STALKING BUFFALOES IN OPEN COUNTRY. 169 



followed till next day, late on the afternoon of which he was 

 found just dead ; and it then appeared that he had the pre- 

 vious night or early that morning been followed and attacked 

 by a tiger, which he must have beaten off without dif- 

 ficulty, since the marks of claws only were visible upon his 

 vast shoulders, and none of fangs, proving that the tiger had 

 been hurled off after his first spring with such violence as to 

 be deterred from a renewal of the encounter. 



The absence of elephants precluded any search for the 

 tiger, which no doubt was not far off more or less hurt, and 

 the attempt to search for him in such a sea of dense green 

 reeds and rushes, hardly to be penetrated on foot, would have 

 been probably useless, and certainly foolhardy. It was at 

 this very place that a combat was witnessed between a fine 

 tiger which had come down to drink and a crocodile of great 

 size and strength, terminating in the former being dragged 

 into deep water. 



Stalking bulls in the open country, that is in country not 

 covered with dense jungle anywhere, but dotted over with 

 bushes, patches of grass, or clumps of trees used to be a 

 favourite pastime with me, when I had abundant oppor- 

 tunities of indulging in it in the districts of Noakholly, 

 Tumlook, Hidgelee, and Balasore. A sportsman who can rely 

 on his nerve and aim, may enjoy good sport in stalking these 

 huge and savage beasts ; but to do so successfully, he must 

 be armed with two or more powerful guns or rifles the latter 

 for choice, and not less than ten or twelve gauge, and he 

 ought to possess some knowledge of the habits and charac- 

 teristics of the animal. Moreover, the utmost caution should 

 be observed in following up and approaching the wounded 

 beast, as it is under such circumstances that most of the fatal 

 accidents attending this sport have occurred, and do still occur. 

 Lastly, when charged, as the sportsman certainly will be on 

 many occasions, and desperately too, he must hit in a good 

 and proper place, and then he may tumble over his adversary 

 headlong and dead almost at his feet, or make him swerve on 

 one side or other. 



