642 Notes on Northern Cachcw. [No. 7. 



may fire burn all ray worldly possessions, and the tiger devour me, 

 if I am not faithful." 



The solution of omens is left much to the priests, and their 

 opinion is taken upon yolks of eggs and entrails of fowls, from which 

 it is supposed the future is revealed. Teeth of tigers and other 

 animals are carried about the person, suspended round the neck 

 as talismans, and are supposed to preserve the individual wearing 

 them from being devoured by wild animals. Hunters carry about 

 a small round stone enclosed in a wicker-work basket, and be- 

 lieve that the presence of this in the jungles with them ensures good 

 sport. 



The Kookies are great hunters, and are passionately fond of the 

 sport, looking upon it, next to war, as the noblest exercise for man. 

 They kill tigers, deer and smaller game by means of poisoned arrows. 

 The bow is a small one made of bamboo, and very slightly bent, 

 the string being manufactured of bark. The arrow, the head of 

 which has a barbed iron point, is about eighteen inches long, being 

 drawn to the chest and not the ear, and therefore delivered with no 

 great force, the destructive effect lying chiefly in the poison. With 

 such an instrument the great art in hunting lies in stealthily ap- 

 proaching the animal near enough to deliver the arrow with effect, 

 and in following it up after being wounded to the spot where 

 it is found lying dead. In this the Kookies excel, being able 

 to prowl about the jungle as noiselessly as tiger-cats, and being 

 equal to North American Indians in distinguishing tracks. Tigers 

 are also killed by spring bows with poisoned arrows set in the 

 jungles, and by poisoned panjies planted in their paths. 



Elephants are slain in great numbers by the Kookies wherever 

 they are to be had, not only the tusks but the flesh being highly 

 prized. Parties of twenty and upwards go out in pursuit of them at 

 a time. When some recent elephant track is discovered in the forest, 

 two or three of the party ascend some convenient tree, whose branches 

 overhang the track, the remainder follow it up, and having got on 

 the other side of the herd, scare it towards the ambush by shout- 

 ing, beating gongs, and dischargiDg tire-arms. Here, while passing, 

 the animals are assailed from above with long spears having huge 

 iron barbs covered with deadly poison : every wound inflicted results 



