THE HiaHER NARBADA 279 



" We have them ! " he exclaimed ; " they are in the 

 dewur, and as good as killed." 



Dewur is the local name for a place where two or three 

 nalas meet, and form a hollow in which water remains 

 throughout the hot weather ; if suflS.ciently shady and cool, 

 it is a favourite haunt of the tiger ; and it really seemed 

 very likely that the tigers, having gorged themselves at 

 night, had proceeded to lie up in the dewur, as surmised 

 by the Gond. To make all sure, we described a circle 

 round the place, carefully examining all the nalas that led 

 from it, and finding no marks to indicate their exit, returned 

 to camp, pretty confident of having " ringed " the family, 

 and that we would find them asleep about twelve o'clock. 

 A scorching hot wind was blowing fiercely across the plain 

 when I left my tent after breakfast, and mounted the 

 howdah. It was fearfully hot, and the flickering haze 

 that plays over the bare ground at this season, like an 

 exhalation of gas from its surface, playing the strangest 

 pranks with houses, trees, and figures, was exceedingly 

 painful to the eyes. Never mind ! all the more chance 

 of finding the tigers at home, and we were soon under 

 way for the dewur. About a hundred and fifty beaters 

 had collected, for, the whole wealth of these people lying 

 in their herds, they were naturally anxious for the destruc- 

 tion of the family of pests. 



On arriving at the scene of operations, they were told 

 ofi into four parties, each placed under charge of one of the 

 more respectable inhabitants ; and, after strict injunctions 

 about taking to trees, etc., were despatched to their several 

 posts. There were only two places where the tigers were 

 likely to break, of which one led to the river, and the other, 

 a dry watercourse, towards the neighbouring hills. Some 

 peciiliarities in the ground induced me to select the latter 

 for my own post, while I entrusted the former to the old 

 shikari with his matchlock. I got an excellent position in 

 a thick covert of jaman bushes, while at the same time 

 efEectually commanding the pass. 



Half an hour elapsed, as agreed on, and then burst forth 

 from the beaters the most terrific Babel of barbarous 

 noises ever heard out of Pandemonium. I had engaged 



