CHARGED BY A WOUNDED TSINE 395 



seated on the ground debating amongst ourselves as to 

 whether the new tracks we had struck were those of gaur 

 or tsine, two tsine suddenly appeared on the scene. We 

 remained seated, as it was easier to watch their movements in 

 that position, besides, they were heading apparently straight 

 in our direction. We had not long to wait. Both animals 

 came along at a quick pace, cropping the grass on either side 

 of them as they moved, breathing deeply and sharply the 

 while, as if just recovering from the effects of a long gallop. 

 It was then about 9.30 a.m. and very warm ; this may have 

 accounted for their stertorous breathing, as they were not very 

 old bulls. I aimed at the shoulder of the nearest animal and 

 fired ; the distance would probably be about 25 yards. Both 

 tsine immediately dashed away. The one I had fired at only 

 travelled a short distance, and then pulled up looking very 

 sick. I was unable to put in a second shot at either beast, so 

 quickly did they disappear through the undergrowth. Moung 

 Hpe now informed me that he could hear the wounded animal 

 close by, stamping its feet to shake off the gadflies. I moved 

 cautiously forward, but had not gone 30 yards before the tsine 

 charged down upon us at a great pace. We stepped to one 

 side, and as he passed us I let him have another shot behind 

 the shoulder, which brought him to a standstill before he had 

 gone 40 yards. He was now limping badly, and as I could 

 see that he would not be able to charge again, I finished him 

 off with another shot. He was a fine bull, standing 5 feet 

 4 inches at the shoulder, and had a very good head. My 

 men afterwards broke him up, and took away all the 

 meat. 



We followed the tracks of the gaur, hoping that he was not 

 in the immediate neighbourhood, but had not gone far before 

 we came upon unmistakable signs of his having been alarmed ; 

 the deep indentations of his hoofs and the width between each 

 track showed us plainly that he had heard my shots and 

 made off. I was much disgusted at the time, I remember, 

 because a solitary bull gaur is, in my opinion, a grander prize 

 and more worthy of bagging than a tsine. I used a 12- 

 bore rifle on this occasion, burning 6 drams of powder, 

 and steel-tipped conical bullets, one of which, my first shot, 



