318 WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



banian-tree far from human habitations. Here we were 



joined by Messrs. B and W , two gentlemen employed 



on the Geological Survey, who were exploring these hills. 

 Next morning we hunted in the bed of a dry nullah a few 

 miles south of our camp. A tigress with cubs was said to be 

 in the neighbourhood, and as we beat up some long green 

 grass one of the elephants halted and commenced to strike 

 the ground with his trunk, while he kicked about the gravel 

 with his fore-feet. Presently two cubs ran snarling out of 

 the grass, but as we hoped to find the tigress we did not fire. 

 She was cautious, however, and had gone off into the exten- 

 sive jungle by which we were surrounded on all sides. We 

 searched for her on this and the following day, but without 

 success, so we shot the cubs, and marched north to Dhunora, 

 where there were some large patches of cypress in the broad 

 bed of a river. On arriving at the ground about sunset, we 

 found a buffalo had been killed by a panther. So, deeming it 

 a good opportunity for setting the iron trap, we laid it in the 

 sand by the carcass. After dinner we went out with a lantern, 

 and on going to the spot found the trap sprung and a few hairs 

 from the belly of the panther between the teeth. We set the 

 trap again, and found a hysena in it in the morning. 



We then beat out the cypress, and started the panther, 

 which I wounded slightly, but he went off down the bed of 

 the river. Our men tracked him for about two miles, and we 

 at length came up with him. He had taken shelter under 

 the prickly leaves of some young date-trees, and made some 

 very pertinacious charges before he was finally disposed of. 

 Farther down we came on the prints of a very large tiger, 

 which we followed in vain for several miles. Next day we 

 marched, and encamped at Burwanee. 



In the afternoon the Bashi and I went down to the 



