of the Old World. 59 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE MAN-EATER'S LAIR. 



The start. The man-eater's depredations. His habits described. 

 His last victim. His trail. We are on his track. More 

 game. The scent becomes warm. The lair. The remains of 

 many victims discovered. The plan for the morrow. A reso- 

 lution. W 's idea of shekar. We arrive in camp. The 



Pill's garden. The bath. Dinner. The doctor's visit to the 

 Begum. Effect of his medicine. My future husband. The 

 nautch arranged. 



DURING breakfast, sundry modes of proceeding 

 with regard to this tiger were discussed, but no 

 particular plan was settled upon. 



When the meal was finished, we donned our 

 shekar gear, mounted our nags, and started for 

 Botta Singarum, each followed by a horsekeeper, 

 carrying a gun, rifle, or boar spear. Kistimah led 

 the way, and as we went along, I asked him what 

 he considered the best plan to follow. 



He answered in a remarkably shrewd manner 

 that he hardly knew what to advise, as this was no 

 common tiger, or it would have been easy enough 

 to arrange matters; " but," added he, " these man- 



