80 WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



the ground, and found both the bullets in the earth, within a 

 few inches of each other, and on the very spot where the 

 panther had been. We searched about, but did not find 

 him ; and next morning we moved our camp. Two days 

 after, some villagers, observing vultures attracted to the spot, 

 again went to the ground, and found the remains of the 

 panther lying among some dead leaves. We must have 

 passed close to him in our former search, but his yellow 

 jacket being so similar to the dry grass and leaves, we had 

 failed to see him, and thereby lost his skin. 



We had several days' severe marching among the hills to 

 Dhergaum, where we left our heavy baggage and pack- 

 bullocks, and set off to the Toorun Mall hill, distant some 

 thirty miles, by a footpath through the jungle. We camped 

 at the foot of the hill, and ascended it next morning. It is, 

 I believe, about 4000 feet above the sea, and the change 

 of climate from the low country was delightful. There 

 are no human habitations on the summit, but we found a 

 fine artificial lake, on the borders of which we encamped. 



On the way up we came upon a huge tiger hanging on 

 a tree. He had killed a cow belonging to some Bheels ; they 

 poisoned the carcass, and, on his return, he had eaten freely, 

 and there and then died. The Bheels had pulled out his 

 teeth, claws, and whiskers, and then hung him up by his hind 

 legs. The skin not being broken, the action of the sun had 

 swollen the body to a huge size, and he looked truly gigantic ; 

 but having hung for several days in an April sun, we did 

 not care to inspect him very closely. 



We spent several days on the top of the mountain. 

 There were bison here, but not being present in any official 

 capacity, we were unable to get men to show us the jungles, 

 and were not sufficiently acquainted with the country and its 



