THE TIGEE. 265 



certain to know his habits and usual resorts, and also where- 

 abouts he is at the time being. It is necessary, therefore, for 

 some one to go out with him who knows our style of work 

 and what particulars to note for guidance when the actual 

 hunt commences ; for it is absolutely necessary to have some 

 preliminary knowledge of the ground, and habits of the parti- 

 cular tiger, to ensure success. In my earlier sporting days I 

 always went out to make the preliminary exploration for 

 tigers myself ; and this is the only way to learn the business 

 thoroughly, so as to be able afterwards to devolve the labour 

 on your shikaris. A sportsman who is not thoroughly master 

 of this business will never have a reliable shik&rf ; and the best 

 men are those who have been trained up in it along with their 

 masters. 



The morning is the best time for this work. It is then cool, 

 and every footprint of the previous night is sharp and clear. 

 All the wild animals, from whose movements much is to be 

 learnt, are then on the move. The movements of the tiger 

 even may often be traced up to eight or nine o'clock by the 

 voices of monkeys and peafowl, the chatter of crows and 

 small birds, and the bark of sambar and spotted deer. The 

 whole nocturnal life of the beasts of the forest is then dis- 

 played in the clearest manner to the hunter whose eye has 

 been trained to read the book of nature ; and I know nothing 

 more interesting than a ramble in the cool grey of a summer 

 morning along the stream-beds of a tract in which live a great 

 variety of wild animals. The river beds usually contain large 

 stretches of sand and gravel, with here and there a pool of 

 water, the margin of which will be covered with tracks of 

 deer, wild hogs, bears, etc., and here and there the mighty 

 sign manual of the jungle king himself. AH must come here 

 to drink in the cool night succeeding a burning day ; and in 



