78 The Hunting Grounds 



villages waiting for us, each attended by several of 

 his people, armed with matchlocks, swords, spears, 

 clubs, or any weapons they could lay hands upon. 

 As we approached the entrance, the crowd of villagers 

 surrounding the building made way for us, and I 

 proceeded to explain to them the arrangements for 

 the battue; which were that a large half circle of 

 four miles in diameter was to be formed, having for 

 its base the river, which was broad and deep, and 

 along the opposite banks of which I had the evening 

 before given directions that a chain of matchlock- 

 men should be posted, to observe and be prepared to 

 resist the tiger should he attempt to swim over. The 

 nullah, or water-course, and the lair we visited the 

 day before were enclosed, and I distributed the armed 

 sepoys and the village authorities among the beaters 

 to see that the line was properly kept ; sending the 

 other officers (with the exception of the Doctor, who 

 chose to remain with me) to different places, where 

 I thought they would have a good chance when the 

 game broke. 



One of my gang accompanied each ; the rest, with 

 most of my suwars, or irregular cavalry troopers, 

 remained with me, and I chose my place in the part 

 of the line that would pass over the nullah and the 

 lair we had seen the day before. 



As it was almost impossible to beat that part of 

 the forest, on account of the dense underwood, I 



