252 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS 
CHAP. 
drained towards an exceedingly deep and broad 
nullah; this formed the main channel, into which 
numerous smaller nullahs converged from the sur¬ 
rounding inclination. The general character of the 
country was withered grass upon numerous slopes, 
the tops of which were covered with low jungle. At 
the lower portion of the deep nullah there was a 
small but important pool of water, as it was the 
only drinking-place within a distance of 2 miles. As 
usual, there was a sandbank around this deep pool, 
which, being in the bend of the nullah, had been 
swept out of the opposing bank and deposited near 
the drinking-hole. Upon this sandy surface we 
found several tracks of tigers, and we arrived at 
the conclusion that a tiger and tigress had been 
together, and that I had killed the male on the 
occasion of the accident; the female would therefore 
be the animal of which we were in search. 
The nullah was about 20 yards across and 30 
feet in depth; the banks were in most places per¬ 
pendicular, and the bottom was rough with stones, 
intermingled with bushes, most of which had lost 
their foliage. It was quite possible that, after drink¬ 
ing, the tigress might have lain down to sleep among 
the bushes, where the hollowed bank afforded a cool 
shade ; but I did not like to send men into the 
dangerous bottom, and the banks were so steep that 
the elephants could not possibly descend. 
About 400 paces distant, a large tree grew from 
the right bank, and the branches overhung the 
nullah; I therefore suggested to Berry that he 
