114 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



evening as bait for tigers. At daylight every morning the native 

 shikaris should visit their rcsj)ective baits, and send a runner into 

 camp with the message should one or more have been killed. The 

 elephants being ready, no delay would occur, and the beat would 

 take place immediately. In that manner the tiger is certain to be 

 found, as it will be lying somewhere near the body of its prey. 



There is a necessity for great precaution, lest a tiger when 

 disturbed should steal away and escape unobserved from the dense 

 covert of high grass. To effect his destruction, at least two 

 scouting elephants should be thrown forward a quarter of a mile 

 ahead from cither flank of the advancing line ; and, according to 

 the conditions of the locality, two or more elephants with intel- 

 ligent mahouts should be sent forward to take up positions ahead 

 of the line at the terminus tf the beat. These men should be 

 provided with small red flags as signals should the tiger show 

 itself; the waving of flags together with a shout will head the 

 tiger, and drive it back towards the advancing line of elephants ; 

 at the same time the signal will be understood that a tiger is afoot, 

 and the mahouts will be on the alert. 



When a tiger is headed in this manner it will generally crouch, 

 and endeavour to remain concealed until the elephants are close 

 upon it. Upon such occasions it will probably spring upon the 

 first disturber with a short harsh roar, and unless stopped or 

 turned by a shot, it will possibly bre.ak through the line and 

 escape to the rear, as many of the elephants will be scared and 

 allow the enemy to pass. 



Should this occur, it will be necessary to counter-march, and 

 to reverse the position by sending some active elephants rapidly 

 upon either flank to take up certain points of observation about 

 500 yards distant, according to the conditions of the ground. This 

 forms the principal excitement of tiger-shooting in high grass, as 

 the sport may last lor hours, especially if there are only two or 

 three guns in a long line of elephants. If there is no heavy 

 forest at hand, but only grass jungle, no tiger should be allowed 

 to escape if the management is good, and the patience of the 

 hunters equal to the occasion. 



I must give every credit to the Rajah Suchi Khan for this 

 virtue, and for the j>crseverance he and his friends exhibited in 

 working for so many hours in the burning sun of April to so little 

 purpose. There was very little game upon the islands near Dhubri 

 beyond a few hog-deer and wild pigs, and it appeared mere waste 

 of time to wander in a long line of beating elephants from sunrise 

 till the afternoon with scarcely a hope of tigers. However, upon 



