CHAP, vii THE TIGER 145 



had evidently rested : here it had devoured the larger portion, and 

 nothing but the head remained. It was impossible to decide 

 whether jackals or hyaenas had made away with the remnants, or 

 whether the tiger had carried them off to some secure hiding-place, 

 but it was highly probable that the animal was not far distant. 



The jungle was not more than 5 or 6 acres, and it was sur- 

 rounded by grass; we therefore determined to arrange scouts 

 around, while we should thoroughly but slowly examine the covert 

 upon the two elephants. 



There was nothing in the drive. 



The slope upon which the jungle was situated drained towards 

 an exceedingly deep and broad nullah ; this formed the main 

 channel, into which numerous smaller nullahs converged from the 

 surrounding inclination. The general character of the country was 

 withered grass upon numerous slopes, the tops of which were 

 covered with low jungle. At the lower portion of the deep nullah 

 there was a small but important pool of water, as it was the only 

 clrinkiug-place within a distance of two miles. As usual, there was 

 a sandbank around this deep pool, which, being in the bend of the 

 nullah, had been swept out of the opposing bank and deposited 

 near the drinking-hole. Upon this sandy surface we found several 

 tracks of tigers, and we arrived at the conclusion that a tiger and 

 tigress had been together, and that I had killed the male on the 

 occasion of the accident ; the female would therefore be the animal 

 of which we were in search. 



The nullah was about 20 yards across and 30 feet in depth ; 

 the banks were in most places perpendicular, and the bottom was 

 rough with stones, intermingled with bushes, most of which had 

 lost their foliage. It was quite possible that, after drinking, the 

 tigress might have lain down to sleep among the bushes, where the 

 hollowed bank afforded a cool shade ; but I did not like to send 

 men into the dangerous bottom, and the banks were so steep that 

 the elephants could not possibly descend. 



About 400 paces distant, a large tree grew from the right bank, 

 and the branches overhung the nullah ; I therefore suggested to 

 Berry that he should take up a position in the boughs, and that 

 we would beat towards him by pelting the bottom of the ravine 

 with stones ; should the tigress break back, I could stop her from 

 the howdah, and should she move forward, she must pass directly 

 beneath the tree upon which Berry would be seated. This plan 

 was carried out, but the plucky policeman insisted upon descending 

 into the nullah and walking up the bottom, while the natives upon 

 either side bombarded the banks with stones. 



