102 IN MALAY FORESTS. 



of cattle. Only once have I had a sight of animal life 

 that could compare with this herd of sladang ; and 

 that was when a Malay and I were alone in the depths 

 of the wildest forest far from any human habitation 

 and at midnight saw a great solitary wild elephant 

 taking a bath at a sulphur spring, peacefully drinking 

 and besprinkling himself, while the moonlight poured 

 down through the silent trees and shone upon its 

 black glistening body and long gleaming tusks. 



But I had little time to watch this herd of sladang. 

 The big bull had his head in the air, and was staring 

 in my direction over the ridge of the gaunt cow's 

 back. As he seemed suspicious, I was afraid that he 

 had seen us move, and made haste to fire before he 

 should give the alarm. How clearly I see it all the 

 great noble head, the grey hair upon the brow, the 

 glossy jet black of the rest of the head, the massive 

 size and shapely curve of the horns. 



I only saw his head, for the gaunt cow covered the 

 rest of him, and, aiming to shoot clear of the cow, 

 I aimed too high, and missed. 



The whole herd dashed away to my right, leaving in 

 the first alarm the little bay for the open plain. The 

 four animals in front of me presented their broadsides, 

 but the big bull was hidden by the cow, and I was 

 unable to get a second shot at him. With my left 

 barrel I fired at one of the other bulls. Then suddenly 

 the sense of the dangers of the open plain overcame 

 the first panic, and the whole herd turned sharply 

 and, with the big bull leading it, galloped back again 

 over the open plain, making for the nearest cover, 

 which was the opposite point of the little bay. They 



