Tiger Shooting. 31 



were in great grief, sobbing and crying incessantly. 



It was some time before I could ascertain particulars, 



and then found that a tiger had rushed out of a 



nullah close by, had seized the nearest girl 



and retreated with her to his lair. I told them I 



would endeavour to kill the beast and recover the 



body, if they would assist me ; in the meantime 



they must keep quiet, collect all the so-called 



musical instruments they could lay their hands 



upon, and then I would place myself ahead for 



them to beat towards me. While the people 



were obeying my behest Mong-Oo and I explored. 



The extremity of the nullah commenced within 



two hundred yards of the cultivation, and the body 



had been dragged into it. Skirting the bank, we 



looked for a clearance or a tree into which we could 



climb and thus obtain a better view of the bed of the 



ravine. The only spot we could find was where a trunk 



had fallen, or had been felled, and formed a frail bridge 



extending from bank to bank. It was very old and 



decayed but apparently able to bear our weight, and 



as the grass had been trampled down either by wild 



beasts or the few buffaloes belonging to the Karens 



immediately in its front, I thought it would answer 



our purpose, so walking along the stem we sat down 



about the centre, a few feet apart, and found, that we 



were about seven feet off the ground and could see 



some distance in advance, and that nothing could pass 



us without going under our perch. All being ready, 



Mong-Oo stood up, waved the 'kerchief he usually tied 



round his top-knot, and the beat commenced. First 



it was tried to set the grass alight, but the heavy dews 



had rendered it for the time fire -proof. After this 



