320 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTKAL INDIA. 



maliout that made him turn at the critical moment. 

 He was much cut about the quarters ; but I took him 

 out close to the tents two days after and killed two 

 more tigers without his flinching in the least. The 

 tiger we had thus killed was undoubtedly the man- 

 eater. He was exactly ten feet long, in the prime of 

 life, with the dull yellow coat of the adult male — not 

 in the least mangy or toothless like the man-eater of 

 story. He had no moon on his head, nor did his belly 

 nearly touch the ground. I afterwards found that these 

 characteristics are attributed to all man-eaters by the 

 credulous people. 



Before dismissing Sarjii from these pages, I would 

 like to record an anecdote of his sagacity which I think 

 beats everythiug I have heard of the elephant's intellect. 

 He was a consummate thief, and had grown so cunning 

 that he would unfasten any chains or ropes he was 

 tethered with, which he often would do of a dark night 

 if not watched, and proceed to roam about seeking what 

 he might devour. His favourite object on such occasions 

 was sugar-cane, and if he got into a field of this would 

 trample down and damage the greater part of it. 

 Many a long bill have I paid for such depredations. 

 He would never allow himself to be caus^ht again after 

 such an escapade while his keepers pursued him with 

 sticks and threats, but surrendered at once as soon as 

 they resorted to persuasion, and promised not to beat 

 him. One night the people of the camp were sitting 

 up late over a small fire, and saw Sarjii unloose his 

 foot-chain and stalk ofi" through the camp. Presently 

 he appeared snifiing about the place where a grain- 

 merchant had brought out his sacks during the day 

 to supply the wants of the camp. A sack of rice, nearly 

 empty, lay under the head of a sleeping lad, and Sarjii 



