MAN-EATING TIGRESS OF MUNDA'LI. 261 



Pushed at him. Luckily he dodged her and ran back into the hut. 

 Foiled of her prey, she gave chase to a small but full-grown 

 buffalo, which, taking fright, had separated from the herd and was 

 running down the hill. She soon overtook the buffalo, and killed her 

 just below the road immediately above the head of a deep and steep 

 ravine. As soon as it was light, the herdsmen promptly moved off 

 to another grazing ground about 2 miles nearer Chakrata. The 

 tigress evidently followed them, for she was met just above that 

 locality by our dak man aud syce, who saved themselves by shouting 

 and howling at her like mad. 



"■ On the news of the buffalo being killed reaching our camp, Mr. 

 Osmaston, one of our latest recruits from Cooper's Hill, and Mr. 

 W. Hearsey, one of our students, got a murium tied up near the 

 kill, intending to sit up for the tigress towards evening. To prevent 

 birds from interfering with the kill, Mr. Hearsey set a servant to 

 watch it. About 2 p. si. this man came running back to say that he 

 heard some heavy animal, most probably the tigress, coming up the 

 ravine, above the head of which, as said before, the buffalo had been 

 killed. Upon this Mr. Hansard, another student, came to ask us for 

 the loan of our 12-bore Ileilly, and to see whether Mr. Osmaston 

 would accompany him. Fortunately, as the sequel proved, we had 

 previously forced Mr. Osmaston to take the rifle as his own had been 

 left behind at Chakrata for repairs. Both young men started oft 

 for the scene of the kill f intending to sit up on the machan for the 

 tigress. But after having arrived there, Mr Hansard, who from the 

 very beginning*, not being able to realize what a terrible animal a 

 tiger is, had thought of going after the brute on foot, proposed that 

 they should go and look for her, arguing that if they sat on the machan 

 they would never get her. Mr. Osmaston, who had arrived in this 

 country only in January last, gaily closed in with this proposal. He, 

 as said above, had our 12-bore Reilly, containing cartridges loaded 

 with explosive conical bullets, nine of which, go to the pound ; Mr. 

 Hansard, on the other hand, had only a smooth-bore, loaded with, 

 slugs. Armed thus, the two young shikaris moved down the hillside, 

 each taking one side of the ravine. The sides of the ravine were so 

 steep and rough (gradient in places exceeding 45°), that walking was 

 extremely difficult, and Mr. Osmaston came down several times in 

 spite of good screws in his boots. It was a good thing that the ground 

 prevented them from moving at anything faster than a snail's pace, 



for, as events showed, there was ample cover in the shape of rocks and 

 35 



