THE BANTING 85 



rather a low opinion of tsaing in consequence. 

 But later, when circumstances necessitated his 

 following them on foot, he very speedily changed 

 his opinion. All animals accustomed to wild 

 elephants will allow a tame one to come quite 

 close ; they suspect no danger, and take no notice 

 of the rider until they get his wind. 



Tsaing have wonderful eyesight, and their 

 powers of hearing are almost abnormally de- 

 veloped. In both these respects they can give 

 points to the bison. Their sense of smell is 

 about on a par with that of the bison ; that 

 is to say, they can wind a man at a distance of 

 300 yards, which is quite sufficient for their 

 needs. They are fast walkers; so that a man 

 finding tracks at about 7 a.m. will be lucky 

 indeed to come up with his beast before it is 

 down for the day. There is no depending on 

 tsaing. The writer once came on a beast lying 

 up at 7 a.m., in cloudy weather too. Needless 

 to say, he got no shot that journey. An old 

 bull is as full of dodges as a monkey is of tricks. 

 When alarmed he will not only travel through 

 the thickest cover he can find, but will creep 

 through places which one would scarcely believe 

 it possible for a beast of his size to pass. I don't 

 mean merely dense jungle, through which he 

 can easily force a passage, but low arches formed 

 by intertwining creepers, bamboos and vege- 

 tation, which completely shut out the sky, 



