TIFFIN IN THE JUNGLES 



three such savannas to be found at long intervals and 

 varying in size, but the one now before us was exceptionally 

 large, about three-quarters of a mile in breadth by possibly 

 half as long again in length and, according to our know- 

 ledgeable old shikari, contained the highest and densest 

 growth of any in that forest. 



In these circumstances, added to the fact that our 

 elephants had been having a very strenuous time, we 

 decided to halt for an hour or so to rest them whilst their 

 drivers and ourselves, not to waste this precious time, 

 took this opportunity of making a midday meal, which, in 

 the case of the former, consisted of parched rice and 

 " goor," a species of dried molasses, made up into 

 lumps. 



We ate our respective luncheons seated on our elephants, 

 the latter the while making a more substantial meal off the 

 branches of some trees which they had discovered and 

 seemed to find most appetising judging from the quantity 

 they devoured, as wandering at will, they moved amongst 

 the trees selecting those they preferred. But the Forest 

 Officer, under whose orders we had placed ourselves while 

 in his domains, soon had us on the move again, and rightly, 

 for the sun had already passed the meridian, and it was 

 necessary that we should reach a halting-place and pre- 

 pare our night's encampment before it was absolutely 

 dark. 



The order of our march was now, however, changed 

 from Indian file to line so as to cover as much of the grass 

 jungle as we could in the hope of arousing some slumbering 

 beast within its depths the rogue elephant itself, perhaps, 

 as was not unlikely in which case a better chance of 

 obtaining a shot at it was scarcely likely to be afforded us, 

 though we realized that if only wounded we should be 

 exposed to the full fury of its attack, for in the grass there 

 were no trees or creepers to obstruct it and thus give us 

 time to fire again before it charged home. 



However, as the sole object of the expedition was the 

 destruction of this beast, we were prepared to take all 

 risks, so marshalling the elephants into line with one of us 

 in the centre and one on either flank, we advanced slowly 

 through the grass, every eye and ear on the alert to detect 



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