56 PANTHERS. 



of my regiment, we were frequently disturbed at night by 

 panthers prowling around our tents, but, owing to the 

 dense jungle, we seldom got a chance at them in the day 

 time, although frequently put up when driving for sambur 

 and spotted deer. We usually went out stalking at day- 

 break, and Patterson one morning discovered a cheetul that 

 had just been killed by a panther, and was still quivering. 

 He waited some time in a tree close by, but nothing 

 appeared, and, as it was 9 a.m. in the month of April, and 

 the sun high and hot, he returned to camp. About 4 p.m. 

 he was again in position, and after a short interval he saw 

 the cheetah come down through the jungle some distance 

 off, and commence to patrol from side to side before 

 approaching nearer. It then laid down and watched the 

 kill for several minutes, when, evidently being satisfied that 

 all was well, it rose, and advancing to the dead deer, was 

 rolled over by a bullet through the heart from Patterson's 

 smooth bore. Shortly after this occurrence a sad accident 

 happened in the neighbouring district. A young fellow, 

 just out from England, and whom we had met at a sambur 

 drive at Kulhutty, went out to shoot a panther, which had 

 been marked into a nullah. He wounded it, and the 

 beaters were thereupon charged by the infuriated animal, 

 which singled out one man and chased him past the 

 sahib. 



He fired at the panther as it was in the act of springing 

 on the unfortunate man and shot the latter ; the panther 

 escaped. 



One night in camp at Tooprany, near Hyderabad, I was 

 awoke by a tremendous scuffling in the tent among some 

 dogs which I had chained to my bed-cot. It sounded as if 

 they were " woolling " some big animal within a yard of 

 me, my bed being upset in the struggle. I jumped up and 



