The Aswal, or Sloth-Bear 



methods of hunting are in vogue. One plan is to dis- 

 cover the cave, or other lair of the bear, and to take up 

 a position above or near its entrance during the night 

 while the occupant is abroad, and await his return soon 

 after dawn. This, however, is weary work, and many 

 sportsmen prefer the plan of driving the bear from 

 covert with a line of beaters ; although this is practic- 

 able only when the animal is in scrub-jungle or among 

 sugar-cane or other cultivated crops. The third and 

 most sportsmanlike method is by tracking, when the 

 bear is followed up to its feeding- place (which it 

 frequently does not leave till the morning is well 

 advanced), or in some cases to its lair, when this is in 

 the open. In the Mysore jungles tracking is most easy 

 during the months of September and October, when a 

 plain trail is left through the dewy grass, which at this 

 season is about a couple of feet high, and therefore 

 easy to traverse. In regard to this method, Mr. 

 Sanderson observes that " bear-shooting conducted on 

 proper principles, with two or three bears afoot together, 

 lacks neither excitement nor amusement. It is not 

 very dangerous sport, as the animal can be so easily 

 seen, whilst he is not so active as a tiger or panther. 

 Still he is very tough, and to any one who would value 

 him for his demonstrations he would appear sufficiently 

 formidable. If a bear charges, he can generally be 

 killed without more ado by a shot in the head when 

 within two paces." 



The same sportsman also practised bear -tracking 

 with the aid of dogs. According to his experience, a 

 sloth-bear, despite its great muscular power and bodily 

 activity, may be easily held by three bull-terriers, one 

 being trained to seize by the tender muzzle, which 

 affords a good grip and renders the animal almost 

 helpless. It might have been thought that the bear's 

 claws would inflict grievous harm on its canine assail- 

 ants, but harmful as they are to the skin of man, to the 

 tough and yielding hide of a dog they do little damage. 



395 



