Teak and Bamboo, \ 9 



Our eyesight is very keen, even on dark nights, and, 

 combined with a highly developed sense of smell, serves to 

 protect us from such noxious animals as wander by night. 



By sundown we are on the move; it may be towards some 

 patch of kutki, tilled on the leve] uplands by the Korkus, 

 who vainly rattle empty kerosine tins, or pull an ingenious 

 arrangement of wooden clappers all night, or through the 

 forest in search of fallen fruits. And so, feeding all night, 

 we drink at some pool before daybreak, and at sunrise 

 are well on our way to our baitak or " form." Personally 

 I like a good mud-bath, after which I scrape the caked 

 mire off my sides against some handy tree, or shake myself 

 like a dog ; then, culling a toothsome morsel here and 

 there as I slowly wander up the damp bed of the stream, 

 the first rays of the sun tempt me to loiter in their gentle 

 warmth, till awakened Nature reminds me that the night is 

 past, and I mount the familiar hillside, to settle down in my 

 favourite couch overlooking the valley by the pollard teak 

 tree or> if it be summer, under the bamboos higher up. 



If it is seldom that you see me, you must blame your 

 eyesight ; and remember that on our hills to move is to be 

 seen, to stand motionless is to hide, and that of this our 

 race is well aware. " To see without being seen " is the 

 motto for our jungles, and I have often stared right in your 

 face, your eyes all but meeting mine, as you passed on, 

 noting in wonder the numerous traces of my horns and 

 hoofs. 



The memory of my first big fight ? Ah, it seems as 

 yesterday ! 



I had been away from my khora the previous day, having 

 wandered some distance during the preceding night. I 

 remember when night fell, and the evening glow gave 

 place to a moonlight almost as bright, I descended the 



