XVI SITTING UP 195 



approach. If possible, it should be sited side- 

 ways, hidden by some intervening object. If 

 you do happen to catch the tiger's eyes, avert 

 your own until he looks elsewhere. I am con- 

 vinced that eye attracts eye. 



If you have your machan looking along the 

 length of the kill from head to rear, your light 

 will catch the tiger full in the face. I have killed 

 panther thus. Tiger would probably stay, but 

 it is a severe test to impose on them. 



If there is a moon, arrange so that the moon- 

 light is on the kill and not on the machan. The 

 moon should be behind you. There is a marked 

 difference between the light of a moon that is 

 against or with one. 



Hilly country requires care, lest the tiger spot 

 the machan from its own level. 



Avoid loud running water. The ripple enables 

 you to move, but it drowns the sound of the 

 tiger. 



If you are in a camp with panther round 

 about, rig up a little seat in a tree, have a goat 

 ready, and carry out a preparatory drill. If 

 the panther " saws," shove on something warm 

 and rush to your tree. The goat follows five 

 minutes later, and the panther, with any luck, 

 five minutes after that. 



If there is no moon, tie up any hurricane lamp 

 with a few leaves. 



10. Details of Machan. — The chief points 

 to attend to are invisibility and comfort. 



The first has been already discussed at length. 

 No matter how big your machan, there is no diffi- 

 culty in securing this invisibility, provided you 



