which I could not distinguish in the tangled

mixture of reeds, half-burnt herbage, and young green grass that had

grown through; at length something moved, and I at once made out the

head and shoulders of a tiger crouching as though ready for a spring. In

another moment it would have tried Sutchnimia's nerves by fixing its

teeth upon her trunk; but this time she stood well, being encouraged by

the supporting elephants, and I placed a .577 bullet between the tiger's

shoulders; this settled the morning's sport without further excitement.

The tiger was dragged out. It was a fine male, and we discovered that

Suchi Khan's shot had struck it in the belly; the wound, not being

fatal, had rendered it more vicious.

It has already been remarked that a really staunch and tractable

elephant is rarely met with. This renders tiger-shooting exceedingly

uncertain, as it is impossible to shoot correctly with a rifle when an

animal is flinging itself about to an extent that renders it necessary

to hold fast by the howdah rail. I generally take an ordinary No. 12 gun

as an adjunct. If the grass is very high and dense, the tiger will

seldom be farther than 20 yards distant, and a smooth-bore breechloader

with a spherical ball will shoot sufficiently well to hit the palm of

your hand. This accuracy may be obtained to 30 or 40 yards provided that

the bullet is sufficiently large to enter the chamber, but a size too

large for the muzzle. It will accordingly squeeze its way through

without the slightest windage, and will shoot with great precision, with

a charge of 4 1/2 drams of powder and a ball of pure soft lead. A No. 12

is exceedingly powerful, and if 7 lbs. in weight, it can be fired with

one hand like a pistol. This is an immense advantage, as the shooter can

hold tight by the howdah rail with his left hand, while he uses his gun

with the right. I always load the right barrel with ball, and the left

with the same charge of powder (4 1/2 drams), but with either 16 S.S.G.

or 1 1/2 ounce of A.A. or B.B. shot. For leopards there is nothing so

certain as S.S.G. at 20 or 30 yards; and for hog-deer and other sorts of

small game the smaller shot is preferable, but always with the same full

charge of powder.

A smooth-bore gun is much easier to use than a rifle from a howdah, as

it is unnecessary to squint along the sight, but the shot is taken at

once with the rapidity usual in ordinary shooting at flying objects.

Care must be taken, when firing only with one hand, that the wrist

should be turned to the left, so that the hammers of the gun are lying

over in that direction instead of being erect. In that position the

elbow is raised upon the right, and the recoil of the gun will not throw

it up towards the shooter's face, which might happen should the gun be

held with the hammers uppermost; it is also much easier to hold a gun

with one hand in the attitude described. Should a tiger spring upon an

elephant, it would be exceedingly difficult to defend the animal unless

by shooting with one hand, as the struggles of the elephant would render

it impossible to stand.

I had a practical example of this shortly after the departure of Suchi

Khan, when I pushed on to Rohumari and met Mr. G. P. Sanderson, April 1,

1885. He had brought with him the entire force of elephants from the

Garo Hills, the season for capturing wild elephants having just expired.

Many of his men were suffering from fever, and he himself evidently had

the poison of malaria in his system.

A bullock had been tied up the preceding evening within three-quarters

of a mile from our camp, and on the morning of April 1 this was reported

to have been killed. We accordingly sallied out, and in a few minutes we

found the remains, above which the vultures were soaring in large

numbers. The high grass had been partially burnt, and large patches

remained at irregular distances where the fire had not penetrated, or

where the herbage had been too green to ignite; however, all was as dry

as tinder at this season, and having formed the elephants in line, I

took up a position with my elephant about 300 yards ahead.

The elephants came on in excellent formation, as Mr. Sanderson was

himself with them in command; presently I saw a long tail thrown up from

among the yellow grass, and quickly after I distinguished a leopard

moving rapidly along in my direction. For a few minutes I lost sight of

it, but I felt sure it had not turned to the right or left, and, as a

clump of more than ordinary thick grass stood before me, I concluded

that the animal had probably sought concealment in such impervious

covert.

When the elephants at length approached, I begged that half a dozen

might just march through the patch within a few yards of my position. I

was riding an elephant called Rosamond, which was certainly an

improvement upon my former mount.

Hardly had the line entered the patch of grass when, with a short angry

roar, a leopard sprang forward, and passed me at full speed within 25

yards; and immediately turned a somersault like a rabbit, with a charge

of 16 S.S.G. from the No. 12 fired into its shoulder.

This was very rapidly accomplished, as our camp was within view,

certainly not more than a mile distant.

We placed the leopard upon a pad elephant, and sent it home; while we

once more extended the line, and as usual I took up a position some

hundred yards in advance, in a spot that was tolerably clear from the

high grass.

Almost the same circumstance was repeated. I saw another leopard

advancing before the line, and pushing my elephant forward to a point

that I considered would intercept it, I distinctly saw it enter a

tangled mass of herbage, hardly large enough to shelter a calf; there it

disappeared from view.

The line of elephants arrived, and no one was aware that another leopard

had been moved. I pointed out the small clump of grass, and ordered an

elephant to walk through it. In an instant a leopard bolted, and

immediately rolled over like its comrade; but as I had to wait until it

had cleared the line of elephants before I fired, it was about 35 yards

distant, and although it fell to the shot, it partially recovered, and

limped slowly forward with one broken leg, being terribly wounded in

other places. It only went about 40 paces, and then lay down to die. One

of the mahouts dismounted from his elephant, and struck it with an axe

upon the head. This leopard was immediately despatched to camp, and we

proceeded to beat fresh ground, as no tiger had been here, but evidently

the two leopards had killed the bullock on the preceding night, and

nothing more remained.

Rosamond had stood very steadily, but she was terribly rough to ride,

and the howdah swung about like a boat in a choppy sea.

A couple of hours were passed in marching through every place that

seemed likely to invite a tiger, but we moved nothing except a great

number of wild pigs; a few of these I shot for the Garo natives who

accompanied us. At length we observed in the distance the waving, green,

feathery appearance of tamarisk, and as the sun was intensely hot, we

considered that a tiger would assuredly select such cool shade in

preference to the glaring yellow of withered grass. At all times during

the hot season a dense bed of young tamarisk is a certain find for a

tiger, should such an animal exist in the neighbourhood. The density of

the foliage keeps the ground cool, as the sun's rays never penetrate.

The tiger, being a nocturnal animal, dislikes extreme heat, therefore it

invariably seeks the densest shade, and is especially fond during the

hottest weather of lying upon ground that has previously been wet, and

is still slightly damp; it is in such places that the tamarisk grows

most luxuriantly.

We were now marching through a long strip of this character which had at

one time formed a channel; on either side the tamarisk strip was

enormously high, and dense grass. Suddenly an elephant sounded the

kettle-drum note; this was quickly followed by several others, and a

rush in the tamarisk frightened the line, as several animals had

evidently broken back. We could see nothing but the waving of the bush

as the creatures dashed madly past. These were no doubt large pigs, but

I felt certain from the general demeanour of the elephants that some

more important game was not far distant.

The advance continued slowly and steadily. Presently I saw the

tamarisk's feathery tops moving gently about fifteen paces ahead of the

line; the elephants again trumpeted and evinced great excitement; this

continued at intervals until we at length emerged from the tamarisk upon

a flat space, where the tall grass had been burnt while yet unripe, and

although killed by the fire and rendered transparent, it was a mass of

black and yellow that would match well with a tiger's colour. We now

extended the line in more open order, to occupy the entire space of

about 200 yards front; Sanderson kept his position in the centre of the

line, while I took my stand in an open space about 150 yards in advance,

where an animal would of necessity cross should it be driven forward by

the beat.

The line advanced in good order. The elephants were much disturbed, and

they evidently scented danger.

They had not marched more than 50 or 60 yards before a tremendous

succession of roars scattered them for a few moments, as a large tiger

charged along the line, making splendid bounds, and showing his entire

length, as he made demonstrations of attack upon several elephants in

quick rotation. It was a magnificent sight to see this grand animal, in

the fullest strength and vigour, defy the line of advancing monsters,

every one of which quailed before the energy of his attack and the

threatening power of his awe-inspiring roars. The sharp cracks of two

shots from Sanderson, whose elephant was thus challenged by the tiger,

hardly interrupted the stirring scene; but, as the enemy rushed down the

line, receiving the fire from Sanderson's howdah, he did not appear to

acknowledge the affront, and having effected his purpose of paralysing

the advance, he suddenly disappeared from view.

I was in hopes that he would break across the open which I commanded,

but there was no sign of movement in the high grass. The line of

elephants again advanced slowly and cautiously; suddenly at a signal

they halted, and I observed Sanderson, whose elephant was a few yards in

advance of the line, halt, and, standing up, take a deliberate aim in

the grass in front. He fired; a tremendous roar was the response, and

the tiger, bounding forward, appeared as though he would assuredly cross

my path. Instead of this, after a rush of about 50 or 60 yards I saw the

tall grass only gently moving, as the animal had reduced its pace to the

usual stealthy walk. The grass ceased moving in a spot within 30 paces,

and exactly opposite my position. I marked a bush upon which were a few

green shoots that had sprouted since the fire had scorched the grass. I

was certain that the tiger had halted exactly beneath that mark. My

mahout drove the elephant slowly and carefully forward, and I was

standing ready for the expected shot, keeping my eyes well open for an

expected charge; Sanderson was closing in upon the same point from his

position. Presently, when within a few feet of the green bush, I

distinguished a portion of the tiger, but I could not determine whether

it was the shoulder or the hind-quarter. Driving the elephant steadily

forward, with the rifle to my shoulder, I at length obtained a complete

view. The tiger was lying dead!

Sanderson's last shot had hit it exactly behind the shoulder; but the

first right and left had missed when the tiger charged down the line,

exemplifying the difficulty of shooting accurately with an elephant

moving in high excitement.

We now loaded an elephant with this grand beast and started it off to

camp, where Lady Baker had already received two leopards. We had done

pretty well for the 1st April, but after this last shot our luck for the

day was ended.

This day unfortunately deprived me of my companion, as the fever which

had been dormant developed itself in Sanderson and completely prostrated

him. He had a peculiar objection to quinine, therefore in default of

remedies, which were all at hand, he remained a great sufferer during

three successive weeks, and I was left alone with the long line of

elephants to complete the driving of the innumerable churs below the

village of Rohumari. I must pay Mr. Sanderson the well-merited

compliment of praising his staff of mahouts, who were, with their

well-trained animals, placed at my disposal; these men exhibited the

result of such perfect discipline and organization, that, although a

perfect stranger to them, I had not the slightest difficulty; on the

contrary, they worked with me for twenty days as though I had been their

old master for as many years. No better proof could be adduced of the

excellent management of Mr. Sanderson's department.

The sport on 1st April had raised my expectations, but I quickly

discovered that it was an exceptional day, and that the rule would be

disappointing. A little experience introduced me to the various

characters of the elephants which composed our pack, and I amused myself

by arranging them according to their qualifications, the heavier and

slower animals in the centre, and the more active at either end of the

line. Each elephant was to retain invariably the same position every

day, as the mahouts and their beasts would be more likely to act

harmoniously if always associated together in the beat. The fast

elephants, being at the extreme ends, would be able to turn quickly upon

the centre whenever necessary. Four elephants were told off as scouts;

these were the most active, with intelligent mahouts. The men appeared

to take an intense interest in the sport, and in the regularity of the

arrangements, as they were equally aware with myself of the necessity

for strict order and discipline, where only one solitary gun represented

the offensive capacity of the line.

The ordinary method of tiger-shooting with a long line of elephants

comprises five or six guns placed at intervals. I dislike this style of

sport, as it engenders wild and inaccurate firing. Every person wishes

to secure a chance, therefore no opportunity is lost, and wherever the

grass is seen to move, a bullet is directed at the spot. If only one gun

is present, extreme caution and good management are necessary to ensure

the death of a tiger, and the result of twenty-five days' shooting on

the churs of the Brahmaputra was highly satisfactory, as during that

period eight tigers and three leopards _only_ were moved, and every one

was bagged; thus nothing whatever escaped.

I always make a point of allowing the Government reward as a bonus,

without any deductions for buffalo baits or beaters, and this amount I

divide among the shikaris and mahouts according to my estimation of

their merits; this gives them an additional interest in the proceedings.

We were now thoroughly organised, and, if the tigers had been in the

numbers that existed some years ago, we should have made a more than

ordinary bag. The difficulty of managing so long a line of elephants

with a tiger on foot, and only one gun, was shortly made apparent.

One of our baits had been killed, and the body had been dragged into

about twelve acres of wild rose. This bush produces a blossom rather

larger than the common dog-rose of English hedges, and equally lovely.

Although it is armed with a certain amount of thorns, it is not to be

compared with the British variety as a formidable barrier, but, as it

delights in swamp hollows, it grows into the densest foliage, about 18

feet high, and forms an impenetrable screen of tangled and matted

vegetation. No human being could force his way through a network of wild

rose, therefore it forms a desirable retreat for all wild animals, who

can penetrate beneath it, and enjoy the protection of cool shade, and

undisturbed seclusion.

In an open grass country it may be readily imagined that tigers would be

certain to resort to such inviting covert, where they would be secure

from all intrusion, and to which cavernous density they could drag and

conceal their prey.

Upon arrival about three miles from camp at this isolated patch of rose

jungle, I felt sure that the tiger must be within. There was a similar

but rather smaller area of wild rose about 3/4 mile distant, and it was

highly probable that should the tiger be disturbed, it might slink away,

break covert at the extreme end, and make off across the open grassland

to the neighbouring shelter. I therefore posted myself outside the

jungle in a kind of bay, where I considered the tiger would emerge from

his secure hiding-place before he should risk a gallop across the open.

I threw out scouts as usual, and I sent the line of elephants round, to

drive the jungle towards me from the opposite extremity.

A certain time elapsed, and at length I perceived the approach, in

splendid line, each elephant as nearly as possible equidistant from its

neighbour.

They marched forward in regular array until within a couple of hundred

yards of my position; then suddenly I heard a trumpet, trunks were

thrown up in the air, the line wavered, and a succession of well-known

sounds showed that a tiger was before them. The mahouts steadied their

animals, brought them again into a correct line, and the advance

continued.

I was riding a large male elephant named Thompson; this was a fine

animal with formidable tusks, but he was most unsteady. Already he was

swaying to and fro with high excitement, as he knew full well by the

trumpets and sounds of the other elephants that a tiger was not far

distant.

Presently I saw the jungle shake, and a hog-deer dashed out within a few

yards of me; the elephant whisked suddenly round; this prepared me for a

display of his nervousness. Again the rose bushes moved, and I

distinctly observed a yellowish body stealing beneath the tangled mass;

it was quickly lost to sight. The line of beating elephants was coming

slowly forward, crashing their way through the bush, and occasionally

giving a shrill scream, when again I saw the bushes move; without

further introduction a very large tigress gave two or three roars, and

rushed out of the jungle exactly opposite my position, straight at my

elephant. Before I had time to raise my rifle, the elephant spun round

as though upon a pivot, and ran off for a few paces, making it

impossible for me to fire. The tiger, probably alarmed, turned back into

the secure fortress of wild rose.

We now knew that the tiger was positively between the line of elephants

and myself. I felt sure that it would not show again at the same place;

I therefore selected a favourable spot about 100 yards to my left upon

some slightly rising ground, and the elephants wheeled and beat directly

towards me.

Nothing moved except pigs, which all broke back at a wild rush between

the elephants' legs, two of which had slight cuts from the tusks of

boars, which had made a spiteful dig at the opposing legs whilst

passing.

At length the line arrived within 20 yards from the margin of the thick

jungle; here a regular rush took place; several hog-deer dashed back,

but at the same time a tiger bounded forward, and galloped across the

open grass-land in the direction of the neighbouring wild-rose covert.

The scouts holloaed, waved their puggarees, and then rode after the

tiger as hard as they could press their active elephants.

My steed Thompson had behaved disgracefully, as he had again twisted

suddenly round, and was so unsteady that although the tigress was not 10

yards from me I had not the power of firing; I accordingly relinquished

my favourite rifle '577, which I secured in the rack, and took in

exchange my handy No. 12 smooth-bore, which only weighed 7 lbs. With

that light weapon I knew I could take a quick flying shot; the

right-hand barrel was loaded with a spherical ball, and the left with 1

3/4 ounce S.S.G shot and 4 1/2 drams of powder. To load a cartridge case

(Kynoch's brass) with this charge, and a very thick felt wad, it is

necessary to fix the wad above the shot with thick gum, otherwise it

will not contain the extra quantity.

Upwards of an hour was passed in driving the second covert, but although

we moved the tiger several times, it was impossible to obtain a shot, as

the cunning brute, discovering our intentions, was determined not to

break into the open near the elephant. At length, finding the

impossibility of dislodging it, I put myself in the centre of the line,

and left the end of the covert unguarded, so as to invite the tiger to

make a dash through the interval to regain the former jungle.

As we marched along, driving in a compact line I presently observed the

jungle move about 30 yards before me, and I immediately fired into the

spot, not in the expectation of hitting an unseen animal, but I

concluded that the shot would assist in driving it from the covert. This

was successful, as shortly afterwards we heard the shouts of the mahouts

on the scouting elephants, who reported that the tiger had gone away at

great speed across the intervening ground towards the original retreat.

We hurried forward, and upon reaching the wild-rose jungle we re-formed

the line, and made use of every possible manoeuvre for at least an hour

without obtaining a view of the tiger. The elephants appeared confident

that their enemy was there, and my men began to think that the shot I

had fired into the bush might have wounded it, and that it was probably

lying dead beneath some tangled foliage. By this time, through continual

advancing and counter-marching, the jungle was completely trodden into

confused masses of concentrated briars, which might have concealed a

buffalo.

I did not share their opinion, but I concluded that the tiger was

crouching, and that it would allow the elephants to pass close to its

lair without the slightest movement. I accordingly ordered them to close

up shoulder to shoulder, and to take narrow beats backwards and forwards

to include every inch of ground. This movement was carefully worked out,

and in less than fifteen minutes a sudden roar terrified the elephants,

and the tiger charged desperately through the line! There was no longer

any doubt about its existence, and we quickly reformed, and beat back in

exactly the same close order. Twice the charge was repeated, and each

time the line was broken; one elephant received a trifling scratch, and

the tiger had learned that a direct charge would enable it to escape.

With only one gun it appeared to be a mere lottery, but the excitement

was delightful, as there was no doubt concerning the tiger being alive,

and very little doubt that it would continue its present tactics of

crouching close-hidden in the dense thicket, and springing back through

the line of elephants as they advanced. I now changed my position in the

line, and taking with me two experienced elephants. I placed one on my

right, the other on my left; we then advanced as slowly as it was

possible for the elephants to move, every mahout having strict orders to

keep a bright look-out, and to halt should he see the slightest movement

in the bush before him. No animals were left in the jungle except the

tiger, therefore any movement would be a certain sign of its presence.

We had been advancing at the rate of about half a mile an hour, the

elephants almost "marking time" when in about the centre of the jungle

one of the mahouts raised his arm as a signal and halted his elephant.

The whole line halted immediately.

I rode towards the spot; the line opened, and the mahout explained that

he distinctly saw the bushes move exactly in his front, not more than

three or four paces in advance. He declared that just for one moment he

had distinguished something yellow, and the tiger was in his opinion,

even then, crouching exactly before us. Telling him to fall back, my two

dependable elephants took their places upon the right and left. My

mahout advised me not to advance, but to fire a shot into the supposed

position, which he declared would either kill the tiger or drive it

forward. I never like to fire at hazard, but I was of opinion that it

might provoke a charge, as I did not think that anything would induce

the tiger to move forward after the numerous successful attempts in

breaking back. I accordingly aimed with the No.12 smooth-bore carefully

in the direction pointed out by the mahout, and fired. The effect was

magnificent; at the same instant a loud roar was accompanied by the

determined spring of the tiger from its dense lair. My elephant twisted

round so suddenly to the left, that had I been unprepared I should have

fallen heavily against the rail. Instead of this, my left hand clutched

instinctively the left rail of the howdah, and holding the gun with my

right, I fired it into the tiger's mouth within 2 feet of the muzzle,

just as it would have seized the mahout's right leg. A sack of sand

could not have fallen more suddenly or heavily. The charge of S.S.G. had

gone into the open jaws.

The remnant of that skull is now in my possession. The lower jaw

absolutely disappeared, being reduced to pulp. All the teeth were cut

away from the upper jaw, together with a portion of the bone, and

several shot had gone through the back of the throat and palate into the

brain. This was a striking example of the utility of a handy smooth-bore

in a howdah for close quarters. If I had had my favourite '577 rifle

weighing 12 lbs., I could not have used it with one hand effectively,

but the 7 lb. smooth-bore was as handy as a pistol. The wind-up of the

hunt was very satisfactory to my men, all of whom had worked with much

intelligence and skill.

There were so many wild pigs throughout the churs below Rohumari that

the tigers declined to kill our baits, as they could easily procure

their much-loved food. Every night our animals were tied up in various

directions, but we found them on the following morning utterly

disregarded. This neglect on the part of the tigers imposed the

necessity of marching in line haphazard for many hours consecutively

through all the most likely places to contain a tiger. Many of the

islands were at this dry season separated from each other by sandy

channels where the contracted stream was only a few inches deep; it was

therefore a certain proof, should tigers exist upon the islands, if

tracks were discovered on the sand. During the night it was the custom

of these animals to wander in all directions, and it was astonishing

upon some occasions to see the great distances that the tiger had

covered, and the numerous churs that it had visited, either in a search

for prey, or more probably for a companion of its own species.

If there were no tracks in the channel-beds, it might be safely inferred

that there were no tigers in the neighbourhood. Nevertheless I continued

daily to beat every acre of ground, and we seldom returned till about 4

p.m., having invariably started shortly after daybreak.

It would be natural to suppose that the elephants would have become

accustomed to the scent of tigers, from their daily occupation, and that

their nerves would have been more or less hardened; but this was not the

case; on the contrary, some became more restless, and evinced extreme

anxiety when a pig or hog-deer suddenly rushed from almost beneath their

feet. This timidity led to a serious accident, which narrowly escaped a

fatal termination.

We had been fruitlessly beating immense tracts of withered grass about

10 feet high, in which were numerous pigs, but no trace of tigers, and

at about noon we met some natives who were herding cattle and buffaloes.

The presence of this large herd appeared to forbid the chance of finding

any tigers in their vicinity, and upon questioning the herdsmen they at

once declared that no such animals existed in the immediate

neighbourhood; at the same time they advised us to try fresh ground upon

a large island about two miles distant up the stream.

We crossed several channels, after scrambling with the usual difficulty

down the cliffs, quite 35 feet high, of crumbling alluvial soil, and at

length we reached the desired spot, where a quantity of tamarisk filled

a slight hollow which led from the river's bed up a steep incline. By

this route we ascended, and formed the elephants into line upon our

left. The hollow in which my elephant remained ran parallel with the

line of march, and about 5 feet below. Just as the elephants moved

forward, my servant, who was behind me in the howdah, exclaimed, "Tiger,

master, tiger!" and pointed to the left in the high grass a few yards in

front of the line of elephants.

I could see nothing; neither could my man, but he explained that for an

instant only he had caught sight of along furry tail which he was sure

belonged to either a tiger or a leopard. I could always depend upon

Michael, therefore I at once halted the line, with the intention of

pushing my elephant ahead until I should discover some tolerably clear

space among the high grass, in which I could wait for the advance of the

beating line.

At about a quarter of a mile distant there was a spot where the grass

had been fired while only half-ripened, and although the bottom was

burnt, the stems were only scorched, and of that mingled colour, black

and yellow, which matches so closely with the striped hide of a tiger.

There was no better position to be found; I therefore halted, and gave

the preconcerted signal for a forward movement.

The line of elephants advanced. I was riding the large tusker Thompson,

who became much agitated as a succession of wild pigs rushed forward

upon several occasions, and one lot took to water, swimming across a

channel upon my left. Presently a slow movement disturbed the half-burnt

herbage, and I could make out with difficulty some form creeping

silently forward about 40 yards from my position. It halted, no doubt

having perceived the elephant. It moved again, and once more halted. I

now made out that it was a tiger; but although I could distinguish

yellow and black stripes, I could not possibly determine any head or

tail, therefore I could only speculate upon its actual attitude. It

struck me that it would probably be facing me, but crouching low. The

elephants were now about 150 yards distant, approaching in a crescent,

as the high grass was not more than the same distance in width.

I determined to take the shot, as I felt sure that the .577 rifle would

cripple the beast, and that we should find it when severely wounded;

otherwise it might disappear and give us several hours' hard labour to

discover. Taking a very steady aim low down in the indistinct mass, I

fired.

The effect was instantaneous; a succession of wild roars was accompanied

by a tremendous struggle in the high grass, and I could occasionally see

the tiger rolling over and over in desperate contortions, while a cloud

of black dust from the recent fire rose as from a furnace. This

continued for about twelve or fifteen seconds, during which my elephant

had whisked round several times and been severely punished by the

driver's hook, when suddenly, from the cloud of dust, a tiger came

rushing at great speed, making a most determined charge at the nervous

Thompson. Away went my elephant as hard as he could go, tearing along

through the grass as though a locomotive engine had left the rails, and

no power would stop him until we had run at least 120 yards. During this

run, with the tiger in pursuit for a certain distance, I fully expected

to see it clinging to the crupper; however, by the time we turned the

elephant it had retreated to the high grass covert.

I felt sure this was the wounded tiger, although Michael declared that

it was a fresh animal, and that two had been together.

I now pushed the elephant into the middle of the grass, and holloaed to

the line to advance in a half-circle, as I was convinced that the tiger

was somewhere between me and the approaching elephants.

They came on tolerably well, although a few were rather scared. At

length they halted about 70 yards from me, and, as I knew that the tiger

was not far off, I ordered the left wing (on my right) to close in, so

as to come round me, by which movement the tiger would be forced to

within a close shot.

Before the line had time to advance, there was a sudden roar, and a

tiger sprang from the grass, and seized a large muckna (tuskless male)

by the trunk, pulling it down upon its knees so instantaneously that the

mahout was thrown to the ground.

As quick as lightning the tiger relinquished its hold upon the elephant

and seized the unfortunate mahout.

I never witnessed such a hopeless panic. The whole line of elephants

broke up in complete disorder. The large elephant Hogg, who had been

seized, was scaring riderless at mad speed over the plain; a number of

others had bolted in all directions, and during this time a continual

succession of horrible roars and angry growls told that the tiger was

tearing the man to pieces. A cloud of dust marked the spot within 70

paces of my position. It was like a dreadful nightmare; my elephant

seemed turned to stone. In vain I seized the mahout by the back of the

neck and nearly dislocated his spine in the endeavour to compel him to

move forward; he dug his pointed hook frantically into Thompson's head,

but the animal was as rigid as a block of granite. This lasted quite

fifteen seconds; it appeared as many minutes. Suddenly my servant

shouted "Look out, master, another tiger come; two tigers, master, not

one!" I looked in the direction pointed, and I at once saw a tiger

crouching as though preparing for a charge, about 40 yards distant: the

animal was upon my right, and the elephant had not observed it.

I fired exactly below the nose, and the tiger simply rolled upon its

side stone-dead, the bullet having completely raked it. Leaving the body

where it lay, my elephant now responded to the driver's hook, and

advanced steadily towards the spot where we had seen the cloud of dust

which denoted the attack upon the mahout. Fully expecting to see the

tiger upon the man's body, I was standing ready in the howdah prepared

for a careful shot. We arrived at the place. This was cleared of grass

by the recent struggle, but instead of finding the man's body, we merely

discovered his waist-cloth lying upon the ground a few yards distant.

About 15 yards from this bloody witness we saw the unfortunate mahout

lying apparently lifeless in the grass.

We immediately carried him to the river and bathed him in cool water. He

had been seized by the shoulder, and was terribly torn and clawed about

the head and neck, but fortunately there were no deep wounds about the

cavity of the chest. We bandaged him up by tearing a turban into long

strips, and having made a good surgical job, I had him laid upon a pad

elephant and sent straight into camp. We then loaded an elephant with

the tiger, which we proved to be the same and only animal (a tigress)

which had charged the elephant after my first shot. The bullet had

struck the thigh bone, causing a compound fracture, and that accounted

for the escape of Thompson without being boarded from the rear, as she

could not spring so great a height upon only three legs. The furious

beast had then attacked the elephant named Hogg, which, falling upon its

knees, had thrown the unready driver. We subsequently discovered that he

had a boil upon his right foot, which had prevented him from using the

rope stirrup; this accounted for the fall from his usually secure seat.

The tigress, having mauled her victim and left him for dead, was

prepared for an onset upon Thompson had I not settled her with the .577

bullet in the chest.

On arrival at the camp the man was well cared for, and on the following

morning we forwarded him by boat to the hospital at Dhubri in charge of

the keddah doctor. It was satisfactory to learn that after a few months

he recovered from his wounds, and exhibited his complete cure by

absconding from the hospital unknown to the authorities, without

returning thanks for the attention he had received.

This incident was an unfortunate example of the panic that can be

established among elephants. It is a common saying that the elephant

depends upon the mahout; this is the rule for ordinary work, but

although a staunch elephant might exhibit nervousness with a timid

mahout, no driver, however determined, can induce a timid animal to face

a tiger, or to stand its onset. Thompson had behaved so badly that I

determined to give him one more chance, and to change him for another

elephant should he repeat his nervousness.

A few days after this occurrence, the natives reported a tiger to be in

a thicket of wild rose. We had changed camp to a place called Kikripani,

about eight miles from Rohumari, and I immediately took the elephants to

the wild-rose jungle, which was about two miles distant.

The usual arrangements were made, and I took up a position upon Thompson

in a narrow opening of fine grass which cut at right angles through the

wild-rose thicket. As the elephants approached in close order, I was

certain, from the peculiar sounds emitted, that a tiger or some

unbeloved animal was before them, and upon the advance of the line to

within 30 yards of the open ground a rustling in the bush announced the

presence of some animal which could not much longer remain concealed.

Suddenly a large panther bounded across the open, and I took a snap

shot, which struck it through the body a few inches behind the shoulder.

It rolled over to the shot, but immediately disappeared in the thick

jungle a few paces opposite.

I called the line of elephants, and we lost no time in beating the

neighbouring bush in the closest order, as I fully expected the panther

would be crouching beneath the tangled mass of foliage.

In a short time the elephants sounded, and without more ado the panther

forsook its cover and dashed straight at Thompson, seizing this large

elephant by the shoulder joint, and hanging on like a bull-dog with

teeth and claws. Away went Thompson through the tangled rose-bushes,

tearing along like a locomotive! It was impossible to fire, as the

panther was concealed beneath the projecting pad below the howdah, and I

could not see it. In this manner we travelled at railway pace for about

100 yards, when I imagine the friction of the thick bush through which

we rushed must have been too much for the resistance of the attacking

party, and the panther lost its hold; in another instant it disappeared

in the dense jungle.

I now changed my elephant, and rode a steady female (Nielmonne), and the

line having re-formed, we advanced slowly through the bush. We had not

gone 50 yards before the elephants scented the panther, and knowing the

stealthy habits of the animal I formed a complete circle around the

spot, and closed in until we at length espied the spotted hide beneath

the bush. A charge of buckshot killed it without a struggle.

According to my own experience, there can be no comparison in the sport

of hunting up a tiger upon a good elephant in open country, and the more

general plan of driving forest with guns placed in position before a

line of beaters. By the former method the hunter is always in action,

and in the constant hope of meeting with his game, while the latter

method requires much patience, and too frequently results in

disappointment. Nevertheless, to kill tigers, every method must be

adopted according to the conditions of different localities.

Under all circumstances, if possible, a dependable elephant should be

present, as many unforeseen cases may arrive when the hunter would be

helpless in the absence of such an animal; but, as we have already seen,

the danger is extreme should the elephant be untrustworthy, as a runaway

beast may be an amusement upon open grass-land, but fatal to the rider

in thick forest.

The only really dependable elephant that I have ever ridden was a tusker

belonging to the Commissariat at Jubbulpur in 1880; this fine male was

named Moolah Bux. He was rather savage, but he became my great friend

through the intervention of sugar-canes and the sweet medium of jaggery

(native sugar) and chupatties, with which I fed him personally whenever

he was brought before me for the day's work; I also gave him some

bonne-bouche upon dismounting at the return to camp.

Although Moolah Bux was the best elephant I have myself experienced, he

was not absolutely perfect, as he would not remain without any movement

when a tiger charged directly face to face; upon such occasions he would

stand manfully to meet the enemy, but he would swing his huge head in a

pugnacious spirit preparatory to receiving the tiger upon his tusks.

The first time that I witnessed the high character of this elephant was

connected with a regrettable incident which caused the death of one man

and the mutilation of two others, who would probably have been killed

had not Moolah Bux been present. The description of this day's

experience will explain the necessity of a staunch shikar elephant when

tiger-shooting, as the position may be one that would render it

impossible to approach on foot when a wounded and furious tiger is in

dense jungle, perhaps with some unfortunate beater in its clutches.

I was shooting in the Central Provinces, accompanied by my lamented

friend the late Mr. Berry, who was at that time Assistant-Commissioner

at Jubbulpur.

We were shooting in the neighbourhood of Moorwarra, keeping a line as

nearly as possible parallel with the railway, limiting our distance to

20 miles in order to obtain supplies. This arrangement enabled us to

receive 30 lbs. of ice daily from Allahabad, as a coolie was despatched

from the station immediately upon arrival of the train, the address of

our camp being daily communicated to the stationmaster. It was the hot

season in the end of April, when a good supply of ice is beyond price;

the soda-water was supplied from Jubbulpur, and with good tents, kuskos

tatties, and cool drinks, the heat was bearable. It was this heat that

had brought the tigers within range, as all water-springs and brooks

were dried up, the tanks had evaporated, and the only water procurable

was limited to the deep holes in the bends of streams that were of

considerable importance in the cooler seasons of the year. The native

headmen had received orders from the Deputy-Commissioner to send

immediate information should any tigers be reported in their respective

districts; they had also received special instructions to tie up

buffaloes for bait should the tracks of tigers be discovered. The latter

order was a mistake, as the buffaloes should not have been tied up until

our arrival at the locality; upon several occasions the animals were

killed and eaten some days before we were able to arrive upon the scene.

This was proved to be the case upon our arrival at Bijore, about nine

miles from the town of Moorwarra, where the zealous official had

exhibited too eager a spirit for our sport. Two buffaloes had been tied

up about half a mile apart, near the dry bed of a river, where in an

abrupt bend the current had scooped out a deep hole in which a little

water still remained. Both buffaloes had been killed, and upon our

arrival early in the morning nothing could be discovered except a few

scattered bones and the parched and withered portions of tough hide.

There were tracks of tigers upon the sand near the drinking-place, also

marks of cheetul and wild pigs, therefore we determined to drive the

neighbouring jungle without delay.

The neighbourhood was lovely, a succession of jungles and open

grass-glades, all of which had been burnt clean, and exceedingly fine

grass, beautifully green, was just appearing upon the dark brown surface

scorched by the recent fire.

There were great numbers of the ornamental mhowa trees, which from their

massive growth resembled somewhat the horse-chestnut trees of England.

These had dropped their luscious wax-like blossoms, which from their

intense sweetness form a strong attraction to bears and other animals of

the forests; they also form a valuable harvest for the natives, who not

only eat them, but by fermentation and distillation they produce a

potent spirit, which is the favourite intoxicating liquor of the

country.

If game had been plentiful this would have been a charming

hunting-ground, but, like most portions of the Central Provinces, the

animals have been thinned by native pot-hunters to an extent that will

entail extermination, unless the game shall be specially protected by

the Government. When the dry season is far advanced, the animal can only

procure drinking water at certain pools in obscure places among the

hills; these are well known to the native sportsman, although concealed

from the European. On moonlight nights a patient watch is kept by the

vigilant Indian hunter, who squats upon a mucharn among the boughs

within 10 yards of the water-hole, and from this point of vantage he

shoots every animal in succession, as the thirst--driven beasts are

forced to the fatal post.

Nothing is more disappointing than a country which is in appearance an

attractive locality for wild animals, but in reality devoid of game. I

make a point of declining all belief in the statements of natives until

I have thoroughly examined the ground, and made a special search for

tracks in the dry beds of streams and around the drinking-places. Even

should footprints be discovered in such spots, they must be carefully

investigated, as the same animals visit the water-hole nightly, and in

the absence of rain, the tracks remain, and become numerous from

repetition; thus an inexperienced person may be deceived into the belief

that game is plentiful, when, in fact, the country contains merely a few

individuals of a species. It must also be remembered that during the dry

season both deer, nilgyhe, and many other animals travel long distances

in search of water, and return before daylight to their secluded places

of retreat.

This was the position of Bijore at the period of our visit; the most

lovely jungles contained very little game. Although our baits had been

devoured some days ago, I could not help thinking that the tiger might

still be lurking in the locality, as it had been undisturbed, and there

was little or no water in the neighbourhood excepting one or two

drinking places in the beds of nullahs.

We had 164 beaters, therefore we could command an extensive line, as the

jungles, having been recently burnt, were perfectly open, and an animal

could have been seen at a distance of 100 yards.

Having made all the necessary arrangements, the beat commenced. It was

extraordinary that such attractive ground contained so little game. The

surface was a delicate green from the young shoots of new grass, and

notwithstanding the enticing food there were no creatures to consume the

pasturage.

Hours passed away in intense heat and disappointment; the most likely

jungles were beaten with extreme care, but nothing was disturbed beyond

an occasional peacock or a scared hare. The heat was intense, and the

people having worked from 6 a.m. began to exhibit signs of weariness, as

nothing is so tiring as bad luck. Although the country was extremely

pretty it was very monotonous, as each jungle was similar in appearance,

and I had no idea how far we were from camp; to my surprise, I was

informed that we had been working almost in a circle, and that our tents

were not more than a mile and a half distant in a direct line. We came

to the conclusion that we should beat our way towards home, carefully

driving every jungle in that direction.

During the last drive I had distinctly heard the bark of a sambur deer

about half a mile in my rear, which would be between me and the

direction we were about to take. It is seldom that a sambur barks in

broad daylight unless disturbed by either a tiger or leopard; I was

accordingly in hope that the sound might be the signal of alarm, and

that we might find the tiger between us and the neighbouring village by

our camp, where a small stream might have tempted it to drink.

Having taken our positions-Mr. Berry amidst a few trees which formed a

clump in a narrow glade outside, and myself around the corner of a

jungle--the beat commenced. I was in the howdah upon Moolah Bux, and

from my elevated position I could look across the sharp corner of the

jungle and see a portion of the narrow glade commanded by my companion

Berry; upon my side there was a large open space perfectly clear for

about 200 yards, therefore the jungle was well guarded upon two sides,

as the drive would terminate at the corner.

In a short time the usual monotony of the beater's cries was exchanged

for a series of exciting shouts, which showed that game of some kind was

on foot. We had lost so much hope, that the presence of a tiger was

considered too remote to restrict our shooting to such noble game, and

it had been agreed to lose no chance, but to fire at any animal that

should afford a shot. Presently, after a sudden roar of animated voices,

I saw ten or twelve wild pigs emerge from the jungle and trot across the

glade which Berry commanded. A double shot from his rifle instantly

responded.

The line of beaters was closing up. This was a curious contrast to the

dull routine which had been the character of the drives throughout the

day; there was game afoot, and the jungle being open, it could be seen,

therefore immense enthusiasm was exhibited by the natives. Another burst

of excited voices proclaimed a discovery of other animals, and a herd of

eight or ten spotted deer (cheetul) broke covert close to my elephant

and dashed full speed across the open glade. They were all does and

young bucks without antlers, therefore I reserved my fire. We could not

now complain of want of sport, as all the animals appeared to be

concentrated in this jungle; another sudden yelling of the beaters was

quickly followed by a rush of at least twenty pigs across Berry's glade,

and once again his rifle spoke with both barrels in quick succession. I

was in hope that the sambur stag that I had heard bark in this direction

might be still within the drive, but the beaters were closing up, and

the greater portion of the line had already emerged upon either side of

the acute angle.

I now perceived Berry advancing towards me, he having left his place of

concealment in the clump of trees. "Did you see him?" he exclaimed,

as he approached within hearing distance. "See what?" I replied;

"have you wounded a boar?" "A boar! No; I did not fire at a boar, but

at a tiger, the biggest that I ever saw in my experience! He passed

close by me, within 20 yards, at the same time that the herd of pigs

broke covert; and I fired right and left, and missed him with both

barrels; confound it."

This was a most important announcement, and I immediately dismounted

from my elephant to examine the spot where the tiger had so recently

appeared. It must indeed have been very close to Berry, as I had not

seen the beast, my line of view being limited by the intervening jungle

to the portion of the glade across which the pigs had rushed.

I now measured the distance from Berry's position to the tracks of the

tiger, which we discovered after some few minutes' search. This was

under 20 yards. The question now most important remained-Was the tiger

wounded? A minute investigation of the ground showed the mark of a

bullet, but we could find no other. This looked as though it must have

struck the tiger, but Berry was very confident that such was not the

case, as he declared the tiger did not alter his pace when fired at,

but, on the contrary, he walked majestically across the narrow glade

with his head turned in the opposite direction from Berry's position. He

was of opinion that the tiger had not been disturbed by the close report

of the rifle, as the noise of 164 beaters shouting at the maximum power

of their voices was so great that the extra sound of the rifle bore only

a small proportion.

We looked in vain for blood-tracks, and having come to the conclusion

that Berry had fired too high in a moment of excitement, we now made the

most careful arrangements for driving the jungle into which the tiger

had so recently retreated.

This formed a contrast to all others that we had beaten during the

morning's work, as it had not been burnt. The fire had stopped at a

native footpath, and instead of the bare ground, absolutely devoid of

grass or dead leaves, the withered herbage as yellow as bright straw

stood 3 feet high, and formed a splendid cover for animals of all kinds.

I felt certain that the tiger would not leave so dense a covert without

an absolute necessity; at the same time it was necessary to make a

reconnaissance of the jungle before we could determine upon our

operations.

Mounting my elephant Moolah Bux, I begged Berry to take Demoiselle, and

accompanied by a couple of good men we left the long line of beaters

stationed in order of advance along the glade, with instructions to

march directly that we should send them the necessary orders. I begged

them upon this occasion not to shout, but merely to tap the trees with

their sticks as their line came forward.

We proceeded about a quarter of a mile ahead, and then turned into the

jungle on our left. Continuing for at least 300 yards, we arrived at

some open ground much broken by shallow nullahs, which formed natural

drains in a slight depression of grassy land between very low hills of

jungle, through which we had recently passed. There was a small nullah

issuing from the forest, in which I placed my elephant, and I begged my

friend Berry to ride Demoiselle to a similar place about 200 yards upon

my right. I concluded that should the tiger be between us and the line

of beaters, he would in all probability steal along one or the other of

these nullahs before he could cross the open ground. We now sent back

one of the natives with orders for the line of beaters to advance. Mr.

Berry left upon Demoiselle to take up his position, while I pushed

Moolah Bux well into the jungle in the centre of the small nullah, which

commanded a clear view of about 20 yards around.

In a short time we heard the clacking sound of many sticks, the beaters

having obeyed the injunction, and keeping profound silence with their

voices.

There were no animals in this jungle, probably they had been frightened

by the great noise of the beaters when shouting in the recent drive; at

any rate, the beat was barren, and having waited fruitlessly until I

could see the men approaching within a few yards of my position, I

ordered the elephant to turn round, with the intention of proceeding

another quarter of a mile in advance, and thus continuing to beat the

jungle in sections until it should be thoroughly driven out.

I had hardly turned the elephant, when we were startled by tremendous

roars of a tiger, continued in quick succession within 50 yards of the

position that I occupied. I never heard either before or since such a

volume of sound proceeding from a single animal; there was a horrible

significance in the grating and angry voice that betokened the extreme

fury of attack. Not an instant was lost! The mahout was an excellent

man, as cool as a cucumber, and never over-excited. He obeyed the order

to advance straight towards the spot, in which the angry roars still

continued without intermission.

Moolah Bux was a thoroughly dependable elephant, but although moving

forward with a majestic and determined step, it was in vain that I

endeavoured to hurry the mahout; both man and beast appeared to

understand their business thoroughly, but to my ideas the pace was

woefully slow if assistance was required in danger.

The ground was slightly rising, and the jungle thick with saplings about

20 feet in height, and as thick as a man's leg; these formed an

undergrowth among the larger forest trees.

Moolah Bux crashed with ponderous weight through the resisting mass,

bearing down all obstacles before him as he steadily made his way

through the intervening growth. The roars had now ceased. There were no

leaves upon the trees at this advanced season, and one could see the

natives among the branches in all directions as they were perched for

safety in the tree-tops, to which they had climbed like monkeys at the

terrible sounds of danger. "Where is the tiger?" we shouted to the first

man we could distinguish in this safe retreat only a few yards distant.

"Here, here!" replied the man, pointing immediately beneath him. Almost

at the same instant, with a loud roar, the tiger, which had been lying

ready for attack, sprang forward directly for Moolah Bux.

There were so many trees intervening that I could not fire, and the

elephant, instead of halting, moved forward, meeting the tiger in its

spring. With a swing of his huge head Moolah Bux broke down several tall

saplings, which crashed towards the infuriated tiger and checked the

onset; whether the animal was touched by the elephant's tusks I could

not determine, but it appeared to be within striking distance when the

trees were broken across its path. Discomfited for the moment, the tiger

bounded in retreat, and Moolah Bux stood suddenly like a rock, without

the slightest movement. This gave me a splendid opportunity, and the

'577 bullet rolled the enemy over like a rabbit. Almost at the same

instant, having performed a somersault, the tiger disappeared, and fell

struggling among the high grass and bushes about 15 paces distant.

I now urged Moolah Bux carefully forward until I could plainly see the

tiger's shoulders, and a second shot through the exact centre of the

blade-bone terminated its existence.

The elephant had behaved beautifully, and I have frequently looked back

to that attack in thick forest, and been thankful that I was not mounted

upon such animals as I have since that time had the misfortune to

possess. Moolah Bux now approached the dead body, and at the command of

the mahout he pulled out by the roots all the small undergrowth of

saplings and dried herbage to clear a space around his late antagonist.

In doing this his trunk several times touched the skin of the tiger,

which he appeared to regard with supreme indifference.

I gave two loud whistles with my fingers as a signal that all was over,

and we were still occupied in clearing away the smaller growth of

jungle, when a native approached as though very drunk, reeling to and

fro, and at length falling to the ground close to the elephant's heels;

the man was covered with blood, and he had evidently fainted. I had an

excellent Madras servant named Thomas, who was behind me in the howdah,

and he lost no time in descending from the elephant and in pouring water

over the unfortunate coolie, from a jar which I handed from beneath the

seat. In a few moments the man showed signs of life, and the beaters

began to collect around the spot. Two men were approaching supporting a

limp and half-collapsed figure between them, completely deluged with

blood; this was a second victim of the tiger's attack. Both men were now

laid upon the ground, and water poured over their faces and chests; but

during this humane operation another party was observed, carrying in

their arms the body of a third person, which was hardly to be recognised

through the mass of blood coagulated and mixed with dead leaves and

sand, as the tiger had dragged and torn its victim along the ground with

remorseless fury. This was a sad calamity. There could be little doubt

that when we heard the roars of the infuriated beast it was attacking

the line of beaters, and knocking them over right and left before they

had time to ascend the trees. The village was only a mile distant, and

we immediately sent for three charpoys (native bed-steads) as stretchers

to convey the wounded men. Demoiselle arrived with Mr. Berry, who came

into my howdah, while the tiger was with some difficulty secured upon

the pad of that exceedingly docile elephant. In this form we entered the

village as a melancholy procession;, the news having spread, all the

women turned out to meet us, weeping and wailing in loud distress, and

the scene was so touching that I began to reflect that tiger-shooting

might be fun to some, but death to others, who, poor fellows, had to

advance unarmed through dangerous jungle.

The reason for this savage attack was soon discovered. As a rule, there

is little danger to a line of beaters provided the tiger is unwounded,

and no person should ever place his men in the position to drive a

jungle when a wounded tiger is in retreat. In such a case, if no

elephants are present, it would be necessary to obtain the assistance of

buffaloes; a herd of these animals driven through the jungle would

quickly dislodge a tiger. We now skinned our late enemy, while a

messenger was started towards Moorwarra, 9 or 10 miles distant, to

prepare the authorities for the reception of our wounded men in

hospital.

The skin having been taken off, we discovered a small hole close to the

root of the tail, which had not been observed. Upon a close examination

with the finger, I found minute fragments of lead, resembling very small

shot flattened upon an anvil. The hole was not deeper than 1 1/4 inch in

the hard muscle of the rump, and the only effect of Berry's '577 hollow

Express was to produce this trumpery wound, which had enraged the animal

without creating any serious injury. It is necessary to explain that the

bullet of this rifle was more than usually light and hollow; but the

want of penetrating power of the hollow projectile, and the dangerous

results, were terribly demonstrated, notwithstanding the large charge of

6 drams of powder.

A comparison of the effect of my '577 with the same charge of 6 drams,

but with a solid bullet of ordinary pure lead weighing 648 grains, was

very instructive. The first shot, when the tiger was bounding in retreat

after it had charged the elephant, had struck the right flank, and as

the animal was moving obliquely, the bullet had passed through the

lungs, then, breaking the shoulder-bone, it was found in its integrity

just beneath the skin of the shoulder upon the side opposite to that of

entry; it was very much flattened upon one side, as it had traversed an

oblique course throughout, and had torn the inside of the animal in a

dreadful manner. The second shot, fired simply to extinguish the dying

tiger, passed through both shoulders, but was found under the skin upon

the opposite side, flattened exactly like a mushroom, into a diameter of

about 1 1/2 inch at the head, leaving about half an inch of the base

uninjured which represented the stalk. This was a large tiger, and

remarkably thick and heavy, with strong and hard muscles, nevertheless

the penetration of the soft leaden bullet was precisely correct for that

quality of game. If the '577 bullet had been made of an admixture of tin

or other alloy to produce extreme hardness, it would have passed through

the body of the tiger with a high velocity, but the animal would have

escaped the striking energy, which would not have been expended upon the

resisting surface. It is the striking energy, the knocking-down power of

a projectile, that is so necessary when hunting dangerous game. I cannot

help repetition in enforcing this principle: there is a minimum amount

of striking energy in a light hollow projectile, and a maximum amount in

a solid heavy projectile; keep the latter within the animal to ensure

the effect of the blow; this will be effected by a bullet made of pure

lead without admixture with other metal, to flatten upon impact, and by

the expansion of surface it will create a terrific wound; at the same

time it will have sufficient momentum from its great weight to push

forward, and to overcome the resistance of opposing bones and muscles. A

very large tiger may weigh 450 lbs.; a '577 bullet of 650 grains,

propelled by 6 drams of powder, has a striking energy of 3520

foot-pounds. This may be only theoretical measurement, but the

approximate superiority of 3500 lbs. against the tiger's weight, 450

lbs., would be sufficient to ensure the stoppage of a charge, or the

collapse of the animal in any position, provided that the bullet should

be retained within the body, and thus bestow the whole force of the

striking energy.

We did all that could be done for our wounded men. The strength of caste

prejudices was so potent that, although in pangs of thirst from pain and

general shock to the system, they would accept nothing from our hands. I

made a mixture of milk with soda-water, brandy, and laudanum, but they

refused to swallow it, and the only course, after washing their wounds

and bandaging, was to leave them to the treatment of their own people.

One man was severely bitten through the chest and back, the fangs of the

tiger having penetrated the lungs; he was also clawed in a terrible

manner about the head and face, where the paws of the animal had first

made fast their hold. This man died in a few hours. The others were

bitten through the shoulder and upper portion of the arm, both in the

same manner, and the sharp claws had cut through the scalp from the

forehead across the head to the back of the neck, inflicting clean

wounds to the bone, as though produced by a pruning-knife. They were

conveyed in litters to the hospital in Moorwarra, where they remained

for nearly a month, at the expiration of which they recovered. The

seizure by the claws was effected without the shock of a blow.

This serious accident was entirely due to a hollow bullet: if a solid

bullet had struck a tiger in the same place it would have carried away a

portion of the spine, and the animal would have been paralysed upon the

spot.

In the absence of a dependable elephant we should have been helpless,

and the tiger might have wounded or killed many others.