MAN-EATERS 



holdly, first creeping up to them with a rapid, stealthy 

 movement. 



These pests of the jungle, happily now rare, are usually 

 old tigers and invariably ex-cattle lifters who, having 

 frequented the neighbourhood of villages and become 

 accustomed to the presence of men, begin by caiT> ing off 

 some wretched unsuspecting cowherd or wood-cutter, and 

 liaving thus discovered that killing human beings is easier 

 work than cattle or game, take to man eating as a source 

 f subsistence. 



It is an error to suppose, by the way, that man-caters 



ire invariably mangy or lean, for, on the contrary', they 



re usually in prime condition, with bright and glossy 



oats, excellent as trophies. Unfortunately, however, the 



rapidity and uncertainty of a man-eater's movements 



always make it difficult to bring one to bag. 



Towards the end of April, '88, I was encamped at 

 Mitagaon on the borders of the Barwanee territory. This 

 place, owing to innumerable deep and tortuous ravines, 

 tilled with long grass and thorny bushes, was notorious 

 for the number of tigers in its vicinity, and in one year I 

 had killed thirty-one to my own rifle, and helped to slay 

 several more. 



The day after my arrival at the camp, khabbar ♦ was 

 brought to me of a tiger having killed a buffalo a short 

 distance off. I started inmiediately for the spot, and 

 taking up the tracks, marked the beast do%vn in a small 

 nullah. I sent in the beaters, and, there being no suitable 

 tree available, had to await the drive on foot. 



The shouts of the beaters soon disclosed the fact that 

 tlie animal was started, and presently a very large tiger 

 emerged from the cover, and leisurely walked past me, 

 about fifteen yards away, thus presenting a large and easy 

 lai^^ot which I could scarcely fail to hit. I fired at once 

 with my -500 Express, rolUng him over like a rabbit, the 

 bullet of pure lead having entered close behuid the shoulder 

 and smashed the heart to pieces. 



Here was thus an instance of a tiger being killed by a 

 single bullet, and yet, only two days later, with this my 



• New*. 



