150 BIG-GAME SHOOTING IN UPPER BURMA 



who can run to a sixty-rupee weapon, and every 

 native of India or Burma who carries a gun 

 licence (besides many who do not) has a whack 

 at the unfortunate thamin. Nor are his troubles 

 at an end even now, for he is constantly being 

 hunted by dogs ; whole villages turning out for 

 the fun. It is true they don't often catch him ; 

 but they chase and harry him none the less. 

 Nearly every newcomer to Burma, though he 

 may not care particularly about sport in general, 

 feels he must have a go at thamin before he 

 leaves the country. Needless to say that not only 

 is a large number of legitimate heads secured, 

 but, in addition, a goodly proportion of animals 

 bite the dust at whom a rifle should never 

 have been pointed. I should like to see the 

 game laws of Burma amended, particularly 

 as regards thamin. A thirty-rupee licence for 

 shooting big game, in which four thamin stags 

 per sportsman were included, would do a great 

 deal towards preserving these beautiful creatures. 

 And all hunting with dogs should be made 

 strictly illegal. The Burman hunts chiefly for 

 hares; but in doing so he scours the whole 

 country and terrifies the deer, which break 

 up into small detached parties and scatter in 

 all directions 



The thamin stands about 45 in. at the 

 shoulder; that is, about three inches lower 

 than the barasingh, and about ten lower than 



