V 
THE TIGER 
171 
is certain to break back through one of the inviting 
gaps, and the drive is wasted. 
To drive successfully, the beaters must not only 
keep a rigid line, but they must thoroughly under¬ 
stand the habits of the animal, and the positions of 
the posted guns. If the drive is thoroughly well 
organised, there should be eight or ten men who are 
experienced in the sport; these should take the 
management of the beat, and being distributed at 
intervals along the line, they should direct the 
operations. 
A few really clever shikaris should be able (with 
few exceptions to the rule) to drive the tiger to any 
required position, so as to bring it within shot of 
any particular mucharn. This may be effected with¬ 
out extraordinary difficulty. The drive should be 
arranged to include three parts of a circle. If there 
are three guns, their positions would depend upon 
the quality and conditions of the ground, leaving 
intervals of only 80 or 100 yards at farthest be¬ 
tween the three mucharns. From either flank, com¬ 
mencing only 50 yards from each mucharn, a native 
should be posted in a tree, and this system of 
watchers should be continued until they meet the 
extreme ends of the right and left flanks of the 
beating line. It will be seen that by this method 
there is a chain of communication established 
throughout the line, both flanks being in touch with 
the right and left mucharns by watchers in the trees 
only 50 yards apart. The tiger, if within the beat, 
will be completely encircled, as it will have the guns 
