THE HIGHER NAEBADA. 331 



There was no need to tie animals out as baits for the tigers, 

 as is sometimes done, for here they killed a cow or two every 

 other day, although, food being so plentiful, they seldom re- 

 mained long near the carcasses. The third evening after I 

 came, two cows were killed about a mile from camp. I would 

 not allow them to be touched, trusting that, having eaten well 

 during the night, the tigers would lie up in some place close 

 at hand, to which we might track them next morning, and 

 beat them out in the heat of the day. 



When any tracking has to be done, it is of great importance 

 to be at the spot very early in the morning, as the breezes, 

 which generally rise shortly after daybreak, are apt to destroy 

 the fine edges of the impressions left, and by nine o'clock it is 

 often impossible to tell whether the marks are old or new. 

 We accordingly started for the " murrees" before daylight, 

 and had no difficulty in finding the place, which was deeply 

 marked by the feet of both tigers and cows, and a broad trail 

 led off in the direction the tigers had dragged the carcasses. 

 Following this up, it led us shortly into a ravine, where we 

 found the remains of both cows deposited in different narrow 

 clefts, where the tigers had retired to dine at their leisure. 

 Of one the head alone was left, and the head and fore quarters 

 of the other. The carcasses had evidently been most scienti- 

 fically cleaned out by these professional butchers before setting 

 to work, the dung and other refuse being carefully piled up at 

 a little distance, so as not to come between the wind and their 

 nobility during the repast. Vultures, kites, and crows had 

 already commenced to demolish the remainder a sure sign 

 that our game had left the immediate neighbourhood. 



Taking up the tracks, we followed them for about half a 

 mile along the ravine towards the river. The prints of the 

 old lady and her daughters were nearly the same in size, and 



