BAG TWO GAURWILD BUFFALOES 153 



a couple of hours, but failed to see him again. About five 

 miles beyond I saw a gaur standing alone; I got off and 

 stalked him. I was within 50 yards, and should have got 

 nearer, had I not tripped over a vine, and the noise startled 

 not only him but seven others. They ran about 20 yards 

 the country was just there quite open and then faced 

 about. I lay full length on the ground. I had my trusty 

 Lang, and fired at the chest of the big bull, and, as they spun 

 round, at the shoulder of another. Both balls told, but 

 nothing fell to the shots. I picked myself up, and running 

 along, without a loaded barrel, I all but stumbled over the 

 prone bull, but he was fortunately in articulo mortis. I 

 jumped back reloaded and then found his spirit had fled. 

 I waited for the elephant, and got into the howdah. I 

 had no.t gone 100 yards, when I came upon the cow gave 

 her two more bullets, but she led me a long chase, but I 

 eventually bagged her. I took the usual tit-bits for myself, 

 and the tail in addition, whilst the mahout who had again 

 performed the hal-lal took a couple of hind-legs, which I 

 had the pleasure of helping him to tie on either side of my 

 howdah. When I got to camp I found my other elephants 

 had come upon the bull and brought in the trophies, thus 

 saving me the trouble of sending for them. Shoayjah here 

 met me with the skin of the tigress I had fired at on the I3th, 

 but the skin was not worth the keeping, and I told him to 

 take it to the Cutcherie for the reward. 



I had left Boyle and Dr. Madden at Myetquin, and gone 

 back to Tongho for a few days, as my eldest boy was ill and 

 his mother very anxious. I stopped there from the i6th to the 

 2 1st, and then, as my people were all but well, I got into my 

 boat and returned to Banlong. I found no elephant or pony 

 for me, though I had requested Madden to send them to 

 meet me ; but I had a cold fowl, some beer, and rusks with 

 me, and lay down on the floor of the Zyat and slept till day- 

 light, when I got up, and after my ablutions I walked into 

 Myetquin, only to find my two comrades out shooting. They 

 did not return till 2 p.m. They had seen a lot of buffaloes, 

 had dismounted and wounded several ; fortunately they were 

 not charged. They failed to bag. 



