56 The Hunting Grounds 



short bamboo spears. Each had a bill-hook stuck 

 in his waistcloth behind, which they nsed with 

 great dexterity in cutting their way through the 

 jungle, and two carried large American back- 

 woodsman's axes slung at their back, and another 

 a muslidk or leather bottle containing water. Both 

 the village shekarries were in similar costume, and 

 each carried a long native matchlock on his 

 shoulder, and a huge knife in his belt. 



" Well, Chineah," said I, u what news of Shekar 

 have you got?" 



" Boht utclia kubber hy, sahib" (there is very 

 good news, sir). "All people tell that, near 

 Botta Singarum, one village two coss T off, there 

 got one burra bagh (big tiger), who kill plenty 

 men, sahib ; Kistimah, this man here, he tell, 

 eat one old woman yesterday. Boht shytan hy, 

 sahib (he is a great devil, sir), for though 

 all shekarmen, and village people, plenty, plenty 

 looking, never can find, when all come home, 

 tiger go kill one man. Wo burra chor hy, 

 sahib (he is a great thief, sir). Ah, sahib, this 

 very good shekar country. All janwars (beasts) 

 plenty got; suppose master stop here few days, 

 plenty, plenty shooting. This dhoby man, very 

 good shekarry, know all this country, shoot plenty 

 years in this jungle ; other day kill one cheeta, now 



1 A coss is about two miles. 



