ADVENTURES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE. 305 



beast, but did not fire, and was on my way home when one 

 of my men, who had followed us by a short cut, came up and 

 informed us that he had seen a tiger close by. The jungle 

 was a difficult one to beat, consisting of thorny bushes ten 

 feet in height, and it seemed impossible to form any opinion 

 as to the direction in which the tiger might break. I trusted 

 entirely to the Bheels, and mounted into one of the few trees 

 near the spot. Before me was a tolerably open space, which 

 I hoped the tiger might cross. By the shouts of the beaters 

 I soon knew the beast was started, and presently a fine tigress 

 came out, and stood facing me at the edge of the thicket, sixty 

 yards to my front. The chance was too good to lose. I fired 

 at once, striking her fair in the chest, and, with a savage 

 growl, she charged straight at me. She was very noisy, anc^ 

 no doubt meant mischief ; but, apparently disappointed at not 

 finding me on the ground, she dashed on, and, as she passed 

 below, I gave her the second shot through the back. At the 

 same time I shouted to attract her attention, hoping that she 

 might halt and allow my second rifle to come into play ; but 

 she passed over the ridge and disappeared. I followed on the 

 elephant, and soon came on her, lying down and very sick. 

 Another shot finished her. 



Next morning I was informed that a large Brahminee 

 bull had been killed during the night by a tiger, close to the 

 village, and within a quarter of a mile of my camp. These 

 bulls are usually turned out in the name of the Deity by 

 some devout Hindoo. From that moment they are regarded 

 as sacred, and roam at will through the crowded bazaars and 

 cultivated lands, living, like some other church dignitaries, on 

 the fat of the land. I went out to examine the scene of 

 slaughter, and, under some trees, by a well used for irrigation, 

 lay the dead bull, with the marks of the huge fangs of the 



