234 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CUAP. 



cub or for some male companion. This was in the sal forest, 

 within a quarter of a mile of our position. It was a dangerous 

 attempt, upon such an untrustworthy elephant as Hurri Ram, to 

 look for a tiger in a thick sal jungle, as that species of tree grows 

 in long straight trunks exceedingly close together, to an extent 

 that would make it impossible for a large elephant to continue a 

 direct course. Should the animal run away, the result would 

 probably be fatal to the rider. We again heard the cry of the 

 tiger repeated ; this decided me to make the trial, and we entered 

 the forest, carefully advancing, and scanning every direction. 



The sal tree produces one of the most valuable woods in India 

 for building purposes, and for railway sleepers. The bark is black, 

 which gives the forest a sombre appearance, and the trees grow 

 perfectly straight, generally to a height of 30 or 40 feet, before 

 they divide into branches ; it may be readily imagined that an 

 elephant would find a difficulty in threading its way through the 

 narrow passages formed by these mast-like growths. In addition 

 to this difficulty, there were numerous clumps of the tough male 

 bamboo, which nothing will break, and which is terribly dangerous 

 should a runaway elephant attempt to penetrate it, as the hard 

 wiry branches would lacerate a rider in a frightful manner. There 

 were numerous ravines in this forest, and we kept along the 

 margin, slowly and cautiously, peering at the same time into the 

 depths, in the expectation of seeing the wandering tiger. 



It was very perplexing ; sometimes we heard the cry of the 

 tiger in one direction, and upon reaching the spot, we heard it at 

 a different place. I was determined not to give it up, and we 

 worked for at least two hours, until we had thoroughly examined 

 every ravine, and all the smaller nullahs that would have been 

 likely hiding-places. " Past five o'clock," I exclaimed, upon look- 

 ing at my watch. It was time to turn homewards, as it would be 

 dark at six, and should we be benighted in the forest we should 

 not find our way, neither would it be possible to ride an elephant, 

 owing to the thick bamboo. We accordingly gave up our search 

 for the tiger, and steered in a new direction towards the 

 camp. 



We had advanced for about half an hour through the gloomy 

 forest, and were within about of a mile in a direct line of the 

 tents, when I observed a peculiarly dark shadow upon my right, 

 about 35 yards distant, close to a dense mass of feathery bamboos. 

 I stopped the elephant for an instant, and at the same moment 

 the black mass moved away towards the thick cover of the 

 foliage. Guessing the position of the shoulder, I took a quick 



