TRACKERS AND TRACKING 179 



found, but the sportsman gets no closer. Indeed, 

 so far from helping him, signs that he is getting 

 close are really assisting the bull ; for the sports- 

 man following the trail into thick cover at mid- 

 day, and finding he is close, as he thinks, to his 

 beast, halts for two or three hours, supposing 

 the animal to be lying up, when really he is still 

 in pursuit of the coy females of the herd. So 

 that when the tracking is resumed in the expecta- 

 tion of finding the bull feeding, perhaps half a 

 mile farther on, the unwelcome truth gradually 

 forces itself on the sportsman that he is now 

 hours behind; the herd being several miles 

 in advance, with the love-sick bull still in close 

 pursuit. 



With regard to trackers, really experienced 

 men are few. But one good man and a couple 

 of intelligent coolies are all that are necessary. 

 If two good trackers are obtainable so much the 

 better. The Burmans work better in pairs. 

 The sportsman should make up his mind not to 

 follow any beast, whether in a herd or solitary, 

 which he has reason to believe does not possess 

 a good head. Even the best Burman trackers 

 cannot understand our absurd craving, as they 

 consider it, for big heads. All they want, or 

 care about, is meat; though the fascination of 

 pursuit appeals to many of them. 



Before taking on a track, it will save much 

 disappointment and annoyance if the sportsman 



