iv AFTER TIGER 63 



in the manner first mentioned (namely, rockets), so 

 ordered a mechaun to be put up, and a young (bailie 

 sufyad) white bullock to be tied up, stating that I 

 intended sitting up and trying to kill their ' evil spirit ' 

 for them (the natives of India imagine when a tiger 

 comes near their village doing harm to their flocks, and 

 even to themselves, that Allah has sent an evil spirit 

 to harm them in every way), but that they must do all 

 they could to help me. This I managed to make them 

 understand through Gough, who most kindly acted 

 interpreter for me. After pointing out the places I 

 wished the bullock and mechaun placed, I took my 

 Purdey, a two-grooved rifle, the heaviest gun I have (a 

 beautiful weapon, carrying a 2^-oz. ball and weighing 

 about 13 Ibs., which I consider light for the size of 

 the bore eleven ; nevertheless, it is almost a perfect 

 gun, and one a man may trust his life to any day), 

 and followed up the track with great care ; it led 

 to a large clump of aloes, standing by itself, separated 

 by a sandy tract about 50 yards wide from a small 

 jungle. I pushed my way into this, half expecting 

 to be charged [Note written some time afterwards 

 1 A most foolish, rash, and unscientific affair altogether. 

 Had the tiger been there, nothing could have saved 

 me had she charged '], but the old lady was not in 

 it (very well for me, I suspect), and I could find her 

 pug no further. I then went to see the place where 

 she had killed a bullock ; it was in the middle of the 

 small jungle before mentioned. There were the remains 

 plain enough. We then returned to the bungalow. 

 On the way home I bagged a brace and a half of 

 quail with Cough's gun, and missed another. There 

 seem a great quantity about, also several partridge. I 

 had not time to waste, so had to leave them. After 

 breakfast I made all the preparations necessary for the 



