SIT OVER A KILL 423 



looking down I saw Stripes slouch quickly along and pass 

 under my roost to the kill. After walking round the carcase 

 and sniffing at it the tiger lay down beside it, all four legs 

 extended like a dog. I shut my eyes for a few seconds and 

 tried to pull myself together, then, aiming for the animal's 

 head, I fired. The tiger gave a loud " waugh," and was out 

 of sight before I could fire the second barrel. My bullet had 

 missed Stripes and hit the carcase of the buffalo. I was dis- 

 gusted with my bad shooting, as were the Burmans, for they 

 always expect a European to bag everything at which he 

 fires. I had really no excuse to offer. I would advise a 

 sportsman to always be present when a machan is being 

 erected for him if he wants a comfortable seat, for Burmans 

 are accustomed to squat in any position for hours without 

 discomfort, and consequently put up very rude machans 

 unless properly supervised. There should always be a rest 

 for the feet some 24 inches below the seat, and the sportsman 

 should be enabled to stand up, turn round, and fire in any 

 direction. The machan should be so constructed as not to 

 creak when movement is made inside it. Tigers visit their 

 kill as a rule about sunset, but sometimes, if the latter is too 

 near a village and Stripes is not very hungry, he will not 

 appear till I or 2 a.m. 



In the jungle, far from any habitation, he will be found 

 feeding on the carcase at all hours of the day, and invariably 

 lies up close to it, especially if there should be water close by. 

 I remember on one occasion, when following up a solitary 

 bull gaur, coming suddenly upon a tiger which was making a 

 meal off a sambur. We were walking in single file, Moung 

 Hpe leading, the tracks winding through a patch of kaing 

 grass, which here and there was rather sparse. We were 

 moving along noiselessly, expecting each minute to sight the 

 gaur, when two or three loud snarling growls were uttered 

 close to us as the tiger bounded away through the grass. We 

 had almost walked on top of Stripes while he was feeding on 

 the remains of a sambur which had apparently been pulled 

 down by him two or three days before. Vultures were 

 perched on the surrounding trees, but not a single bird was 

 on the ground near the kill when we appeared. A tiger has 



