BEARS & WATER-HOLE SHOOTING 



but are filthily dirty in their habits and somewhat short 

 in their temper. 



During the wet season they wander about in search 

 of food in the daytime as well as at night. In the dry 

 season, in uninhabited country, they come to water from 

 midday to midnight or later, and go in search of food at 

 night only. 



In fairly populous country they will not be on the 

 move before dark, and then come to water from 8 P.M. 

 until the "wee small hours." 



They can move along silently if they like, but usually 

 their strong breathing may be heard long before the animal 

 is seen, their powerful inhalations and exhalations giving 

 one the idea of a very cavernous chest, and indeed they are 

 well provided with lungs. When undisturbed they occa- 

 sionally emit a single cry, but only at long intervals, and 

 this is, I think, only in the case of two being together or 

 mother and cub. 



When wounded or alarmed, however, never was heard 

 such a row ! It can only adequately be described by liken- 

 ing it to a mixture of the bellowing of a bull, trumpeting 

 of an elephant, and yelpings of a pack of hounds anxious 

 to be let out of the kennel, and is calculated to disturb the 

 nerves of a novice very considerably at first. 



Naturally very timid and retiring animals, they are, 

 however, liable to attack with discovering suddenness 

 when accidentally met with at close quarters, and this 

 attack is usually very effective in its results. 



There is hardly a village in the jungle country in 

 which cannot be found one or more men showing the 

 effects of such an encounter, as the silent walking native, 

 if alone, is more liable to surprise a bear than the heavier- 

 footed European. 



271 



