104 SPORT IN BENGAL. 



the little nerve they can boast of at the best of times ; others 

 there are, and it is but just to them to record their worth, 

 who display the highest courage and perseverance under very 

 trying circumstances, and who will walk their elephants up 

 to the most savage tigers, with the utmost coolness and judg- 

 ment, if they know that the sportsmen in the " howdahs " 

 behind them can be relied on to shoot straight in all emer- 

 gencies. As a timid or hesitating rider will make a baulking 

 horse, so a bad shot in the " howdah " will make an over- 

 cautious " mahout " and a backward elephant in a scrimmage. 

 It is incumbent, therefore, on the captain of the beat to as- 

 certain the characters of his elephants, and to eliminate such 

 as are likely to throw his line into disorder by excessive 

 nervousness or habitual vice. Some elephants will start and 

 run from a hare ; others on entering a covert, will endeavour 

 to throw off their pads and riders ; and not a few at 

 the first growl of a tiger, or the first report of a rifle, will 

 make off homewards at best pace, regardless of all in their 

 way. Of all these bad and vicious brutes, the last are the 

 worst, as many a sportsman can bear witness. 



I have never known another instance of a tiger rearing 

 upright on his hind legs to command a view over the jungle ; 

 bears do so frequently ; but it is a common practice of most 

 animals, on being suddenly alarmed and roused, to run when 

 practicable out of covert, in order that they may see clearly 

 what has disturbed them from their lairs. K had a very 

 distinct and a close view of the upstanding tiger, and both, it 

 seems, were equally astonished at what they then saw. 



As an example of patience and perseverance, the following- 

 may serve young sportsmen. We were a party of foui 

 " howdahs " and a score of elephants in all, under the leader- 

 ship of the late R. C. of the B. C. S., than whom a more 

 enthusiastic and thorough -going sportsman never handled 

 spear or gun, who always insisted on a strict observance of 

 his rules in beating for tigers, under penalty of a return 

 alone to camp on the part of any transgressor. C.'s style of 

 beating was perfect, nor would he permit a shot to be fired, 



