250 ROUGHING IT IN SOUTHERN INDIA 



the new and unwonted freedom to move about anywhere — 

 singly even if they chose, and as they seemed especially 

 to rejoice in doing — had an almost intoxicating effect upon 

 their spirits. Only those who know what it is to go in fear 

 of their lives day after day, from whatever cause, can in 

 the very least degree realise the relief of that burden 

 lifted. 



Even when not a man-eater, a tiger must certainly be 

 reckoned a fearsome beast. Most people would be afraid 

 of him — nor ashamed to own it — but not all. Little naked 

 herd-boys do not fear him ; on the contrary, he is afraid of 

 them. A stick brandished in the hand of one of these fear- 

 less imps will drive him off, and all the village riches, in the 

 shape of goats, buffaloes, bullocks, etc., are given into their 

 charge to see that they graze safely while possibly watched 

 for by hungry eyes. These children sit about on the hill- 

 sides, or on the arm of some solitary old dead tree, the better 

 to see all round, playing on reed pipes and shouting shrilly 

 to one another. As many as two hundred animals will very 

 likely be under the care of one boy, and though it is not 

 often that they have anything to do but play about, still 

 they must never forget their business, which is to keep an 

 eye on every one of the flock and prevent its straying too 

 far. Nor do the animals themselves want for sense ; they 

 know there is safety in numbers, and keep pretty close round 

 their guardian ; while the marauders, too, know that they 

 need be smart to catch a herd-boy napping. 



Merry, skinny little brown mortals are these herd-boys, 

 clad in some six inches of rag, and with one tuft of hair 

 left on the crown of their shaven heads, in recognition of 

 caste or some religious rite. Armed only with a stick, they 

 are set to protect their countless charges against cunning 

 savage beasts. Did these beasts only know it, such babes 

 could offer no more resistance to an attack than so much 

 thistledown ; but happily they do not know it ; to them 



