SHIKARIE SHOOTS A GAUR 341 



separated from us. The next intimation I had of his where- 

 abouts was the report of his flint-lock piece, and a shout 

 informing us of the death of a bull. I remember rushing up the 

 steep ridge and feeling anything but charitably inclined to- 

 wards Moung Yan Gin, whom I now saw standing beside a huge 

 bull which was kicking in its last throes, having been shot 

 neatly through the heart. Moung Yan Gin excused himself 

 for having shot the gaur by saying that he had come on the 

 animal suddenly, which, having seen him, would have given 

 the alarm to the rest of the herd. I accepted his excuse, but 

 told him he was never to shoot any animal again when with 

 me unless by my permission. 



Having applied for and been granted a month and fifteen 

 days' privilege leave due to me, and having previously made up 

 my mind to spend it in shooting, I started from the Shan 

 states of Momeik one morning early and plunged into the 

 jungle well equipped with everything. My transport consisted 

 of mules, ponies, and coolies, and I had three hunters, my 

 servants, and a camp-following of some twenty-five men in all, 

 a goodly number to feed. 



My camp equipment was as follows : A double Cabul tent, 

 a Maulmain jail-made camp folding-chair, which is, having a 

 table fitted on at the back, a dining-chair, writing-desk, and 

 easy-chair combined in one. A small iron frame folding spring- 

 mattress camp-cot. 



All the above, including wearing apparel, my guns, three 

 cases of stores, a case of ammunition, bedding, cooking 

 utensils, a patent winding fan lamp, a tin of kerosene oil, to- 

 gether with my servants' kit, made up all the baggage, which 

 was carried by four transport mules and ponies. The cost of 

 rice, tobacco, betel, ngapee, dried fish, chillies, cheroots, cooking 

 oil, etc., for the consumption of my followers, was met by 

 me. 



These latter, after a fair division, were divided amongst 

 my men, who carried their loads in wicker baskets called 

 "kyingyas," woven from thin strips of bamboo, which contained, 

 amongst other things, the owner's blanket, strip of carpet or 

 " kawzaw," betel-box, without which he never travels anywhere, 

 a " lue aik" or haversack, a chopper or hatchet, " dahma," and 



