176 SPORT IX BENGAL. 



venting it that was promptly adopted after a few seconds of 

 consultation. 



Dismounting from our " howdahs " when we were fully 

 half-a-mile from the herd, the " Mahouts " were instructed to 

 sweep round far away to the west, while P. and I, with two 

 gun-bearers, crawled up to a little mound standing out in the 

 plain a good-half mile east of the herd, and on the direct line 

 of retreat to the tree jungle further east, into which the 

 buffaloes fled generally on being alarmed. The " Mahouts " 

 were told that when a hat was held up above the mound they 

 were to advance eastward slowly and in a thin line. Having 

 gained the mound undetected by the herd, which was watch- 

 ing the apparent retirement of its enemies, we found behind 

 it sufficient cover till the buffaloes should be driven up to 

 and around it ; and we arranged that in the event of their 

 dividing, P. should take care of those on the north side, while 

 those on the south should receive rny attentions. 



Patiently we sat for half-an-hour while tin- elephants 

 got round to the point desired, and the signal for their 

 advance was quietly given, and then we watched the slow 



nee of the elephants with anxiety, as the success of our 



mi^ht i d by the flight of the buffaloes north or 



. : ,; hut the beaters did their duty well, keeping their 



flanks a little advanced, and BO approached the herd in a 



form within three or four hundred yards of it before 



such animal-: as \v< "d to do so, and those, 



which were lyin^ down sprang up, and all stared curiously at 



the objects coming on, and looming monstrously large in Mie 



t. A few minutes afterwards the onMy'in- I" 



d upon the Centre of the herd, while the ma:,ler hull and 



OT three old cows moved forward to tveonnoitre, smilling 

 the ;..ir with on t ..tret ehed necks. A couple of. .hoi s now fired 

 from the. " howdahs'" caused tin; bull a.nd hi; companion, to 

 retire and join the herd, and when the. shots wen- followed 



YO more, the buffaloe , bore down directly upon u . in a 



mob, increa dug fcheir paw (ill i.hey tore p.-, ,i u , in a 



:do of hools and horn:-;. A, the ;i,nini;i,ls passed u <>n 



