3 02 WILD SPORTS OF BURMA AND ASSAM 



came across the large tracks of an elephant ; having nothing 

 of any importance to do at the time, I dismounted from my 

 pony, hitched it up to a tree, and waited till my transport 

 and servants arrived. The tracks had a circumference when 

 measured of quite 4 feet 8 inches, which would approxi- 

 mately make the elephant's height to be about 9 feet 4 

 inches. On the arrival of my men and transport I unlimbered 

 my guns from their cases, a double 8-bore rifle by Tolley, 

 burning 10 drams, and a double 12 smooth-bore, burning 

 4j drams, and started on the tracks accompanied by two 

 villagers from Chaukmaw, who were not much use as trackers. 

 The tracks which, according to my companions, had passed 

 the road early that morning, about 3 a.m. probably, held 

 steadily on for about three miles, in which distance the 

 animal had not apparently stopped once to feed, except on 

 an occasional bamboo shoot which happened to be growing 

 within reach of its trunk. 



An elephant, in fact no wild animal, cares to cross a beaten 

 track or highway during the day ; they often do so, but in 

 great trepidation and fear, and the pace is invariably increased. 

 A gaur, tsine, sambur, barking deer, or pig, will either bound 

 across or trot over quickly after a little hesitation ; a tiger will 

 walk across, if not disturbed, with a long, quick, stately step. 

 An elephant will shuffle over noiselessly by turning his head 

 slightly to either side as he passes, to see that none of his 

 human foes are in sight. Should any of these animals suddenly 

 cross your newly-made trail in the jungle, they invariably 

 dash off at a great pace ; gaur, tsine, and the deer tribe gallop 

 away with a snort, or a bell ; the elephant will back suddenly 

 and make off at right angles, bringing his trunk at the same 

 time down to the ground with a rap, emitting often a sharp, 

 clear, metallic sound of alarm. I have watched a whole herd 

 of elephants which had been alarmed and were going at full 

 speed, recoil from human scent in this manner and refuse to 

 cross the trail, as if they had each one received a severe blow 

 on the forehead. 



Within three hours of the time of my taking on the tracks 

 we came upon the animal's fresh warm droppings ; this raised 

 my hopes of at any rate being able to come up with the 



