Pelts 



spot. Having decided upon the direction of the 

 beat, ' stops ' are posted, and the rifle or rifles 

 take up their positions and the beat commences. 



It is in all these arrangements that the sports- 

 man who has made a study of the matter, is 

 versed in jungle lore, and is not content to be led 

 by the nose by his shikari, will find plenty of 

 interest and occupation as well. 



He will probably know the whole of the ground 

 himself, will choose in consultation with the local 

 men the position of the rifles, and, as important, 

 exactly where the ' stops ' are to be placed. These 

 ' stops ' consist of men placed in trees or on the 

 summit of high rocks on the lines by which the 

 tiger may endeavour to leave the beat, and are put 

 there to prevent him going out. The stops re- 

 quire to be men who are not afraid of the sight of 

 the Lord of the Jungles, and who will keep their 

 heads when he appears. 



All that is required of them is to tap their tree 

 very gently at intervals, so as to produce sufficient 

 sound to make the tiger turn away from their 

 direction without absolutely frightening him. As 

 soon as the tiger is aware that the beat has com- 

 menced, or that there are men about, he will 

 usually try to slip quietly out of the patch by one 

 of the paths he is accustomed to take. Most 

 amusing, but often intensely annoying at the time, 

 are the stories one hears of the behaviour of these 

 stops. Occasionally a mistake will be made about 



R 241 



