308 ONE TAKEN, THE OTHER LEFT. 



to his peaceful pen, allowed himself to be led into a field of avaray, a kind 

 of bean {Dolichos lablab), of the sweet-smelling flower of which cattle are 

 very fond, close to my bungalow. Whilst feeding here the Don chanced 

 upon the pair, lolled the cow, and ate more than half of her, whilst the 

 wretched bullock remained secured by the yoke, a terrified spectator of the 

 scene. The bullock and half-eaten cow were found in this position in the 

 morning. Why the Don left the bullock untouched it is impossible to con- 

 jecture, except that he was very lean ; he generally slew and spared not. 

 As it happened he supped off this bullock not very long afterwards, when 

 lie had not the option of anything more choice. 



At last the Don's day came. In May 1874 we had a severe storm ; the 

 rain came down in sheets with a biting wind, the cold was extreme, and there 

 was no break for twenty-four hours. The effects of this storm, occurring as 

 it did in the height of the hot weather, were most disastrous over the whole 

 of the south-eastern portion of Mysore and the adjoining Madras district of 

 Coimbatoor. Thousands of cattle died from exposure. Out of a drove 

 containing some hundreds sent from the plains up the Billiga-runguns for 

 the hot-weather grazing I was informed that the sole survivors were three 

 cows. The whole country round Morlay stank for a fortnight with the 

 rotting carcasses — the Holayas* vultures, pariah-dogs, and jackals, being 

 unable to dispose of so many animals. I was told that pea-fowl and other 

 birds were picked up dead in some places in the jungle. 



However, it is an ill wind that blows no one good. At Atticulpoor, five 

 miles from Morlay, some Brinj&rrics t had an encampment and a large 

 number of cattle. The latter were caught in the jungle in the storm, and 

 in a few hours were so benumbed that they could scarcely move. Whilst 

 returning in this plight to the encampment the Don appeared on the scene. 

 This put a little Life into them and they made the best of their way home- 

 wards, the Don bowling over all that he could catch. He hunted the main 

 body into the village after killing fourteen ; many were dispersed in the 

 jungle and perished from cold during the night. I saw the carcasses of 

 those killed next day, and believe others were overtaken in the bed of a 

 stream, and carried away by the water. 



The Don was now set up with beef for some days ; he was not likely to 

 leave the neighbourhood soon, and as the ground was saturated and tracking 

 would be easy for some time, I decided with my Morlay men to give him a 

 grand dusting, even though we should fail to bag him. On this point even 

 I had latterly become quite sceptical. 



* Outcasts who eat carcasses of animals that have died or been killed by wild beasts, 

 t Nomadic cattle -graziers, and carriers of grain and salt into remote localities. 



