330 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NA TUBAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. IX. 



The track of a Thamin is very like an impression made on the 

 ground by moderately separating the index and second finger, and it 

 is anything but a neat track. I think the best weapon to use is an 

 ordinary '500 express, or better still, a magnum '500. The great 

 danger threatening the Thamin is the annual slaughter that takes 

 place. During the early part of the rains, when the grounds are 

 swampy, a number of men armed go out with spears, eight or ten feet 

 long, and mounted on buffaloes, of course taking their dogs with 

 them. A certain number of men surround a patch of kaing, the 

 remainder go in with the dogs ; gradually the mounted men close in, 

 and by this simple method Thamin stags, hinds and calves, as well as 

 hog-deer, and pig come to an untimely end. When the rains are 

 more advanced, and the plains in consequence flooded, the wretched 

 beasts are forced to congregate on any pieces of high ground they can 

 find, so a slightly different plan is adopted. Men armed with spears or 

 dahs (rough swords) take their dogs and sally forth in canoes ; the strip 

 or strips of land on which the poor beasts are taking refuge is 

 surrounded ; some few men then go ashore with the dogs, and the 

 Thamin are then hunted and mercilessly cut down. Some endeavour 

 to escape by taking to the water, but the men in the canoes pursue 

 them and kill them with spears. The flesh is distributed among those 

 taking part in the hunt ; a certain amount is eaten, some is cut into 

 strips and smoked for future consumption, and if there is any left, it is 

 sold to the villagers. Very often many carcases are taken into the 

 large towns where the meat is greatly prized, and good prices 

 obtained for it. To such an extent is this system carried out that I, 

 as well as others, have, during the last few years, noticed the 

 annual decrease of these most lovely animals. Grounds where, only 

 five years ago, herds of these deer were to be seen, are now almost 

 deserted. I am of opinion that, before long, the Thamin will be 

 very rare on these plains. 



In Upper, and in some parts of Lower Burma, very good shooting may 

 be had quite close to villages, as the Thamin come to feed on the crops. 



In places where the slopes of the hill ranges sweep down out into the 

 plains, by beating the grass in the vicinity with a line of elephants, 

 other game may be found, such as gaur, sambar, bear, pig, and now 

 and again a panther or tiger. 



