DRIED FRUITS PREFERABLE IN HOT WEATHER 323 



I made it a rule to eat as little meat as possible when 

 marching during the heat of the day, in fact I had an abhor- 

 rence for meat of any kind when the weather was at all warm, 

 and found that a meal of dried fruits, such as figs, dates, 

 prunes, with chocolate and biscuits, was very sustaining and 

 quite as nutritious, and as for liquor, I never touched any 

 whilst out walking. Spirits I never drank at any time. 



After having covered some twenty miles of country we 

 almost gave up hopes of ever coming up with the animal 

 again, but eventually, towards the afternoon, we came on fresh 

 indications of the elephants having at last settled down to 

 feed and wander about in an aimless fashion. The jungle 

 was now becoming denser, and Moung Hpe informed me that 

 the animal, whose droppings were now quite warm, was certain 

 to be found in a cover some three or four miles ahead which 

 he knew, and where the animal would most likely be either 

 found asleep or resting. 



I may mention that I had on this occasion, besides the 

 303 and 8-bore, a double 12-bore rifle, burning a maximum 

 charge of 6 drams of powder and carrying heavy conical 

 steel-pointed bullets. 



We now moved forward very cautiously, as we were in 

 cover where there were no large bamboo clumps or trees 

 behind which we could retreat in case of a charge from the 

 elephant, which was sure to be in a very irritated and 

 dangerous state after the wounds which he had received. 

 While moving along in this manner, my 8-bore in hand, 

 loaded with steel-tipped conical bullets, and backed up by 

 Moung Hpe with the Lee-Metford and another Burman with 

 the 12-bore rifle, we suddenly came across the elephant lying 

 down on its side with all four legs stretched out at full length, 

 apparently sound asleep. At first I thought the animal was 

 dead, but being only some twenty paces off, I made out, from 

 a closer examination, the regular up-and-down breathing 

 motions of its body. 



With a whisper to the Burman who was carrying my 12- 

 bore rifle (the thugyi of the Tsaizingon village) to stand firm 

 and be ready with the rifle should I require it, I aimed for 

 the region of the heart, and fired, jumping immediately to 



