134 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



The only really dependable elephant that I have ever ridden 

 was a tusker belonging to the Commissariat at Jubbulpur in 

 1880; this fine male was named Moolah Bux. He was rather 

 savage, but he became my great friend through the intervention of 

 sugar-canes and the sweet medium of jaggery (native sugar) and 

 chupatties, with which I fed him personally whenever he was 

 brought before me for the day's work ; I also gave him some 

 bonnt-bouche upon dismounting at the return to camp. 



Although Moolah Bux was the best elephant I have myself 

 experienced, he was not absolutely perfect, as he would not remain 

 without any movement when a tiger charged directly face to face ; 

 upon such occasions he would stand manfully to meet the enemy, 

 but he would swing his huge head in a pugnacious spirit pre- 

 paratory to receiving the tiger upon his tusks. 



The first time that I witnessed the high character of this 

 elephant was connected with a regrettable incident which caused 

 the death of one man and the mutilation of two others, who 

 would probably have been killed had not Moolah Bux been present. 

 The description of this day's experience will explain the necessity 

 of a staunch shikar elephant when tiger-shooting, as the position 

 may be one that would render it impossible to approach on foot 

 when a wounded and furious tiger is in dense jungle, perhaps with 

 some unfortunate beater in its clutches. 



I was shooting in the Central Provinces, accompanied by my 

 lamented friend the late Mr. Berry, who was at that time 

 Assistant-Commissioner at Jubbulpur. 



We were shooting in the neighbourhood of Moorwarra, keeping 

 a line as nearly as possible parallel with the railway, limiting our 

 distance to 20 miles in order to obtain supplies. This arrange- 

 ment enabled us to receive 30 Ibs. of ice daily from Allahabad, as 

 a coolie was despatched from the station immediately upon arrival 

 of the train, the address of our camp being daily communicated to 

 the stationmaster. It was the hot season in the end of April, 

 when a good supply of ice is beyond price ; the soda-water was 

 supplied from Jubbulpur, and with good tents, kuskos tatties, and 

 cool drinks, the heat was bearable. It was this heat that had 

 brought the tigers within range, as all water-springs and brooks 

 were dried up, the tanks had evaporated, and the only water 

 procurable was limited to the deep holes in the bends of streams 

 that were of considerable importance in the cooler seasons of the 

 year. The native headmen had received orders from the Deputy- 

 Commissioner to send immediate information should any tigers 

 be reported in their respective districts ; they had also received 



