354 WILD SPORTS OF BURMA AND ASSAM 



charge, and we might now come upon the bison at any moment. 

 I shall never forget the excitement of that moment, and how 

 carefully we crouched down and stalked along at the rate of 

 about two steps to the minute, eagerly scanning with lightning 

 rapidity the surrounding jungle, with every sense on the alert. 

 The low overhanging bamboo shrubs afforded admirable 

 shade from the sun's rays, and as it was then about 9 a.m., 

 Moung Hpe said the animal would be sure to be either asleep 

 or resting, chewing the cud. After gliding along in this 

 noiseless manner, like two human leopards, for a distance of 

 about 100 yards, Moung Hpe, who was a foot or two away on 

 my right but abreast of me, suddenly sank down on one knee 

 and pointed out a dark mass to me which lay motionless under 

 a low, overhanging bamboo clump. At first I could hardly 

 believe it was the gaur, as not only was it quite motionless, 

 but, which is unusual in a solitary bull, its breathing was also 

 inaudible. Our position was a most awkward one, as I was 

 not only unable to make out any vital portion of the gaur's 

 body, which was partially concealed from view by overhanging 

 bamboos, but I had to sink down on to both knees before 

 firing which I did, aiming for what I took to be the chest 

 and neck, rather a risky shot considering the position I was 

 then in. For a second or two after the shot the smoke hung 

 and obscured everything, during which time I heard a 

 tremendous snort and thumping of feet. On the smoke 

 clearing, I caught sight of the gaur struggling to its feet ; a 

 second shot through the shoulder, however, finished its career, 

 as, struggling to its feet with difficulty, it lurched heavily from 

 side to side, and after crashing through several small bamboo 

 clumps, sank slowly to the ground, when it died after a long- 

 drawn bellow and an interval of a tremendous quivering and 

 stiffening of every muscle and limb. This was a very fine old 

 bull, standing at the shoulder 19 hands. The horns were not, 

 however, for the size of the animal, as fine a pair as I expected 



them to be. I gave the head to my friend D , who 



expressed a wish to have them. 



Several articles have appeared in the Field recently regard- 

 ing the presence or absence of a dew-lap in the gaur. Col. 

 Pollok, who has been more observant than I have in these 



