WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA VS 
CHAP. 
416 ^ 
sufficient strength to have directed an attack at 
an unguarded moment. Having a heavy hunting- 
knife of 3 lbs. weight, I gave it a blow across the 
skull, which cleft it to the brain and terminated 
its struggles. This was exactly the occasion upon 
which an accident might have occurred, and when 
a spear would have been of use. 
I cannot understand why persons who reside 
in India neglect the assistance of dogs for the 
various kinds of hunting. Bull terriers would be 
invaluable for tracking up a wounded tiger or 
bear, and the latter might be hunted by such 
dogs even without being wounded. At any rate, 
well-trained dogs would be of immense assistance, 
but I have never seen them used. During the 
cool season of Central and Northern India the 
climate is most favourable, and the dogs could 
work during the hottest hours of the day without 
undue fatigue. Mr. Sanderson set the example 
some years ago, and had some interesting hunts ; 
he describes the Ursus labiahts as rendered power¬ 
less, in spite of its great strength and activity, as 
one bull terrier invariably seized it by the nose ; 
this is the most sensitive part, and easy to hold, 
as it is long, and connected with a projecting 
upper lip, which is almost prehensile in this 
variety. His experience proved that three dogs 
were sufficient to hold any bear, as the claws, 
although dangerous to the tender skin of a man, 
were too blunt to tear the tough but yielding hide 
of the dog. 
