104 BIG-GAME SHOOTING IN UPPER BURMA 



The following three instances, which occurred 

 quite recently, almost on successive days, illus- 

 trate the uncertainty of tsaing shooting. Fresh 

 tracks of a large solitary bull were found at 

 6.30 a.m. on the first day, and were followed 

 till 10.30, but we were unable to come up 

 with the beast; so, having tracked him into 

 heavy jungle, where he would almost certainly 

 be lying up, we sat down to wait till even- 

 ing for the chance of a shot. At 2 p.m., 

 however, a heavy shower came down — it was 

 at the end of July — completely washing out the 

 tracks, and I had, therefore, to return empty- 

 handed to camp. The next morning I left camp 

 at 4 a.m., and at 6 came on absolutely fresh 

 tracks of a large solitary bull. Mindful of how 

 I had been done out of a shot by the rain the 

 day before, I determined to follow this beast 

 till I came up with him, regardless of whether 

 he was lying up or not. At first we went along 

 very carefully ; but presently came on cold 

 droppings, so pushed along as quickly as we 

 could track, in order to come up with him 

 while he was still feeding. At 8 o'clock we 

 found a place where he had lain down for a few 

 minutes. At 10, however, we were no nearer 

 to him. The tracks showed that the beast was 

 not alarmed ; but they led through abominably 

 thick bamboo jungle into cover so dense that 

 we could hardly force our way. At 10.30 I 



