3 88 WILD SPORTS OF BURMA AND ASSAM 



a double 8-bore rifle by Tolly, burning 10 drams, which my 

 hunters always regarded with an admixture of awe and 

 admiration. They expected wonders of me now, as hitherto 

 I had always used a double 12 smooth-bore by Joe Lang, 

 burning a maximum charge of 4^ drams, and had not in 

 consequence always succeeded in bagging everything I had 

 hit. 



I had just been granted a month's leave, and had been out 

 in camp for three or four days without having seen anything 

 larger than a barking deer, or a boar, so decided to change 

 my shooting-ground and pitch my tent on the banks of the 

 Nampan stream, where tsine, gaur, and elephants were plenti- 

 ful. I intended afterwards to visit the Tankta-kugyi stream, 

 another glorious locality for big game, between Tagaung and 

 the river Shweli. 



My camp-followers and servants had been directed to proceed 

 to the site fixed upon, on the bank of the Nampan stream, and 

 make everything snug and comfortable for my return in the 

 evening. Moung Hpe, Moung Kyun Thet, and Moung Yan 

 Gin, three favourite hunters of mine, accompanied me on this 

 occasion. 



We left camp at daybreak and struck across country 

 towards a likely part some ten or twelve miles off, known 

 to Kyun Thet, who assured me that we were sure to come 

 across tsine en route. 



After travelling through open " indaing " forest for some 

 three hours, during which time we had not even come upon 

 fresh tracks, we suddenly caught sight of a solitary bull tsine 

 careering along down the side of a wooded incline in a direc- 

 tion which would bring him near us. 



He was moving along at a steady trot, shaking his head and 

 whisking his tail from side to side, evidently maddened by the 

 cloud of gadflies which hovered round and settled on his 

 body. He was so taken up by his endeavours to get rid of his 

 tormentors that he did not notice us. I waited till he came 

 opposite to me, at a distance of some 45 yards, and then gave 

 him the contents of the right barrel, which floored him instan- 

 taneously. On rushing up to be ready to fire again, should 

 he get up, I saw that his spine was broken, and that he was 



