236 The Hunting Grounds 



proved to be magnificently marked, although not so 

 large as I expected, from the large imprints of his 

 paws. 



We now lighted a large fire, wrapped ourselves 

 carefully up in our blankets, and indulged in a brew 

 of hot punch and the " fragrant weed," which never 

 appeared more grateful than on that bitterly cold 

 morning. After some time the summits of the oppo- 

 site hills began to appear more distinctly against a 

 clearer sky, and presently the moon slowly emerged 

 above the horizon, and her silver rays lighted up the 

 whole scene. After having cut off the centre claw of 

 the tiger's right foot, by way of marking the game, 

 we collected the carpets, blankets, &c., and leaving 

 Googooloo on the platform to watch the body, Chineah 

 and I shouldered our rifles and made the best of our 

 way to the bungalow, where we arrived just as the 

 first faint streaks of grey in the East proclaimed that 

 day was about to break. After having given orders 

 to the " gooroo " to go with some of the people and 

 bring the skin, I turned in and enjoyed several hours' 

 refreshing sleep, tiffin being on the table before I 

 made my appearance, when I was warmly congra- 

 tulated on my success by several friends who dropped 



in to admire the spoils. B gave a very good 



account of the ibex on the Koondahs, having seen 

 two herds on the summit of an isolated ridge over- 

 looking the low country, which he forebore to follow 



