Jungle By- Ways in India 



that for thrilling excitement, when tiger are afoot, 

 and more especially when wounded tiger are 

 afoot, it is hard to beat. 



But it is the sport of kings and princes, bejewelled 

 rajas (did not the mere name of raja conjure up to 

 us in our nursery days weird, gorgeous beings 

 heavily decked out in gold and jewels ?), Viceroys 

 and Lieutenant-Governors, the deputies of kings, 

 and such minor fry as commissioners, moneyed 

 globe-trotters, and suchlike. 



For to enjoy this form of sport in its pristine 

 excellence not only requires a long purse, but, 

 added thereto, more than a nodding acquaintance 

 with the great powers that be, which gives that 

 interest and power in the land which literally 

 results in a shower of shikar elephants being 

 poured upon one by their gilded possessors. 

 For to few of us is it given to be in the position 

 to keep a stable of elephants with that reckless 

 disregard of cost which animates the subaltern 

 of cavalry in maintaining his string of polo 

 ponies. 



I have often heard men say that they do not 

 consider tiger-beating with elephants real sport. 

 That the wretched tiger has not a dog's chance 

 with a great line of elephants beating him up 

 through the grass jungle. This may apply to 

 parts of the country, but it certainly does not 

 to the glorious Terai jungles of Northern India 

 and along the foot of the Himalaya. 



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