170 A JUNGLE RECOLLECTION. 



there many tracks of tigers, besides bones and 

 remains of animals killed by them. I was, besides, 

 informed by the natives that there was a pool of 

 water, situated in a small glade, about a quarter of 

 a mile off in the jungle, resorted to by them at night 

 for the purpose of drinking, there being no other 

 water within several miles. I resolved therefore to 

 remain near the pool during the night, as it was 

 very likely that I might get a good chance of a 

 shot there. About sunset I ascended a large 

 ' prauss ' tree (a kind of sycamore) that stood on 

 the borders of the open space, and within fifty 

 yards of the water, so that I would have a clear 

 view of any animal coming there to drink. I took 

 with me my favourite double rifle, and having made 

 myself a comfortable perch in the fork of a large 

 branch, I amused myself by watching the habits of 

 the various animals and birds that showed them- 

 selves from time to time. In India, night comes on 

 much more rapidly than in colder climates, and soon 

 after the last rays of the sun have ceased to gild 

 the summits of the lofty trees a deep gloom 

 gradually shrouds the surrounding objects in ob- 

 scurity. The reptile and insect tribes awake from 

 their mid-day torpor, and keep up a chorus of 

 buzzing and croaking that lasts till dawn. Besides 

 these many other sounds were heard as the twilight 

 deepened, the mournful cry of the great horned 



