94 BIG-GAME SHOOTING IN UPPER BURMA 



the rifle I saw that I had forgotten to slip the 

 safety catch forward. Before I could again 

 take aim the bull had moved slowly on, but 

 only for a few yards, when he again stood, 

 giving me his back to aim at, into which I put 

 another solid nickel. He rushed off at the shot 

 and, listening intently, I heard him fall. So we 

 followed up at once, and now found plenty of 

 blood. To my surprise, however, he was again 

 found standing broadside on, giving me this 

 time a clear shot at the shoulder. Aiming low 

 down behind it, I fired a soft-nosed bullet, on 

 receiving which the bull rushed off as before. 

 Presently we heard him blundering about, and 

 then all sounds ceased. I thought it as well to 

 give him another ten minutes, and then followed 

 up alone, as the blood spoor was plentiful and 

 the tracker was not required. In a little while 

 I spotted him lying down beside a bamboo 

 clump with his head up, looking at me. I fired 

 again, but there was no response ; he was dead at 

 last. On going up to him I found he had fallen 

 against the clump, which had caught one of his 

 horns, and had twisted the head round and held 

 it up, giving the impression of the animal being 

 alive. He was a very old bull : his eyes were 

 sunken, and a cataract had formed in one of 

 them, which accounted for his allowing us to 

 surprise him. The teeth were much worn, and 

 blackened from age. The Burmans put him 



