Morning journal and courier., 1888-03-05

Adventures ofTWo EnglIshmen on a
Tiger Hunt In Lower Burmah.

Adventures of Two EnglIshmen on a
Tiger Hunt In Lower Burmah.
From MacmilIan's Magazine
Two Englishmen go up the Salween river,
in lower Burnah, in three canoes, with some
seven or eight natives (Karens) to hunt a
sambhur (tiger, or man-eater) The canoes
contain two goats, to be used for bait, and
a tent, besides arms and ammunition. After
describing hard struggle with the river,
the writer tells the story Of night in the
jungle.]
By and by we reach the end of the gorge
and emerge upon wider part of the river,
where the current is less powerful and we
can make better progress. From a long
stretch of sand which now forms the left
bank we are hailed by some Burmans who
have camped there to cut bamboos on the
neighboring hills, and, crossing over to hear
their tidings, we learn that large tiger (all
tigers are large until they are shotD has Wis
tied the locality every night since their ar
rival week before 1t roaIs 80 much that
they are afraid and cannot sleep, and hope
the white strangers will bring their guns and
kill it. We listen to their tale of woe, and
then run the canoes ashore. No mistake about
it. Numerous pugs on the sand confirm the
bamboo cutters news, 80 the baggage is Ind
ed and the tent pitched in the shade of the
jungle.
We have land on a belt of forest which
during the monsoon is an island, for behind
it there is another broad, curving sweep of
sand, studded with rocks and pools, and
strewn with teak logs Here and there the
forest is divided by narrow creeks which
mark the course of the river when in flood.
Beyond the strip of sand are lofty hills,
whose bamboo o-covered slopes afford conceal
ment to plentiful game, for sambhur tracks
4
the edge of one particular pool showing it to
be favorite resort of the deer for their nightly
drink.
The place was beyond all doubt the regular
beat of a tiger, probably the one of which
Easton had heard the stories that had led
to our expedition. Pugs old and recent
formed many definite well-trodden paths, one
of which ran within few yards of the bam-
boo-cutters' hut, though concealed by jungle.
He was certainly not very far off now, and we
congratulated ourselves on our luck in finding
him.
There is much difficulty as to the dispos
al of the goaas tonight with ''Stripes'' in
cision to tether them the 'lean-to"
is productive of good deal of grumbling.
Tie up goats close beside poor naked boat
men! Why, they will cry all night, and
when the tiger comes it will certainly take
o man instead; not doubt of It'll Near
the tent, now, would be a much safer
place. However, We persuade them that
there is no danger (for there is really none),
and finally after lighting large fires at four
different points round the lean to the occu-
pants consent to picket the goats to stakes
near it.
Easton and I, posted in our machans, pa
tiently watched our goats until day, un-
disturbed by the tiger. We have all read
the thrilling accounts of successful shooting
published in sporting papers from time to
time; but no one obtrudes record of his
monotonous wakeful nights, fruitlessly
spent among the gloomy surroundings of
the jungle waiting for the tiger that does
not come.
Disappointed (perhaps unreasonably) at
the tigers failure to give US meeting on
the night we were prepared for him, we
next day decided to let him take his chance,
and arranged to spend the approaching
night on the outlook for the sambhur which
had tempted our guns on the previous one.
I selected for my ambush nook on low
sloping rock, overlooking large pool round