t THE BANTING 89 



resting-places of a solitary bull. Any breeze 

 there may be reaches him from all sides, affording 

 coolness and protection alike. He trusts more 

 to his sense of hearing than eyesight, and prefers 

 to take up a position some distance from the 

 brow, so that he can hear an approach from 

 any direction. In this he is aided by the 

 nature of the trees and shrubs growing in his 

 habitat. The ' In ' tree, which is a sort of 

 bastard teak, has a large leaf, with which the 

 ground is plentifully besprinkled. When dry 

 they crackle abominably underfoot, and it takes 

 a deal of rain to render them noiseless. The 

 shrubs of ' In ' and other vegetation, all with 

 exasperatingly gigantic leaves, intermingle and 

 form a screen, which may be knee or waist 

 high, according to the time of year. Go as 

 noiselessly as you may, the leaves brushing 

 against your knees are bound to make a faint 

 rustle which is quite sufficient to put the tsaing 

 on his guard. He gets on his legs, and remains 

 absolutely motionless. Then, as the hunter's 

 head appears over the crest of the knoll, there 

 is a loud snort, and away thunders the bull, to 

 be seen no more for that day at all events. 



Consequently, solitary bulls when lying down 

 for the day are very rarely shot. It is, indeed, 

 believed to be an almost impossible feat to 

 shoot a solitary bull tsaing when lying up in 

 ' In ' jungle. Nevertheless, one's trackers, with 



