IN THE CHITTAGONG HILL TRACTS 123 



dense areas of pure muli bamboo growing thickly together 

 alone occupied the hill-side. These areas were the result 

 of jhuming, the fine timber trees which had previously occu- 

 pied them having been ruthlessly cut down and burnt. 



It was nearing eleven o'clock and some rays of sunlight 

 were shedding a vivid brilliance over the wonderful scene 

 when we came upon the first tracks of a herd of mithan. 

 We came upon them quite suddenly after getting into a 

 valley. The animals were evidently not far away, and after 

 a cursory examination we commenced to follow. The 

 Mahommedan said there were about twenty animals in the 



herd. We were neither of us in as hard condition as we 

 would have liked, and the long march had begun to become 

 fatiguing. But all trace of lassitude now disappeared. 

 Silently we left the valley and climbed the hill, the forest 

 opening out with clumps of bamboos and little clearings 

 appearing at intervals. We had just come to the edge of 

 one of the latter when my companion touched my arm. I 

 glanced at him and then in the direction in which he was 

 gazing. I saw a clump of bamboos on the far edge with a 

 dense mass of bamboos and other growth behind. In this 

 mass a dim black shape loomed up. In the dense green 



