ELEPHANTS AND LONG GRASS 209 



not forthcoming, so there was nothing for it but to get carts 

 and come here as fast as I could. 



"Starting from Shoayghein on the evening of the 26th, 

 going to Thanzeik that night and reaching this on the 3Oth, 

 is not bad going, but it was a case of continual move, and 

 threatening the bandy-men, one of whom I did walk into in 

 uncommon nice style ; I having given him three hours' start, 

 and he having taken out his bullocks to graze after having 

 gone about two miles out of Kyoung-bya. 



"From Moulmein to this I did not see a single head of 

 game of any sort, large or small. I just arrived in time to 

 see Lloyd with a party of six start for Myetquin. For me 

 to remain quietly here whilst shikar was going on was quite 

 out of the question, so as I could not go with them I took my 

 old line, and went to my former haunts on the banks of the 

 Pabay river,- going to Tseben the first day. When I got to my 

 destination there was nothing there, the shikaru said ; how- 

 ever, that night our ears and eyes told us of elephants being 

 there, a large tusker showing himself just below the huts at 

 one corner of the small tounyah (clearance) and another at the 

 other corner. In the morning I was after them, and followed 

 them backwards and forwards through the kine grass till I 

 was ready to drop. It was fearfully hot. I then took on 

 myself the task of getting up to them. I went through the 

 grass at one end and got round them ; at least, this was my 

 intention, but I found they had crossed my path and got into 

 some rattan jungle. I followed sharp, saw them, ran up 

 towards them, and as I was then in the midst of the herd and 

 could see no tusker, let fly and knocked over one. It was a 

 bad shot through rattans and their hanging leaves and 

 creepers. Immediately on this there was, of course, a 

 tremendous rush, and a huge Muckna came and stood 

 about 20 yards to my left; he was quite in the open, and 

 there was not a bush between us ; but though quite clear he 

 did not give me a good shot, as he was a little too far past me 

 for a good temple shot ; however, I fired, and he and all the 

 rest bolted. I walked up to where I had floored the first one, 

 and he, too, was gone, so you may suppose how disgusted I 

 was. I followed them right through the elephant grass out 



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