4 FIRST TIGERS 



the jute-carrying steamer and steamed all day 

 through a feverish country but a most interesting 

 one. The main river, the Barisal, is broad and 

 swift, the banks on each side being dense bamboo 

 jungle. I had a good bath in a large half-barrel, 

 and we ate our own food. At Jallacarti we 

 found Meyer in a most marvellous paddle-launch 

 built in the year one for the Nawab. They gave 

 me his cabin, and I have been quite comfortable. 

 We have a house-boat in tow on which the 

 other four men live Charles Mackenzie, Meyer, 

 Pulford (an officer of the Gurkhas), and Mr. Jack 

 the Commissioner all nice men. We have been 

 after tiger on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thurs- 

 day, but done no good. It is very interesting 

 and perhaps somewhat risky work. We rig up 

 three bamboos like a tripod, and tie cross-bits to 

 sit upon. The whole thing is somewhat frail, and 

 only 9 or 10 feet from the ground. The machdns, 

 as they are called, are put in a row at the head of 

 a jungle, just as you post guns in pheasant-shoot- 

 ing. A crowd of natives then start at the opposite 

 end, and advance through the covert with rattles 

 which make the most hideous noise. They also 

 light and throw into the jungle small crackers 

 called by the rather grand name of bombs. The 

 tiger, if there be one, either slinks out from the 

 side of the covert, or, if he is a " dangerous " one, 

 waits till the last moment, and then charges with 

 a roar either back on the beaters or, usually, straight 

 on ahead. If he charges out, he passes like a 

 flash, and it is quick and difficult shooting. If he 

 " backs," it is seldom one gets a shot at him at all. 

 Tigers are getting very rare anywhere near 



