294 READINGS IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE 



Although we had twelve elephants we did not have a rifle on each. Three 

 or four rifles among the lot was considered a fair number. Each of the ele- 

 phants carrying a rifle also carried a howdah. The other elephants, merely- 

 assisting in the drive, each carried the mahaut (keeper) and one or more 

 other natives. 



The mahaiit always sat forward of the elephant's shoulders. His knees 

 were curved around the animal's ears, and his feet dangling downward gave 

 the signal for every movement. The other natives sat on a large pad fas- 

 tened to the elephant's back by ropes. These ropes provided them with a 

 grip when the going was rough. 



Shooting from a pad elephant is not uncommon. The hunter, sitting di- 

 rectly behind the mahaitt and facing due forward, has two means of travers- 

 ing his rifle, right and left. For general shooting, however, the howdah is 

 preferable. This is a comfortable perch and is large enough to accommo- 

 date an extra kit of guns. For the sake of steadiness one usually stands up 

 to shoot from a howdah. Hunters find it better to lean against the front 

 rail for greater steadiness. Before any shooting is done, the elephant is 

 brought to a halt, but even so there is apt to be some motion for he may 

 suddenly shift weight from one foot to another. Even his breathing may 

 make the bead on the front sight a little wavy. 



One morning word was received that two tigers had been spotted. One 

 had made a kill the night before. We started oft" immediately. After an 

 hour's beat we arrived at a dry swamp covered with nurtle grass. This grass 

 was so high it covered the heads of all our elephants. 



The morning was well advanced. It was very hot. The grass gave the 

 tiger an excellent shelter against the sun. Advancing slowly, we roused 

 many wild pig and hog deer from their noonday rest. Everyone was 

 tense. Those with rifles were standing at the rails of the howdahs, staring 

 straight ahead. 



In a situation like this the first intimation that a tiger is near comes 

 from the trumpeting of one or more elephants who have winded him. Al- 

 though tigers and elephants are not natural enemies and usually leave each 

 other alone, elephants, particularly females, are always afraid of tigers and, 

 therefore, quick to sense their presence. 



One of our elephants trumpeted. Soon after, we were able to locate our 

 quarries. Their path could be traced by a ripple along the tops of the grass. 

 Shooting was, of course out of the question till the tigers could be driven 

 out of the grass and into the bordering jungle where a proper view could be 

 obtained. 



The tigers advanced at first in a short series of slow movements. Then 

 one of them broke to the left and passed safely beyond the elephant at the 

 farther end of the Hne, No one saw it emerge from the grass. It was never 

 seen again. 



We concentrated on the other. Finally we saw him emerge at the end 



