DO WILD BEASTS AND Til Kill WAYS CHAP. 



thing connected with the locality before it ventures to recommence 

 the feast. Even then, when assured of safety, it seldom eats the 

 carcase where it lies, but seizing it by the throat, it drags the prey 

 some 15 or 20 yards from the spot before it indulges in the meal. 

 I have already described that the first meal consists of the buttocks 

 and hind-quarters ; the second visit is devoted to the fore-quarters, 

 after which but little remains for the vultures and jackals. 



It is essential that the night watcher should be raised about 10 

 feet above the ground, otherwise the tiger would probably obtain 

 his scent. 



Night shooting is not attractive to myself, and I very seldom 

 have indulged in such wearisome shikar. There is no particular 

 satisfaction in sitting for hours in a cramped position, with mos- 

 quitoes stinging you from all directions, while your eyes are strain- 

 ing through the darkness, transforming every shadow into the 

 expected game. Even should it appear, unless the moon is bright 

 you will scarcely define the animal. I have heard well-authenticated 

 accounts of persons who have patiently watched until they fell 

 asleep from sheer weariness, and when they awoke, the dead bullock 

 was no longer there, the tiger having dragged it away without 

 disturbing the tired watcher. There are several methods of 

 rendering the muzzle-sights of the rifle visible in partial darkness. 

 A simple and effective arrangement is by a piece of thick white 

 paper. This should be cut into a point and fastened upon the 

 barrel with a piece of beeswax, or shoemaker's wax, in addition to 

 being tied with strong waxed packthread, thus 



If a bright starlight night and there is no foliage above the rifle, 

 the white paper will be distinctly seen, especially if the light is 

 iH'hind the shoulder. A piece of lime made into thick paste, and 

 stuck upon the muzzle-sight, is frequently used by native hunters ; 

 but if it is at hand, there i.s nothing so effective as luminous paint ; 

 this can be purchased in stoppered bottles and will lust for years. 

 A small supply would be always useful in an outfit. 



A man-eating tiger requires peculiar caution, not only lest it 

 should observe the presence of the hunter, but he must remember 

 that if upon the ground he himself becomes a bait for tiiis exceed- 



