v THE TIGER 99 



a gust of wind, is the proper platform to ensure a successful 

 shot. 



I have frequently been perched in a mere heron's nest, formed 

 of light wood arranged upon most fragile boughs ; this wretched 

 contrivance has swayed before the wind to an extent that would 

 have rendered accurate aim impossible; fortunately upon such 

 occasions I have never obtained a shot. 



Although driving may read as an unexciting sport, it is quite 

 the contrary if the hunter takes sufficient interest in the operations 

 to attend to every detail personally. When all is in readiness after 

 the tiger has killed a buffalo, there is much art required in the 

 conduct of the drive. Natives vary in different districts ; some 

 are clever and intelligent, and take an immense interest in the 

 sport, especially if they are confident in the generosity of their 

 employer. In other districts there may be abundant game, but 

 the natives are cowardly, and nothing will persuade them to keep 

 an unbroken line, upon the perfection of which the success of the 

 drive depends. 



As a rule, there is no great danger in the steady advance of a 

 line of men, provided they are at close intervals of five or eight 

 yards apart, and that they keep this line intact. It is a common 

 trick, when the beaters are nervous, to open out the line in gaps, 

 and the men resolve themselves into parties of ten or twenty, 

 advancing in knots, at the same time howling and shouting their 

 loudest to keep up the appearance of a perfect line. In such 

 cases the tiger is certain to break back through one of the inviting 

 gaps, and the drive is wasted. 



To drive successfully, the beaters must not only keep a rigid 

 line, but they must thoroughly understand the habits of the 

 animal, and the positions of the posted guns. If the drive is 

 thoroughly well organised, there should be eight or ten men who 

 are experienced in the sport ; these should take the management of 

 the beat, and being distributed at intervals along the line, they 

 should direct the operations. 



A few really clever shikaris should be able (with few exceptions 

 to the rule) to drive the tiger to any required position, so as to 

 bring it within shot of any particular mucharn. This may be 

 effected without extraordinary difficulty. The drive should be 

 arranged to include three parts of a circle. If there are three guns, 

 their positions would depend upon the quality and conditions of the 

 ground, leaving intervals of only 80 or 100 yards at farthest be- 

 tween the three mucharns. From either flank, commencing only 

 50 yards from each mucharn, a native should be posted in a tree, 



