262 A Sportswoman in India 



We three guns were posted in trees, seated each in a 

 machan, which is, as a rule, a stout, hard, stuffed leather 

 cushion, with straps and buckles, or else ropes, on the 

 four corners, by means of which it is fastened up in the 

 branches, about fifteen feet from the ground. The 

 machan is reached by a little, rough ladder ; and having 

 climbed up into your perch, your gun-bearer with your 

 second gun standing or sitting on some branch near 

 you, your chdgul (leather water-bottle) slung below, 

 you sit, still as death, perhaps for as long as two 

 hours, while the beat goes on. 



No. i place was the likeliest and best, and No. 2 

 second best. We changed numbers every day ; and so 

 astute are the shikaris, that out of seven tigers six 

 came past No. i. 



The first morning, much to our disappointment, the 

 tigress was never found at all. But, partly because it 

 was the first time and all so new, it was most exciting ; 

 in fact, the excitement was so intense that in my heart 

 of hearts I felt almost glad when it was all over. The 

 shikaris did not think the tigress had gone far. 



The next morning we had another beat, and though 

 J. saw the tigress, he did not get a shot at her. She 

 came back in the night and ate more of the dead body, 

 and the shikaris said she was in some long, thick 

 elephant-grass beyond either of the two preceding 

 beats. We were up in machdns on one side, and by- 

 and-by could hear her move. They set alight to one 

 end. It did not burn very well ; but after a bit, the 

 fire and the yells of the coolies, and the blank cartridges 



