MEETING WITH A TIGER. 
287 
enjoy with less interruption the surrounding prospect. 
Our attendants were dispersed hither and thither ; 
a group of them standing before the entrance of the 
smaller excavation, some sleeping under the shade in 
the natural recesses of the hill, and others threading 
the jungle in pursuit of game. 
After I had received all the enjoyment from my 
reflections which they were capable of affording, I 
descended the mount, and entered a thicket in the 
valley below, which led me into an almost impassable 
forest. Here and there, however, were comparatively 
clear patches, and occasionally spots under cultivation, 
where I had the common sport of partridge and quail 
shooting, and contrived to kill a couple of hares. 
Having shot as much game as I thought would be 
useful, I desired the attendant who accompanied me 
to take it to the cavern ; whilst I proceeded further 
into the jungle ; but I was careful not to lose sight 
of certain localities, which indicated my situation and 
the way by which I was to return. 
I had a double-barrel gun made by Mortimer, one 
barrel of which was charged with shot and the other 
with ball; — a practice I invariably observed, lest a 
deer or some large game should cross my path upon 
which small shot could make no effectual impression. 
The growth was so thick in some places, that I 
could scarcely advance, and I at length grew so tired 
of the little progress I made, in proportion to the 
labour employed, that I resolved to return. I had 
advanced but a short way towards the entrance of 
the wood, when, to my surprise, I saw a tiger leisure- 
ly crossing the path, within ten yards of the spot 
