A NIGHT ALARM. 161 



as the sergeant's and native doctor's, were pitched in the angle of junction, 

 on the north side, and separated from the main camp by the smaller stream. 

 Its banks, and those of the Myanee, were both very steep, except at the 

 point of junction, where wild elephants had made a path across. This was 

 now obstructed by our tents. Two or three single wild elephants had 

 been wandering about the neighbouring jungles since we came, attracted 

 by the large gathering of their fellows. One or two occasionally found 

 their way into the elephant-lines : we had, with our tame elephants, caught 

 two large females and a young male that came amongst our captives in 

 broad daylight. 



On the night of the 27th of January, I was awakened by the sud- 

 den crash of an elephant just inside the cane-jungle on the river-bank, 

 within twenty yards of my tent. I jumped up, turned up the kero- 

 sine lantern that was burning on the table, and held up the tent-door. 

 The light frightened the elephant and it made off; it had evidently come 

 with the intention of crossing the stream by the accustomed path, and had 

 been startled by the tents. Next night I was again awakened by an ele- 

 phant — perhaps the same one — close at hand. I shouted at it as I lay 

 in bed, but instead of making off I heard it step forward and seize my 

 small bathing-tent, which was about twenty yards from mine, and a tearing 

 and flapping sound followed as the brute tore it up. This was more than I 

 could stand, so jumping out of bed, I seized my rifle and threw up the 

 tent-door. I saw the white canvas being tossed up and down, but before I 

 could make out the elephant against the dark jungle it dropped the tent and 

 retired. It was just one o'clock. I thought the beast might return, so 

 ordered two tame elephants to mount guard between my tent and the 

 jungle till morning. 



Next day I found the small tent had been torn in two ; one haK had 

 tusk-holes through it, and the other bore the impression of a large muddy 

 foot. As I thought it just possible that the elephant might take it into 

 his head to visit my tent next night, I had the jungle cleared away for 

 sixty yards beyond my tent, and told the men to picket two newly- caught 

 elephants at the edge of the jungle : these we expected would give some 

 notice of the approach of any other elephants. I also had Eadhapeary 

 stationed close to my tent, and six men told off as a night-guard. My 

 tent was nearer to the jungle than any of the others. I usually sat by 

 a fire, between my tent and the servants', after dinner, and to-night I heard 

 an elephant, probably my visitor of the night before, squeaking in the jungle 

 about a quarter of a mile away. The guard remarked it, so t h in k i n g 

 nothing more about it I turned in. I made the grand mistake of having 



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