IN THE KANAKA JUNGLES 65 



whole scene over and over again, pointing and 

 gesticulating. 



The patel said : " You see, I did not leave you, 

 sahib/' I told him I knew that well enough and 

 that he had a big heart; and the men clustered 

 round and said, " We will not be afraid of going out 

 with the mem-sahib again." 



He was a fine big panther 7 ft. 10 in. ; and I have 

 just walked tenderly over his skin, stretched on the 

 floor, as I have a great respect for him. 



After the beat I went to see the dead cow and the 

 poor little calf with the broken, crushed forearm. 

 It had tooth-marks in its throat as well and long 

 scratches, and tears on its back. It was limping 

 on three legs and they began to drive it home, poor 

 little beast. I asked them to let me shoot it and 

 end its misery, for I knew that soon the wounds 

 would be full of maggots. No, it was against their 

 religion and they would not let me do so. I said it 

 would never be of any use to them and I would give 

 " plenty baksheesh/' But it was not to be allowed. 

 I tried to buy it, offering a good price, but had 

 reluctantly to give it up. 



We started for home in a triumphal procession. 

 We had to stop at three villages to exhibit the 

 panther, and all the people ran out, forming large 

 circles round us. At one place they brought me a 

 small brass lota of very good warm milk. 



All this made me very late and, on reaching camp, 

 I found Sadu, my boy, and the sweeper in tears. 

 They said a man had come back to fetch my hammock 



I had meant to sit up over the cow if the panther 

 F 



