434 WILD SPORTS OF BURMA AND ASSAM 



reported that the Government buildings were in danger of 

 being swept away by the river, which was encroaching on its 

 banks. The season was late, as the rivers begin to rise in 

 June, so I sent on elephants ahead, and then dropped down 

 by boat to Tarah-barie-ghat, but no elephants had arrived ; 

 but they turned up that afternoon. It was reported that there 

 were many tigers about, and some of them man-eaters ; 

 certainly their footmarks were very plentiful. 



So on the nth I started at daybreak, hoping to find one, 

 if not more. The country in the immediate neighbourhood 

 was fairly open, with very short grass and bushes. I saw a broad 

 track, and told my mahout to go along it. It was too dark to 

 see what had caused the trail. When we came to a marshy 

 bit, I found we had been following two rhinoceros. I soon 

 came upon a mound of their droppings ; they always deposit 

 their ordure in one spot, until quite a large mound is formed, 

 so I knew the beasts must be pretty close. My elephant 

 began to show signs of funk, but the mahout kept her pretty 

 straight. At last, in front of me, behind a bush, stood a 

 rhinoceros, intently listening to the noise made by the elephant 

 splashing along. Neither the mahout nor elephant saw the 

 game ahead. I tapped the mahout on the head, and he 

 stopped his beast at once. I fired into the mass before me, 

 and as the smoke cleared away, a very large rhinoceros 

 rushed into the open and got another bullet in its shoulder. 

 He pulled up. I dropped the discharged weapon and took up 

 another, and gave him two pills in the chest ; he swerved and 

 ran off, squealing awfully. On hearing this noise my steed 

 right-about faced, and raced for her life, and could not be 

 stopped for some time. So I went back to the bheel and took 

 up the trail, and soon came upon the rhinoceros stone dead. 

 Its horn was not long but very massive, weighing if seers. 

 We got men from the nearest village, who were thankful to 

 get the flesh, cut off the head and took off the shields, and 

 reached Burpettah about twelve, where I put up with Boyd. I 

 examined the river banks, and sent for men to shore up the 

 side nearest the bungalow, and next day went for a few days' 

 trip into the Dooars. I followed a rhinoceros for some way, 

 but it had got into a tangled brake, where it was safe. I then 



