TIDINGS OF A TIGEESS. 105 



except at a tiger, until the line he commanded turned back to 

 and was near camp. 



We had thoroughly explored the high grass jungles on 

 the main land, as well as on the " churs," or islets of the Ju- 

 moona river from Ghabsara, a dozen miles north of Serajgunge, 

 in the Pubna district, to a point opposite the little out-factory 

 of Juggernauthgunge in Mymensingh, having secured only 

 four tigers in five days, our luck being somewhat poor for those 

 days, with which however the rank and unburnt grass had 

 much to do, this party having been made up for early March 

 in order that certain holidays occurring then might not be 

 altogether wasted in the ordinary amusements of a small 

 station. We crossed the Jumoona opposite the indigo factory 

 above named, very nearly losing one of our elephants, a 

 fooHsh beast, which after swimming the broad stream with 

 its companions, refused to mount t the high sandy bank 

 when it struck land, and preferred to recross, and so went 

 miles down the river before the " mahout," standing upon her 

 bare back, and navigating her with the aid of a bamboo stick, 

 succeeded in turning her head to shore, and ultimately landing 

 her safely, but in a much exhausted condition. 



The report of a tigress being close at hand met us on 

 our arrival at the factory, the Gomashtah of which in con- 

 firmation adding the statement that she had been in the 

 jungle where she now was for a week or more, showing her- 

 self frequently morning and evening to the herdsmen of the 

 neighbourhood. Accordingly we turned into our camp-beds 

 that night, in the full expectation of adding her to our bag 

 on the morrow. 



We mounted our howdahs about nine o'clock the follow- 

 ing morning, and were soon near the tigress's present lair, less 

 than a mile from camp. Not a shot had we fired the two 

 preceding days, our leader permitting no shooting at miscel- 

 laneous game in jungles where the presence of tigers was 

 known, as in those beaten on the other bank, in which we 

 had frequently come upon the bones of men and animals, the 

 former beyond doubt those of boatmen pounced upon while 



