348 WILD SPORTS OF BURMA AND ASSAM 



ceeding cautiously in the direction of the sound for a distance 

 of about 300 yards, I caught sight of three gaur, standing 

 stern on, under some trees ; others, from the sounds of break- 

 ing bamboos and an occasional low deep " moo," were moving 

 about and feeding in the hollow beyond. With a whispered 

 injunction to my men to lie down, I took my 8-bore, stuffing 

 at the same time two spare cartridges in a side pocket, 

 and stealing quickly forward, I took up my stand behind the 

 trunk of a tree distant some forty paces from the animals, till an 

 opportunity of obtaining a clear shoulder-shot presented itself. 



After waiting for nearly twenty minutes in this position, 

 one of the animals, which had apparently become suspicious, 

 although the wind was in my favour, turned round broadside 

 on and afforded me the coveted shot, which I immediately 

 availed myself of, planting as I thought a bullet behind the 

 shoulder. There was a general stampede and crashing of 

 bamboos, etc., at the sound of the report, and before the 

 smoke cleared, the herd, including the animal fired at, was out 

 of sight in the valley below. 



I ran up to the top of the ridge, in the hope of being able to 

 get in a second shot, as the smoke from the charge 10 drams 

 of powder hung before me in the damp air like a cloud, and 

 prevented my getting in another shot in time. 



While looking for the tracks of the wounded animal on the 

 summit of the ridge, Moung Hpe drew my attention to a sight 

 which it has not been the fortune of many sportsmen to 

 behold, viz. two young gaur calves. Both animals, probably a 

 few days old, were lying down on the ground, watching us in 

 the most calm, placid manner with their large liquid eyes, ears 

 twitching backwards and forwards, eyeing us in turn without 

 seeming in the least degree alarmed. No sooner, however, did 

 we approach to within a yard or so of them, than that intuitive 

 dread of man, inborn in all wild animals, showed itself. Both 

 animals staggered to their feet, and swaying from side to side, 

 attempted with staggering and uncertain steps to escape. 

 Being still too young to use their legs with any degree of 

 stability, they were easily captured. On being laid hold of, 

 they bleated piteously for a short while, and then seemed to 

 become quite reconciled to their fate. After a thorough 



