xvi INTR OD UCTOR Y 



that there was no want of the feres naturce, but that owing 

 to the disturbed nature of the country, want of elephants, and 

 ignorance of the language, it had yet to be discovered ; and I 

 set to work to ingratiate myself with the people. 1 may 

 without boasting assert that I was the pioneer in Lower 

 Burma, as my colleague has been in Upper, in the shooting 

 of big game. I had exceptional facilities. I spared no ex- 

 pense, and was lucky enough to have a stud of never less than 

 four elephants, and my duties took me too over a vast tract. 

 I ventured into jungles which were avoided by most men, as 

 they were said to be deadly. I had had my bout of jungle- 

 fever in India, so was probably "salted"; was of an active 

 habit, up at daylight, and, after a cup of coffee, either on horse- 

 back or an elephant the whole day, getting back in time for a 

 bath and dinner in the evening, which generally formed my 

 only meal. 



Nothing the Burmese love more than a poo-ay, or theatrical 

 performance. When I went to a new locality and put up in a 

 zyat, or rest-house, in the largest village, I sent for performers 

 and treated the people to one of their interminable operas. I 

 gave the womenkind (most influential in Burma) bits of jewellery 

 and finery, a looking-glass or a piece of soap, and asked them 

 to use their influence to get me some intelligence of game. 

 One would say : " Why, Moung Oo or Mg. Kyaw, or Mg. 

 so-and-so, is the village shikarie at " some place she would 

 mention ; some other girl would give me information of 

 another man. If not too distant, I would go to the locality, 

 and secure the shikarie 's services by giving him a few rupees, 

 or a little tobacco, tea and sugar, and occasionally a little 

 rum. Many of them were very chary of going out, fearing, if 

 any accident were to happen, they would be blamed ; but the 

 few who did, found I was a fair shot and somewhat generous, 

 keeping little of the meat for myself, and giving the rest to 

 them, which they jerked and sold to the people. It was a 

 slow and laborious process, but patience and perseverance, 

 they say, will conquer most things ; so it was with me, and in 

 time I got game ; the very thoughts of which make my 

 mouth water and a longing to see the like again, old though 

 I be. Very few sportsmen in Burma have sent their sporting 



