v THE TIGER 95 



never associated with or even seen the tiger which formerly occupied 

 the same locality. 



I have already described the keen power of scent possessed by 

 this wary animal, which necessitates extreme caution, and the 

 placing of the guns in positions elevated about 10 feet above tho 

 ground. It is seldom of any use to drive jungles upon speculation, 

 although it not infrequently happens, where tigers are plentiful, 

 that when driving for deer the grander game unexpectedly appears, 

 and presents itself suddenly before the astonished hunter. The 

 recognised system of tiger-hunting by driving is as follows. We 

 will say that the party of three may have arrived at a village, after 

 having received intimation that a native cow had been carried off 

 within the last few days. The first operation is to send natives 

 in all directions to look for tracks, and to discover the place where 

 the animal last drank. 



At least two elephants should accompany the party, even 

 though the thick jungle country may be ill adapted for shooting 

 from these useful creatures. One of these should be, if possible, 

 a really dependable animal, that would advance steadily and 

 quietly up to a wounded tiger. The great danger of this branch 

 of sport arrives when a tiger may have been wounded, and it has 

 to be tracked up on foot, and eventually beaten out of the dense 

 thorny cover of its retreat. A staunch elephant is then indispens- 

 able, and the real excitement commences when the beaters are 

 sent for safety up the adjoining trees, and the hunter, absolutely 

 certain that the dangerous game, although invisible, is close before 

 him, advances calmly to the attack, knowing that the tiger will 

 be ready to spring upon the elephant the moment that they shall 

 be vis-cL-vis. 



In the absence of any elephant, the pursuit of a wounded tiger 

 by following up the blood -track on foot is a work of extreme 

 danger. The native shikaris generally exhibit considerable hardi- 

 hood, and, confident in their activity, they ascend trees from which 

 they have a clear view in front for some 30 or 40 yards. They 

 descend if the coast is clear, cautiously advance, and then again 

 they mount upon the branches of some favourable tree and scan 

 the ground before them. In this manner they continue to 

 approach until they at length discern the wounded animal. If the 

 hunter is clever at climbing, he may then take a steady shot from 

 a good elevation ; but if not, he must take his chance, and 

 knowing the exact position of the tiger, he must endeavour to 

 make certain of its sudden death by placing a bullet either in the 

 brain or the back of the neck. 



