The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-02-18
BIG GAME IN INDIA.


month Of May, 1882, ti'ne when every
body got into a cocl room under the
swinging punkah ot large fan, suspended
from the ceiling by ropes and pulled by
natives from the outside, 50 rs 10 create n
breeze
Col G., y ana myself were talking Of
going up into the Terai or large jungles
situated on the Nepaul frontier, and about
900 miles from where we were then stu
ated namely, at Agra, large military
station In the northwest provinces OF
India.
After long talk over the matter we de-
tcrmined to 60, as information told us
that n large number Of tigers were 10 he
found during that tmo Of the year, when
the grass was not 50 thick as il was Ia
winter. 4; was my first tiger hunt, and
in consequence was greatly excited and
rushed of 70 send in all application for
leave, awaiting which | was in fear and
trembling lest it might be refused
Fortune favored me, however, and | be-
can 10 yet ready FOX the fray. Taking the
advice Of Col G, an old tiger slayer,
a. 20 what kind of rifles to take, the re-
srlt was ! took tie following weapons
whercwith TO deal daughter 10 the deadly
MN cater: An eight bore rifle, a double
barrclcd central fire 40 express rifle,
revolver and a central fire twelve bore
Cun for any small zane that might APP
rear on our macches. such as partridge,
jrncie fowl and bustard. In addition TO
firearms, a strong hunting knife was car
rioi for slsinning .he game. Shooting
coats, well padded with cotton wool, and
stronr boots trousers and helmets, COM
p'cted our kit, and we were ready for II
start.
We determined 10 travel rs far as pos
siblo By night. SO boarded q train bound
north ut 1880 O'Clock Having got a car
riage % Ourselves and the automatic
punkahs in full swing, we laid orr rugs
down on long sleeping seats and made
ourselves comfortable Cor the night.
could lot sleep, for | was thinking Of
the sport 60 come. and / worried the
colonel and r. who slept as if going
tiger shooting was all every day occur
renee.
At 7 O'Clock the next morning we
changed trains, and went 10 place
called Mozuneruagar, arriving theie
about midday. Here ended our railway
Journey, aud now began the trials OF the
trip.
IMAGINE scorching hot day and nearly
Atty miles to go at a snail's pace, for our
tent carts could 80 10 faster. However,
we started and the first day covered
twenty miles After dinner we sat dowL
outside on the grass, smoking so rs tc
keep the mosquitoes away. While en-
gagged thus heard a most peculiar cry.
resembling that Of cat. / asked the col
onel what II was, and he answered, "A
leopard, - SO determined 10 attempt &c
shoot II, as there were no tigers in that
ncishborhood,
started a man off, and got n small
goat from village close by and then pro.
cecied TO the supposed haunts Of the leop
ard, tied the goat up in an open glade in
tie jungle and seated myself in tree
about fifty yards away, but well to lee
ward Of the goat.
Ii was bright moonlight night and
could see everything quite distinctly for
nearly 100 yards | was armed with my
$50 express rifle and revolver which
latter weapon proved useful, as the sequel
will show sat patiently in my tree for
nearly two hours and never heard sound
deep snarl nearly made me drop my rife,
for 1t seemed to come from underneath
me ! hung on, however, and looked
down, and to my delight, not unmixed
with nervousness espied large leopard
and couple of cubs. | had scarcely
sighted them when the old leopard smiled
the goat, and in an instant had sprung on
1t and felled il 10 the earth with one blow
Of its powerful paws AS she lay there
growing and tapping the warm blood
from the neck Of her victim, l could see
her eyes glittering Ike balls Of fire and |
raised my rifle For moment or two
my hand shook so-that l could not pull
the trigger, at last fired and had the
satisfaction of seeing the leopard roll over
on its back without even Il groan, while
the two cubs scampered off into the
jungle,
| waited minute or SO and then de-
scended, foolishly leaving my rifle in the
tree, and only taking my revolver with
me. was soon standing by the leopard,
which was perfectly dead, having been
shot in the head. Celebrating how /
might &c; il away, l heard suppressed
roar behind me, and turned TO find another
full grown Leopard evidently the male,
between me and my tree and my rifle.
Fear for a moment utterly took away all
power from my limbs, but on seeing him
slowly approaching, lashing his tail and
growing began quietly 10 retreat toward
the Jungle behind me, keeping my face
aud revolver toward the beast. had
hardly got five yards away before he gave
bound toward me. so raised my re.
volyer and fired al random, striking him
ON the shoulder and stopping him short.
turned and Inede bolt Tor it, trying TO
recover my tree ii possible. had just
gained II and got up about seven feet above
the ground, when was again seen by the
- now iniur!ated monster, for after firing at
him ] had got into the jungle and gone
round him 10 my tree. On he came, but
royy was cooler and waited for him, be-
ing comparatively safe, ill he got under
the tree, then fred and broke his spine
and he fell; now got my rifle and
finished him. 1t gave me lesson, how
ever, NOT TO go without my rifle again !
measured these leopards; the female was
eight feet from the tip Of her nose 10 the
tip Of ner tail, and the male was seven
feet ci.h, inches measuring in the same