The Burmese Bantin, or Tsaine 



ning of the hot season. The sense of smell in tsaine 

 is very keen ; but hearing and sight seem badly 

 developed, as I have often watched tsaine, which, if I 

 remained perfectly still, have either gone on grazing or 

 moved slowly away if the wind was favourable. Solitary 

 bulls are more wary than herds, and on being disturbed 

 usually dash straight off and travel considerable dis- 

 tances. The members of a herd snort, however, on 

 being; alarmed, dash off for loo yards or so, and then 

 stop for a few seconds to look round. They are not 

 particularly dangerous ; I have never been charged by 

 one, and the Burmese show less fear of tsaine, wounded 

 or unwounded, than they do of gaur. Only twice have 

 I seen a tsaine bull prepare to charge, and each time, as 

 the ground was open, I was able to stop his intention. 



The Burmese say that if you lie down flat, you are 

 safe from a charging gaur, as he cannot pierce you with 

 his horns and will not tread on you, but that you are 

 not safe in the same position from a tsaine. The horns 

 of a tsaine bull diverge at right angles to the face, 

 whereas those of a gaur are nearly in the same line as 

 the face. 



As regards the number of tsaine in a herd there is 

 considerable variation. I have met two females and 

 one calf alone, as well as solitary bulls ; but it is usual 

 to find a herd of, say, seven to twelve cows and a few 

 calves with one bull. The smallest herd I have seen con- 

 sisted of a bull, two cows, and a calf ; while the biggest 

 comprised about twenty cows, numerous calves, and 

 one magnificent bull, although there may have been 

 more. I never got a shot, as the animals saw me 

 before I saw them, and dashed off, and as it was 

 evening, there was no hope of coming up with them 

 before dark. The track is more heart-shaped and 

 pointed than that of the gaur, and also differs in size. 



As already mentioned'^ bantin occur in the Manipur 

 district, especially in the Kubbu valley between Manipur 

 and Northern Burma ; and there is considerable prob- 



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