262 WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



by the rustling of its green leaves in the wind prevented the 

 bear from hearing our footsteps. The body of the beast was 

 inside the hole, and the only effect of a low whistle was to 

 make him move his head to the right and left. At length 

 I cast down a small peeble, on which he made a grab at it 

 with his fore-paws, and then threw himself back into the hole 

 with his hind legs protruding. At length he disappeared 

 altogether, and though we threw down sticks and stones he 

 would not show. 



The afore-mentioned peepul-tree grew up the face of the 

 rock, and I now directed one of my men to climb out into the 

 tree, and having tied a stone into the end of his turban, to 

 shake it over the mouth of the hole. The ruse succeeded ad- 

 mirably. The bear rushed out, and as he . rose on his hind 

 legs and furiously attacked the dangling turban, I shot him 

 through the head, and he fell. We then went down to the 

 mouth of the hole, and lit a fire of dry grass, wood, and green 

 leaves. A dense smoke was carried into the hole, and soon 

 after the she-bear bolted with the cub clinging to her back. 

 I shot the old one, and then running in, captured the cub, 

 which we took home alive. 



On moving camp to Tirla I was met by the Chief of Juc- 

 naoda, a sirdar of the Jhabbooa Eajah, who had invited me 

 to hunt a tiger which had taken up its abode in some grass 

 lands near his village. The thakoor was a pleasant old gen- 

 tleman, who spent much of his time in the saddle. He was 

 very fond of dogs, horses, and all matters connected with the 

 chase ; but from the constant habit of eating opium he had 

 ruined his constitution, and reduced himself to a shadow. 

 Still the old man was game, and always ready to join in any 

 out-door amusement. 



I sent on my men and guns to the place where the tiger 



