THE WAINAAD FOEEST. 109 



reached our destination he stole nearly all the rice belonging to 

 my cook, and refused to do any work about the camp. His mas- 

 ter discharged him at once, and after eating an enormous quantity 

 of rice he started back to Ooty. At the Karkhana he was at- 

 tacked by cholera, and died in a few hours. 



During the first three days my friend and I hunted together, 

 and were completely unsuccessful, whereuiDon we decided to go 

 out separately. The second day that I went out alone proved to be 

 a very eventful one, and a record of its incidents will give a fair 

 idea of our doings in that locality. The following is from my diary : 



" June 3, 1877. — Started out very early, accompanied by a 

 single old Kiu'umber, because no other trackers could be procured. 

 The old man carried my rifle and game-bag, which latter con- 

 tained my breakfast and luncheon. I carried my No. 10 gun, and 

 cartridges all loaded with single round balls and six drachms. 

 Throughout the day the character of the forest remained the same 

 as usual here — rolling hills covered with grass waist high, and a 

 very open, scattering growth of low, scrubby trees ; ground hard 

 and dry, and no swamjDS. 



" About nine o'clock found a very fresh bison trail, and started 

 upon it at once. The way the Kurumbers and Chetties of these 

 parts take up a bison trail through long, thin grass and over hard 

 ground is surprising. They glide rapidly but almost noiselessly 

 along, their eyes fixed upon the ground, but raised every now 

 and then for a quick, piercing glance ahead to sight the herd. The 

 old Kurumber lifted the trail very rajDidly, and I followed close at 

 his heels. On we went, up hill and down dale, over hard ground 

 and soft ground, the trail freshening very rapidly. Sometimes it 

 led down moist banks, and then the ground would be quite 

 ploughed up by the hoofs of the herd. At last we were pretty 

 well blown, and sat down beside the trail, under a bush on a bit of 

 rising ground, to rest and refresh a little. I was getting deeply 

 interested in a cold roast chicken, when suddenly we heard a rush 

 and a trampling of feet, and the next instant a whole herd of bison 

 hove in sight, coming toward us over the brow of the hill. 



" ' Kahtee, sahib ! Kahtee ! ' said my old tracker, in an excited 

 whisper. 



" I snatched up my heavj-- gun and made ready. 



" The herd came on at a brisk ti-ot, suddenly turned off to the 

 right when a hundred yards away, and swept along before us like 

 a cavalry squadron under review. It was a grand sight, although 



