46 PANTHERS. 



happens that they are interrupted before they can effect 

 this, either by the cattle herds, or by the remainder of the 

 animals themselves if they are buffaloes, and in such cases 

 the gara remains in the open. 



If there is no rock or tree within easy range a pit should 

 be dug within thirty yards of the kill, on the side remote 

 from where the janwar is expected, a portion of the exca- 

 vated soil being made into a small mound to screen the 

 firer's head and shoulders ; this mound should not exceed 

 one foot in height or eighteen inches at the outside so 

 as to resemble the excavations made by wild pigs when 

 searching for roots which are to be seen in most jungles 

 a few tufts of grass or stones being placed to make it 

 resemble the adjoining ground if necessary, and some short 

 but strong branches laid in position at the back of the 

 mound capable of being moved, so as to protect the 

 occupant in the event of the brute being wounded and 

 making for him. These cages were much used by natives 

 in the Kadoor district some years ago, and gave moral sup- 

 port, if nothing more. Ambuscades should only be resorted 

 to when the rocks or jungles cannot be properly beaten. 



An amusing incident occurred to a captain in my 

 regiment, when quartered at Trimulgherry, whose shikari 

 brought news of a leopard, which he stated he had seen 

 basking that morning at the Mowl Ali rocks. About 

 4 p.m. he rode out, purchased a goat, and, sending his 

 horse home, entered an ambuscade which had been made 

 by the shikari, whom he also sent away to some distance, 

 with orders not to return till ten o'clock, unless he heard 

 a shot. No shot was fired, so at 10 p.m. the shikari 

 approached, and found his sahib asleep, and the goat killed 

 and eaten. One morning, at Bokur, our head shikari came 

 in to report that although there had been no gara, some 



