Netting Tigers in Mysore. 15 
parts of Mysore. The nets, 50ft. long by 15ft. deep, are made 
of iin. rope with a 9in. mesh, supported vertically on light 
poles, which fall and entangle the animals running against the 
net during the progress of a drive, when the natives run in 
and spear the game. A number of nets thus placed in contact 
are made to enclose a considerable space where a tiger is known 
to be lying, meanwhile he is prevented from breaking by the . 
beaters making a sufficient noise all round his lair to convince 
him that he is surrounded by enemies, but not enough to 
frighten him into bolting. The net is propped up on forked 
poles 10ft. high, the slack at the bottom being passed under 
heavy logs or stones, and pinned with sticks to the upright 
portion, forming a loose bag, securely pegged to the earth. 
Picked men now enter the inclosure and cut a wide path 
through the cover in order that the tiger may be shot in 
crossing it, while men placed in trees signal his movements to 
the sportsmen. Whenever he appears at the net in hesitation 
as to what to do, he is assailed with shouts and driven back, 
or if he attempts to break through a volley of spears may 
cripple or kill him. Two or three days may elapse before the 
inclosure is considered secure, and the strong top and bottom 
ropes fastened to trees. Against such a barrier the tiger is 
practically powerless, for it gives no hold for an attempt to 
break through, it puzzles the beast, mightily, and may at any 
moment entangle him fatally. Confined in a small space, with- 
out food, or water, unable to sneak off at night in the glare 
of the fires lighted at short intervals all round the net, and 
bewildered by the ceaseless din on every side, the imprisoned 
beast usually becomes quite cowed. Therefore it is not so 
dangerous a task as might be imagined for the beaters to go 
in and hunt him repeatedly across the clearing to give the 
sportsman a chance, unless he is badly wounded and believed 
to be dead, when he is likely to charge at any moment. Leo- 
pards frequently jump over the net, but this never occurs with 
the tiger, though it would seem easy for him to clear the small 
height of 10ft. Very lively scenes take place when the beaters 
