2o6 THE FORESTS OF UPPER INDIA 



re-echo with their dismal howls. The sounds of numerous 

 birds awakening came from the jungles below. Then all 

 became quiet again. 



The langur monkeys told one a lot of what was going 

 on at daybreak. They frequented a cluster of great 

 mango and semal trees which surrounded a ruined temple 

 in the valley below. They seemed to know exactly 

 where the tiger spent his time, and gossiped perpetually 

 about the two bullocks that he had knocked over a 

 few days before near their temple on the flat where 

 the cattle grazed. Another lot, out on picket to watch, 

 had evidently heard some news or seen the tiger ; for they 

 broke out into very bad language, as one could guess 

 by the intonation of their deep hollow voices, some young 

 active bucks racing across a wide open space with astonish- 

 ing bounds. A langur, when racing, will bound perhaps 

 30 feet each bound, or 40 when he tries, partly on hands 

 and feet, but mostly springing from the hind-legs. Swing- 

 ing themselves into the branches of the nearest trees, they 

 kept shouting as plain as could be, ' The tiger ! the tiger ! 

 Keep clear of our grounds.' 



There was no doubt he was not far off, prowling with 

 slow stride, enjoying his morning's stroll and thinking of 

 retiring for the day. Perhaps he will cross by my ghat. 

 This was about 5 a.m., before the gualas were astir to 

 drive out their cattle in the valley. Several times there 

 came little kakur, or barking deer,* grazing not far off, a 

 pretty little orange-coloured deer, which barks often in 

 the mornings and evenings like the single bark of a small 

 dog. All animals were safe from my rifle, however, save 



* Cervulus aureus — the rib-faced or barking-deer, according to 

 Jerdon. Almost identical with the muntjac of China. It is very 

 agile in creeping among thickets. It is somewhat like the roe-deer of 

 Europe, but much smaller. 



