WORK AND SPORT IN THE N.W.P. 87 
up his property before it had been destroyed. There 
is with Mohammedans probably something of a feel- 
ing of disgrace attached to returning bareheaded 
from the hunt, and, ridicule being most keenly felt, 
they will take any risk to prevent it. 
The “howdah” appears to me to be a most un- 
suitable arrangement for the solitary sportsman, its 
sole advantage being that a wider field of vision is 
afforded, and this is convenient in long grass; on 
the other hand, the angle of fire at a near object is 
difficult, and only verbal directions can be given to 
the driver. The latter objection is of more impor- 
tance than the former, for the human voice carries 
far in the forest, and he who talks will seldom see 
much game, and, moreover, in moments of tumult 
verbal directions may easily be misunderstood. 
Again, if the sportsman is seated on the “pad,” he 
is at all times insecure, and may easily be thrown by 
any sudden side movement of the elephant; while 
on steep ascents and descents he must occupy both 
hands in clinging to the breastplate ropes, and 
becomes thus helpless even for self-defence. The 
most convenient saddle for the elephant probably 
consists in what is known as a ‘ katola,” which re- 
sembles an inverted bedstead, with the four stout 
wooden legs cut short; seated on this, with head 
just above that of the driver, and a foot on either 
side of him, it is easy to direct his movements in 
silence, while at the same time the elephant can be 
efficiently protected from frontal attacks. Nearly 
all the contretemps I experienced in tiger-hunting 
occurred when shooting from a “ howdah,” and were 
directly referable to the fact that the elephant was 
