THAMIN, AND THEIR QUEST 



lows are met with. They are lightly-built houses, erected 

 for the convenience of travelling officials. 



Here one may put up for a few days, and make a 

 change from camp life. As they are usually near a village 

 where bullocks, carts, men, etc., can be procured, all of 

 which are indispensable, it is sometimes wiser to make 

 one's headquarters here than farther away in plain or in 

 jungle. 



In some parts of Upper Burma thamin are shot from 

 bullock carts a vehicle, by the way, of the most primitive 

 form, and eminently calculated to jolt one's heart into 

 their mouth, being innocent of springs. To this cart 

 two bullocks are fixed, and leafy branches spread round 

 the framework. The deer pay but little attention to it, 

 though its progress is attended with much noise ; but they 

 are accustomed to see carts frequently, being the one 

 means of transport the natives here possess. Very often 

 one can get within range while the stag gazes curiously at 

 its approach. I shot my first thus ; but I must confess the 

 method practised in Lower Burma commends itself more 

 to one's sense of sport and fairness. Here the bullock 

 cart takes us to the ground, and on sighting a stag, 

 feeding probably in an open patch, or " kwin," we dismount 

 and begin to stalk. 



Another method is to shoot from an elephant. The 

 deer do not seem to mind the sight and smell of one, as 

 they frequently see wild herds on their feeding-grounds 

 during the rains. 



Supposing one has left camp or bungalow about 

 4.30 a.m., and arrive where we may expect to find 

 game a couple of hours later, by now the sun is well 

 up and getting warm. Thamin get very shy and nervous 

 even at considerable distance after a day or two's shooting, 

 so it is very desirable not to attract their attention. We 

 will suppose our stag is feeding in a kwin. Frequently 

 there is but scanty cover, and after some manoeuvring, 

 finding out how the wind blows and the best cover to 

 make for, we begin the stalk through the long grass 



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