BEARS. 11 



The head shikari, Baliyah, had sent some of his subor- 

 dinates to collect beaters from the adjacent villages, 

 and when we arrived at the glen, which was about a mile 

 in length, and from 300 to 800 yards in breadth, he 

 informed us that there were some tiger traces several days 

 old, but that he thought the kill was by a bur hidclia 

 (large panther). Accordingly we were posted in suitable 

 trees near the centre of the valley, down which ran a 

 shady nullah, having settled not to fire at anything but a 

 tiger or panther during the first beat, and Baliyah 

 ascended a small tree, about two hundred yards off, on our 

 left front, to stop any animal attempting to break away in 

 that direction. 



The beaters were then sent word to commence. They 

 were divided into parties by villages, each party being 

 commanded by one of our shikaries, assisted by ti\e patel 

 of its particular village. They first started a panther, 

 which failed to reach our line, and shortly afterwards the 

 two famous man-killing bears were afoot, and attempted to 

 break out at Baliyah's tree, which was a stunted and wea k 

 one, and would not bear him higher than twelve feet or so. 

 Throwing a stick, he commenced shouting at them, to 

 cause them to turn down the hill towards us, but, so 

 far from having the desired effect, one of the bears coolly 

 commenced to climb up to scrag him ; however, the tree 

 was too light, and, although within a yard, he could not 

 quite reach him. Baliyah was at the end of a branch 

 which threatened to break every moment, and his execra- 

 tions of the bear were mingled with piteous appeals to us 

 to come to his assistance, but he was too far off, and A\V 

 were laughing so much, it was impossible to aim correctly. 

 At length the bears, ceasing their efforts to reach him. 

 made off across the top of the valley to a small ravine 



