88 BIG-GAME SHOOTING IN UPPER BURMA 



leaves, which are naturally chiefly those of the 

 bamboo, are small and, after a few showers, 

 give out no sound when walked over, however 

 thickly they may cover the ground. It is easy 

 enough to lose the tracks on them nevertheless. 

 They act as a sort of soft carpet, and unless 

 very sodden, spring up after being pressed 

 down by the animal's hooves, often retaining 

 no impression. An old bull tsaing in bamboo 

 jungle frequently takes up his permanent resi- 

 dence in a thick strip some miles in extent. 

 In this he wanders about browsing on shrubs 

 and shoots, and rarely venturing into the open 

 except at night. It will thus be seen that in 

 bamboo jungle the wonderful powers of sight, 

 hearing and scent possessed by the tsaing are 

 to some extent discounted. His native wariness 

 remains, however, and this always makes him, 

 under any circumstances, a more difficult beast 

 to bag than the bison. 



In indaing forest, which the tsaing particu- 

 larly affects, he is quite a different beast. Here 

 there is little or no thick cover. The ' In ' 

 tree varies from a stunted shrub to a large tree 

 growing fairly closely together, but not so close 

 as to prevent a good view for fifty yards or 

 more all round. The ground is sometimes quite 

 flat, sometimes hilly ; but its chief feature 

 is the number of small knolls which are con- 

 stantly met with. These are the favourite 



