Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-24
Hunting I'M Burnah.

People have an idea that there is very little
sport to be got in Burmah, whereas the truth is
game is far more abundant in that country than
anywhere in the east, Assam alone excepted. In
India most of the game is followed on foot; but
go dense Is the underground in Burmah that ele-
plants are necessary, not only to beat the game
up, but to enable the sportsman to see it; the
best shot in the world and the most enthusiastic
sportsman might roam the wilds Of Burmah for
months without elephants, and get shots at a
few deer only. The sport would not repay the
toll; but with good elephants the case is COM
pletely altered.
To get good sport one has to learn the Ian
guage of the country. Interpreters or go-be-
tweens are of very little use, often more harm
than good. Burmese are particularly sensitive
One can do great deal with them by kindness
but they resent harshness, and, IL roughly
spoken to. they Will oftener mislead than help.
Elephants can generally be hired from Burmese
IN most of the larger towns; bat they demand
five rupees (about two dollars and half a day
One has to provide his own gaddies, gaddelahs
and hoWdahs in other words, his own elephant
gear. No one except he hadc lived lifetime
among the shans, or Burmese, could shoot out of
one Of their cane howdahs: The delta Of the IRA
waddy Is not very good for sport. There are
plenty ofwd pigs, and the data ei(hog-dee and
the ''thamin" (orOw- antlered rusa); but during
JIG Idiuc tue COuutTy III lQuQOdIe0, ana OF course
animals which are not amphibieus can not live
In such localities, and migrate, elsewhere and
are met with, sometimes in thousands, on an
elevated plain. Beyond Pegu, to the north, the
country is somewhat higher, and between the
lrraWaddy and Sittang lies range Of hills,
or 3 600 feet in elevation.
This almost unknown district harbors In its
midst vast herds of elephants. gAnr, wild cattle.
rhinoceros. buffaloes and various kinds of deer,
bears, tigers and panthers., The Yomahs slope
toward the Thine to the west and the Sittang to
the east During the time Qrom about July to
October) the plains are inundated, the game in
great measure confines itself to the billy re-
gfOn, nor does it migrate largely till after the
periodical fires have destroyed the immense I'M
oergIowtn OF the plains and the young grass be-
gins to shoot up.
Shooting off elephants is knack to be ac-
quired by practice. However good a shot man
may be on foot, when he first mounts an ele-
plant he won't be able to hit haystack After
had had many years practice, I found could
shoot snipe nearly as well from a howdah as on
foot; but at first felt very awkward, and shot
very badly. The shooting in Burmah Is very va
ried, and in beating across country you can never
tell what you may come across In the open
gums, which are, think. spaces formerly culti-
waited, but which have lapsed into waste lands.
you Will seldom find anything but dala'el, thamin,
pig, and occasionally tiger, but nothing else.
as rule. OF course now and then elephants
and tsine, or wild cattle, are seen feeding in
them, the former In some marshy bit, and the
latter browsing off the young grass; but it is
nearly impossible to get near enough for snot.
On the borders of many Of the q,.i,,s are park
like lands studded with trees, and with an un-
dergrowth OF coarse grass. averaging four to
five feet In height. In this lie concealed during
the day numerous sambur, and two or three
sportsmen advancing in line on elephants win
get many shots.
In India, when you go out for q days sport,
you know generally the exact kind Of game YOU
will meet, and you are armed accordingly; but
In Burmah one moment you may come across q
tiger, soon afterward several varieties of deer.
and further on meet buffaloes, bison and ele.
plants. Thus you must be provided against
all contingencies. The best month for sport ia
undoubtedly May. It is very hot then, and the
game lies closer and 1t is more plentiful on the
plains that month than any other