ADVENTURES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE. 269 



places we generally wore long riding-boots all day, but the 

 feet of the natives were unprotected and they suffered accord- 

 ingly. 



At 11 A.M. we again set off, and at the end of a mile we 

 arrived at the river Maun. The opposite bank was steep, and 

 at its foot ran a long strip of cypress some 10 yards in width, 

 and 200 or 300 in length. On this side the bed of the river 

 was covered with cypress to the extent of several acres, and 

 in the centre was a large pool of still water, in which the 

 tigers (there were two) had repeatedly been seen by our 

 markers to bathe themselves during the morning. The 

 country on both sides was cut in all directions with small 

 but deep ravines, very narrow at the bottom, and filled with 

 long grass and thorny bushes. 



As we knew the tigers were gorged, we concluded they 

 would not leave the cypress, and we therefore both mounted 

 the elephant and proceeded to beat them out, previously 

 taking care that all our men were clear of the covert, and 

 safely perched on trees. The tigers were soon on the move, 

 and, guided by the waving of the cypress, which was five and 

 six feet high at this part, we pushed after them. Presently 

 both beasts were wounded, but accurate shooting was impos- 

 sible, owing to the motion of the elephant and the density of 

 the covert. The tigress was the first to succumb, which she 

 did after one or two plucky charges ; and soon after, the 

 tiger, a fine heavy beast, dashed through the pool, and dis- 

 appeared in the strip of covert on the opposite side. We 

 slowly followed, advancing cautiously, for the cypress was 

 varied by rocks and bunches of long grass. Suddenly, with a 

 terrific roar, the tiger rose and came on open-mouthed ; but 

 the shooting was good, and the elephant steady, and he was 

 hurled back, and again crossed the pool to the place where we 



