A DEER-DRIVE* 59 



The drivers have to make a detour of some two 

 or three miles to reach the point from which the 

 drive will begin, and then to form into line and 

 advance upon the line of nooses where the whole 

 party now stands, and where, of course, the drive will 

 end. This to the indolent Malay is no light work ; 

 moreover, the drivers see but little of the game. The 

 stops have not so far to go, but they also have small 

 share of the fun ; while those who are detailed off 

 to watch the sidins not only remain where they are, 

 but have all the excitement of seeing the deer crash 

 headlong into the noose and of hamstringing the 

 entangled animal. The manoeuvres to secure these 

 last most favoured spots are amusing, but the head- 

 man is stern and will stand no nonsense. He relaxes 

 his strictness in favour of an old man who success- 

 fully pleads a combination of headache, a cut finger, 

 dizziness, and stomach-ache, and who is accordingly 

 allowed to stop and watch the sidins. But two or 

 three skulkers who are found hiding behind trees are 

 ignominiously ordered off to join the drivers. At 

 last diplomacy and argument are exhausted, and the 

 arrangements are complete. The drivers and stops 

 move off, and the watchers take up their station at 

 intervals along the sidin, and about thirty yards away 

 from it on the side from which the deer are expected. 

 They put a few leafy boughs together to screen 

 themselves from view, and, settling themselves in 

 the smallest possible space, crouch concealed and 

 motionless. 



The men told off to drive reach their places at last, 

 and as soon as the line has been formed they advance 



