364 WILD SPORTS OF BURMA AND ASSAM 



eventually led into a shady strip of jungle, where there was 

 little or no undergrowth, but yet ample cover from the rays of 

 the sun. I was now on the alert ; my eyes flashed here and 

 there ahead of me and to either side, and my ears strained to 

 their utmost to catch the slightest sound. It was magnificent 

 cover for gaur, as there was lots of grass growing in patches 

 throughout the wood which afforded admirable grazing 

 ground, and I was consequently hoping that the animal would 

 remain in the neighbourhood. Moung Yauk and another 

 companion were following in my footsteps at a distance of 

 about twenty-five paces. The tracks now showed us that the 

 gaur was about to rest, as he had wandered about from side 

 to side in a listless fashion, as if on the look-out for a suitable 

 place to lie down. The animal could not be far off, as a very 

 strong odour of bison prevailed about the place, and, sure 

 enough, after rounding a small clump of bamboo I saw the 

 huge dark mass looming up standing broadside on, under the 

 shade of a large clump of bamboos not twenty paces off. The 

 animal appeared quite unconscious of my presence. Without 

 turning my head, I lifted up my hand behind my back as a 

 signal for my men to halt, and quietly raising the 8-bore, 

 fired for the shoulder, a very clear shot being obtainable. 

 The gaur dropped to the shot like a stone, shot through the 

 heart. 



It was curious to watch its actions then, as it closed its 

 eyelids and shot its tongue out at times into its nostrils. 

 After an interval of about half a minute every muscle became 

 rigid and the whole body trembled violently, after which it 

 emitted one or two loud bellows, struggling the while, and 

 then died, the eyes staring and wide open. 



Sportsmen should be very careful never to approach a gaur 

 after it has been floored should it remain with closed eyelids, 

 as this is a sure sign that the animal is not as yet in articulo 

 mortis}- Many a Burman hunter has been gored to death 

 through carelessness in approaching an animal supposed to 



1 A better is that a stricken animal commences to kick ; then passes 

 water, then wind, then evacuates then it is a sign that he is dead. 

 Vide an old copy of the Dragon of Wantley in Bishop Percy's Reliques 

 of Anden( English Poetry. . T. P. 



