156 Leaves from an Indian Jungle. 



across amassof boulders in some queer manner managing" 

 to watch my rear as I skipped along. Slowing down, I 

 perceived H. making a flank movement in my direction,, 

 and joined him on the far bank behind another splendid old 

 banyan tree. The two men were not far off, in a similar 

 position. The roaring having ceased r we ascended our 

 tree, handed up rifles, and reconnoitred. 



The tree from which the tigress had made her demon- 

 stration was now about one hundred and ten yards away, 

 and when I peered through the forked trunk of our refuge, 

 there lay the tigress like a big cat by the fire. She had 

 gone back, and was lying in the shade, close to the gnarted 

 trunk of the banyan, in full view. As the shot was not 

 altogether an easy one we agreed to wait a little at least, 

 until a steadier hand would give us a better chance ; and 

 so continued to watch the tigress, who every now and then 

 turned her head to look behind her, or to her left, in the 

 direction of our tree. Her cubs she had no doubt sent on 

 before her into the grass. At last, feeling steady,, we had 

 almost prepared to fire, when the brute slowly rose to her 

 feet and paced gently forward. Even then the sights 

 were aligned on her shoulder, and the trigger all but 

 pressed, when she turned, and presenting a back view, 

 glided into the long 'burroo/ About half an hour was 

 now spent in trying to discover her new position, but the 

 difficulties of the ground and cover defeated us, and we 

 turned homewards, leaving her to another day, mistress of 

 the situation. 



On my next visit, when I approached the spot from a 

 different point and examined it with great care, I left a 

 buffalo calf as bait. Finding the tigress had left the 

 immediate neighbourhood, it was interesting to go over 

 the scene of the previous day's excitement, and it was 



