328 WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



were sent out to examine the grass-jungle near Jucnaoda. 

 They reported a tigress and two half-grown cubs, and having 

 posted ourselves in trees, they were sent forward by the 

 beaters, and the two cubs shot. The tigress crossed a bit of 

 open ground clear of the guns, and got away among some 

 small ravines. We mounted the elephants and gave chase, 

 having been joined by Jowan Sing, the son of the Thakoor or 

 Chief of Jucnaoda. Failing to find the tigress, Murray and 

 Evans went forward and mounted in trees, while the Thakoor 

 and I beat up the jungle towards them. As I pressed my 

 elephant into some long reeds the tigress bolted out to the 

 left. I had a snap-shot at her as she went over a ridge, and 

 disabled her hind leg, but she went on and disappeared into 

 the next nullah. Halting in the bed of the main stream, I 

 sent the Thakoor to beat down on his elephant. As he came 

 forward, the ground became so rough that the elephant could 

 not advance, and to my horror I saw him directing the beaters 

 to go on and hurl stones into the nullah. In vain I shouted ; 

 my voice was drowned in the din of tom-toms, and in another 

 moment I saw the tigress charge up the bank towards the 

 men, who turned and fled. Deprived of the use of one hind- 

 leg, her ascent was greatly retarded, but she struck down the 

 last man and bit him behind the thigh. At that moment the 

 Thakoor fired, wounding her mortally, and she scrambled back 

 into the nullah, where she died. Fortunately the man was not 

 very badly injured, though he had some severe flesh-wounds. 

 We sent him off at once into the regimental hospital, where 

 he was skilfully attended by our doctor, who set him on his 

 legs again. By this time the rainy season had nearly set in, 

 and my friends returned to Mhow, having greatly enjoyed 

 their excursion, which had extended over nearly two months. 



