172 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS 
CHAP 
in front, the line of beaters in a semicircle behind, 
and a chain of watchers in trees from 30 to 50 
yards apart from either side of the line to within 
sight of the mucharns. If the jungle should be 
tolerably open, the tiger cannot move without being 
seen by somebody. It now has to be driven before 
the beaters, and it should be induced to select a 
particular direction that will bring it within distance 
of one particular mucharn. 
Each man who may be perched in the trees, 
which form a chain from the right and left extremi¬ 
ties of the line, will be provided with several pieces 
of exceedingly dry and brittle sticks ; he will hold 
these in readiness for use whenever he may observe 
the tiger. If he sees that the animal wishes to pass 
through the line, and thereby escape from the beat, 
he simply breaks a small stick in half; the sound of 
a snap is quite sufficient to divert the tiger from its 
course; it will generally stop and listen for a few 
moments, and then being alarmed by the unusual 
sound, it will again move forward, this time in the 
required direction, towards the guns. In this 
manner the animal is gradually guided by the 
unseen watchers in the trees, and is kept under 
due control, without any suspicion upon its part 
that it is being conducted to the fatal spot within 
30 or 40 yards of the deadly aim of an experi¬ 
enced rifle. This leading of the tiger requires 
considerable skill, as much discretion is necessary 
in breaking the stick at the proper moment, or 
increasing the noise should it be deemed expedient. 
