UP A TREE IN THE JUNGLE 197 



a menagerie, not one has ever been captured alive. 

 A number have been killed and mounted and are 

 to be found in museums. 



In meeting seladangs a hunter needs all his skill 

 and courage. They charge without an instant's 

 warning, breaking through the jungle at incredible 

 speed. Unlike most animals, they do not try to 

 protect themselves by defensive methods, holding 

 the charge until they are cornered; they are in- 

 stantly on the defensive. The hunter becomes just 

 as much hunted as his quarry; each tries to attack 

 by surprise. It is vitally important in running 

 down seladangs for the hunter to keep his feet clear 

 of vines and creepers, so that he can be free to jump ; 

 and also to keep his eye on a tree, which will pro- 

 vide refuge in case he needs it. The only possible 

 way for a hunter to escape the direct charge of a 

 seladang is to fall flat and let it run over him ; its 

 neck is so short that, when he is prostrate, it can- 

 not reach him with its horns. Then, if the hoofs 

 have not knocked him unconscious or broken his 

 bones, he can jump up, before the seladang can 

 check itself, and run for a tree. For the man once 

 caught on the beast's horns, there is no escape; it 

 tosses a victim time after time and then tramples 

 him. 



I had never met a seladang and I must admit 

 that I was not especially anxious to meet one but 

 I had no doubt of my ability to handle it if the emer- 

 gency arose, and so I determined to go to Rawang 



