196 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA VS 
CHAP. 
able ground ; accordingly we devoted the following 
day to the churs or islands of the river, where we 
should expect no heavy game, but we might come 
across a tiger. 
In driving the grassy islands of the Brahmaputra 
some persons are contented with the chance of 
moving tigers by simply forming a line of a quarter 
of a mile in length with forty elephants, without 
any previous arrangement or preparation. This is 
wrong. 
To shoot these numerous islands much caution is 
required, and unless tigers are exceedingly plentiful, 
the whole day may be fruitlessly expended in march¬ 
ing and counter-marching under a burning sun, with 
a long line of elephants, to little purpose. 
There should be a small herd of at least twenty 
head of cattle under the special charge of four 
shikaris, and five or six of these poor beasts should 
be tied up at a distance of a mile apart every 
evening as bait for tigers. At daylight every 
morning the native shikaris should visit their 
respective baits, and send a runner into camp with 
the message should one or more have been killed. 
The elephants being ready, no delay would occur, 
and the beat would take place immediately. In that 
manner the tiger is certain to be found, as it will be 
lying somewhere near the body of its prey. 
There is a necessity for great precaution, lest a 
tiger when disturbed should steal away and escape 
unobserved from the dense covert of high grass. 
To effect his destruction, at least two scouting 
