TRACKERS AND TRACKING 185 



tracker behind will not let him wander off the 

 tracks for more than a yard or so. It is a mis- 

 take, in fact, to bother too much about the 

 tracking. The man behind will look after that. 

 What is essential is that the sportsman should be 

 the first to view his game, and this he cannot, 

 as a rule, expect to do with the tracker perhaps 

 five or six yards in front of him. By going 

 ahead, not only is the sportsman more likely to 

 get an easy shot ; but he is able to set the pace — 

 a great consideration. The bare-footed Burman 

 can move noiselessly faster than the sportsman, 

 and in his excitement he is apt to forget that 

 the man with the gun is the person to see the 

 game, or perhaps he thinks it will be all right, 

 that he will suddenly spot the beast, and point 

 him out to the expectant ' thakin.' Unfortun- 

 ately, the animal doesn't always see things 

 in the same light, and is off before the 

 sportsman can get the rifle to his shoulder. 

 This is more especially the case with tsaing, 

 which are generally found standing motionless, 

 or lying down at the most unexpected times. 

 There is then often just time, and no more, for a 

 quick but steady aim, and the instant pressing 

 of the trigger. These wary beasts are seldom 

 found unsuspiciously feeding. If the sportsman 

 is leading, he may even have the chance of 

 shooting a tsaing while it is lying up for the 

 day ; an unlikely chance, it is true, but within the 



