THE KODERMA MAN-EATER. 297 



Bageetand has gained an unenviable reputa- 

 tion, as from here no fewer than four people 

 have been carried off within the last few 

 months. Three golas (cattle herdsmen) were 

 cutting brambles for fencing in some low scrub 

 not far from Bageetand bungalow about midday. 

 One of these fancied he heard a low cry from the 

 direction in which his fellows were working. He 

 called to him several times, and, receiving no re- 

 sponse, he and his fellow gola went in search of their 

 comrade, when they saw a large tiger carrying off 

 the man. They at once raised a shout and bolted 

 to Koderma to inform the European residents there. 

 Several gentlemen and a gang of coolies searched 

 the locality, and in a dry water-course they found 

 the body of the gola, one thigh and all the lower part 

 of the belly having already been eaten. The tiger 

 had seized the man by the back of the neck, so 

 that death must have been almost instantaneous. 

 Here to-day, ten miles away to-morrow, in the 

 very opposite direction the next day, he held the 

 borderland of the Hazaribagh and Gaya Districts 

 in absolute terror so that the natives will not 

 go about their usual avocations unless in large 

 gangs, and even Europeans go armed when 

 visiting their mining blocks. This brute has 

 become more and more daring with each suc- 

 cessive kill, and he has lately taken men from 

 the middle of a gang. Very recently five natives 

 were going along the forest road from Koderma 

 to Rajowlee. The road winds through some low 

 scrub before it enters the Reserved Forest of 



