INDIAN SHOOTING 



205 



before he reaches the guns till the last moment, and then come 

 out at a gallop. If he has to cross an open glade, he will almost 

 invariably bound across, pulling up to a walk in the cover of 

 the far side. 



Probably the first things that the sportsman will see will be 

 a herd of chital trooping quietly past his tree, or he will hear 

 an irresolute tread among the dry leaves coming closer and 

 closer, till the head of a peacock peers round a bush, instantly 

 detects him — for no man ever yet hid from a peacock — and the 

 bird scurries off with a sqawk. A bear may come shambling by, 

 or a panther walk right under his tree, but the first shot must be 

 reserved for the tiger ; when that is fired anyone may take his 

 choice. The sure signs of either a tiger or panther being in 

 the beat are when the monkeys begin swearing or peafowl get 

 up with a peculiar ' kok-kok.' Monkeys running along the 

 ground is a bad sign for sport, but not an absolute guide. 



As soon as the first shot is fired the beaters are stopped, 

 and either sent up trees or collected in masses on rocks or 

 high ground. The elephants come up to the guns, and the head 

 of the party details one or two guns to get round the wounded 

 tiger and force him back up to the other guns, who remain 

 in their trees— this is when the fun begins. The tiger's every 

 move will be probably observed by some of the men in the 

 trees ; he can hardly get away, and has every inducement to 

 show fight. 



If a tiger is killing near camp, there is a good deal of sport 

 to be had by going round the baits in the morning oneself. 

 If one of them is taken, a wide circuit should be made round 

 the cover with a good tracker to ensure the tiger being at home. 

 An inner circuit may be then made to determine his approxi- 

 mate position, and to do this well without disturbing him 

 requires great care and skill ; but the knowledge so gained is 

 invaluable in beating for him afterwards. 



In Bombay and Madras elephants are not generally used, 

 and, instead of the square cushions to sit on, light bamboo 

 ladders are carried and set up against trees or clumps of 



