SUKNIS BEAR AND HIS HAREM 237 



camp low down, where it remained fixed, while he, with a 

 very small following, roughed it higher up on the grassy 

 slopes, and shot his game at his leisure. When he wanted 

 a rest, he came down to his main camp for a couple of 

 days. Now the best shooting ground is strictly preserved, 

 aud where access is allowed, " shootists " (not sportsmen) 

 simply jostle one another, running out long distances on 

 receipt of information, and then running back after the 

 quarry has been shot or missed. 



I had to do some hard tramping and climbing before I 

 bagged two stags with very ordinary heads, aud two brown 

 bears, which in these days may be considered a good 

 reward for three weeks of very severe and continuous 

 work. 



As soon as I reached Siiknis, I heard of three bears, 

 and crossed the stream to the left bank for them, but I 

 never had the luck to come across the animals, though 

 traces were frequent on the paths and hillsides. There 

 was one particular old male whom the villagers had known 

 for years, and they were most anxious that he should be 

 wiped out, for his ravages among their crops were very 

 serious ; and since he had imported a couple of females to 

 keep him company, their presence had become intolerable. 

 The old Bruin was completely master of the situation after 

 sunset. Shouting, tom-tomming, torches and fires had no 

 terrors for him ; he simply went where he liked, wandered 

 about all night, and in the grey dawn retired up the valley 

 with his harem, to repose quietly during the heat of the 

 day. I was shown the path used by these animals night 

 after night ; the soft earth was worn into oblong holes by 

 the bears' feet, and the bushes alongside had torn hair 

 from their fat sides. The men with me worked hard, but 

 they could not hit off the hiding-place of the big bear. 

 These animals probably travelled several miles morning 



