16 A TIGER HUNT IN INDIA 



replete and idle, he lies until evening. This is 

 the time to locate him. It was very amusing 

 to see the various dispatches, such as : such and 

 such a place " no kill " or " tiger killed." Many 

 of these were written in Hindustani, and were, 

 as far as I was concerned, an interesting riddle. 



If a favourable report came we climbed nimbly 

 at about eleven o'clock on to our hunting 

 elephants, and the wonderful journey began. 

 By this time it had become extremely hot, but, 

 clad in a khaki shirt, sun-helmet and puttees, 

 one was fairly proof against the sun's rays. 



Riding on an elephant is not all bliss. Such 

 a majestic gait, if kept up for long, is exceed- 

 ingly trying to those unaccustomed to this 

 form of exercise. 



We usually reached our goal about three 

 o'clock — a big stretch of cultivated land with 

 fine old trees, and, in the background, pleasant 

 little hills, thinly wooded. Here squatted 

 the motley troupe of beaters, numbering about 

 four hundred. They were quickly sorted, and 

 the prearranged plan of campaign was com- 

 municated to the attentive listeners. 



