THE BANTING 107 



as tracking was easy, and presently Dot showed 



signs of excitement, stopping and sniffing the 



air. We now redoubled our precautions, as, 



from the bitch's demeanour, it was evident we 



were close on our game. We were in open 



bamboo jungle, and as we crept along my eye 



was suddenly caught by what appeared to be a 



huge piece of yellow wood about a hundred yards 



off. The binoculars showed it to be the dorsal 



ridge and back of a tsaing, which was lying 



down with head hidden behind a bamboo 



clump. The body was also half hidden by the 



undergrowth, now waist high, but by moving 



a little to one side I was able to find an opening, 



and drawing a bead on the broad back, I pressed 



the trigger. The bull jumped up; but stood 



still even after seeing us, apparently unable 



to move. A second bullet in the neck rolled 



him over. The first bullet, a solid nickel, had 



struck fair in the centre of the back, and had 



paralysed the animal. He was about eight 



years old, with a very fair head. This bull 



was shot at ten minutes to eight ; that is, within 



an hour of finding the tracks of the previous 



night. 



These two last examples show what an 

 uncertain brute a tsaing is. In the one case 

 absolutely fresh tracks were found at 6 a.m., 

 and yet the beast led us a dance for fifteen 

 miles and disappointed us in the end. It is 



i 2 



