93 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



to make its spring, being apprehensive of some hidden danger. I 

 have also seen a dead vulture lying close to the body of a buffalo, 

 evidently killed by a blow from the tiger's paw when trespassing 

 upon the feast. It is a good arrangement to secure both fetlocks 

 of a buffalo with a piece of strong cord about a foot or 16 inches 

 apart, independently of the weaker cord which ties the animal to 

 either a stake or tree. Should the buffalo break away during the 

 night, it cannot wander far, as the bushes will quickly anchor the 

 rope which confines the fore legs ; the tiger would then assuredly 

 attack the straying animal and kill it within the jungles. In such 

 a case the drive should take place without delay, as the dead 

 buffalo will certainly be hidden in the nearest convenient spot, and 

 the tiger will be somewhere in the neighbourhood. 



During the hot season it will be advisable to defer the drive 

 till about 10 A.M., at which time the tiger will be asleep. The 

 mucharns or watching-places in various trees should have been 

 previously constructed before the buffaloes were tied up in their 

 different positions, to be ready should the tiger kill one of the baits, 

 and thus to avoid noise during the construction. This is a matter 

 of very great importance which is frequently neglected by the 

 native shikari, who postpones the building of mucharns until the 

 tiger shall have killed a buffalo. In that case the noise of axes 

 employed in chopping the wood necessary for building the platforms 

 is almost sure to alarm the tiger, who will escape unseen, and the 

 beat will take place in vain. 



I never allow mucharns to be built by wood felled in the 

 immediate neighbourhood, but I have it prepared in camp, and 

 transported by coolies to the localities when required. By this 

 method the greatest silence may be observed, which is absolutely 

 necessary to ensure a successful drive. 



In order to prepare these platforms, they should be laid upon 

 the ground, three long thick pieces to form a triangle, and cross- 

 bars in proportionate lengths. If the latter are straight and strong, 

 from sixteen to twenty will be necessary to complete a strong 

 mucharn. It is impossible to devote too much attention to the 

 construction ot these watching-places. The natives are so light, 

 and they are so comfortable when squatting for hours in a position 

 that would cramp a European, that it is dangerous to accept the 

 shikari's declaration when he reports that everything is properly 

 arranged. UjK>n many occasions tigers are missed because the 

 shooter is so completely cramped that he cannot turn when the 

 animal suddenly apix?ars in view. A large, firm, and roomy 

 mucharu fixed upon the boughs of a tree that will not wave before 



