ROUND THE CAMP FIRE 339 



to "drive" it. Some species of creatures possess this 

 instinct or faculty to a much larger extent than others 

 in the writer's experience the little" jungly bukri" or bark- 

 ing deer is the quickest of all to execute this manoeuvre. 

 It is therefore advisable, as a rule, to guide the " driven " 

 animal quietly, and without uproar, by which means its 

 suspicions may be lulled, and it may be induced to move 

 on quietly under the impression that it is merely avoiding 

 some approaching human beings. 



In this change of position the animal nearly always gives 

 preference to a certain route. This " line " or route can, in 

 most localities, be more or less definitely foretold according 

 to the species of animal hunted and its habits, and to the 

 nature of the ground, and should any of its enemies be 

 personally acquainted with the ground and the routes 

 likely to be taken, it follows that a still greater chance 

 of success is gained. Of course, in some localities and at 

 certain times of the year it is almost impossible to carry 

 this art into execution, but such conditions are usually 

 rare. 



The consequence of this is that the fact that a " drive " is 

 taking place ought, if possible, to be concealed from the 

 creature which is being hunted ; and the best way of 

 arranging this is to have a silent beat, that is, without loud 

 shouting or drumming, for the execution of which quite a 

 few men are, as a rule, sufficient 



Another point to consider in the case of the tiger is 

 that the " noisy " beat often annoys him, and as soon as 

 the very self-evident uproar conveys its meaning to him he 

 becomes extremely suspicious and bad-tempered, especially 

 if he has been worried in a similar manner previously. He is 

 then likely "to lie close "and endeavour to charge through the 

 beaters ; and accidents often occur in this manner. Again, 

 if he should thus noisily be forced up to the sportsman's 

 post, he is more likely to pass him too quickly for good 

 shooting ; while, if then wounded, he is far more likely to 



