298 WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



for they fired hurriedly and without effect, and the tiger 

 went off. 



Next day we broke up our camp, my friend returning to 

 Dohud, while I set my face towards Sirdarpore. On entering 

 my tent at the end of the second march, I was overpowered by a 

 horrible odour, and taxed the servants with having encamped 

 over the remains of some decayed carcass. The carpets were 

 lifted and the ground examined, and a fire was lit in the tent 

 to purify the atmosphere, but with no effect. At length I 

 ordered the partition curtain to be shaken out, and in its folds 

 I found a squashed rat, which had no doubt perished when 

 the tent was struck three days before, and in the interval had 

 attained a height which was truly epicurean. 



