The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-09
A NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE.
Adventures of Two Z nglishmen on a
Tiger Hunt in Lower Burmah.
ETon, Bfoc1niHn,l'S Mo01zine

From Macmildn'S Magazine.
1.-TWO Englishmen go up the Salween
river, in lower Burmah, 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 tent, besides arms and am
muniuon. 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 a 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 LETT
bank we are hailed by some Burmans who
have camped there to cut bambooS on the
neighboring hills, and, crossing over to hear
their tldings, we learn that large Tiger
"a tigers are large until they are shot9 has
visited the locality every night since thelr
arrival a week before. 1t roarS SO 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,
so the baggage is l,nded and the tent
pitched in the shade Of the jungle.
We have landed on belt of forest which
hind it there is another broad, curvlng
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-covered slopes afford
concealment to plentiful game. for sambhur
tracks cross and recross the sand IN every
direction. the edge of one particular pool
showing it to he a favorite resort of the deer
for their nightly drink.
The place was beyond all doubt the
regular beat of 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
bamboo-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 disposal
of the goats tonight with "Stripes" in the
immediate neighborhood, and our decision
to tether them near the "iean-to" is pro-
ductive Of a good deal of grumbling. Tie
up goats close beside poor naked boatmenl
Why, they will cry all night, and when the
tiger comes it Will certainly take man
instead not doubt Of i'll Near the tent,
now, would be much safer place However
flor there really is none), and finally after
lighting large fires at four different points
round the lean to, the occupants consent to
picket the goats TO stakes near 1T.
Easton and l. posted in our mGch0nS,
patiently watched our goats until day,
undisturbed by the tiger. We have all
read the thrilling accounts of successful
shooting pub ished in the sporting papers
from time to time; but no one obtrudes a
Ofb NIGHTS
fruitessly spent among the gloomy sur
roundings of the jungle waiting for the
tiger that does not come.
Disappointed perhaps unreasonably) at
the tigers failure to give us a meeting on
the night we were prepared for him, we
next day decided to let him take his chance
and arranged to spend 1.-The approaching
night on the outlook for the sambhur which
had tempted our guns on the previous one.
/ selected for my ambush "a nook on a low
soping rock, overlooking a large pool
round which there were numerous fresh
tracks of deer. This nook | had rooted in
roughly with kline grass to keep off the
heav, dews and to assist in concealing me.
1t was lovely moonlight night, clear
and cold, when took up my station shortly
after dark, accompanied by young Karea
to whom | intrusted the responsibility of
keeping me awake Hour after hour we
sat there, three feet above the level of the
sand, to which the rock shelve1 gently
down; the starting bark Of a distant deer,
the musical ringing call of the bellblrd, aud
the screaming of insects in the foliage
around were the only signs of life. Cold and
chilly, the night drew on, while on the far
side of the pool, well out of range, an occa-
sional sambhur issued from the jungle and
stalked solitary and ghost-like across the
sand, stopping every dozen yards to sniff
the air suspiciously. Wearied and sleepy,
lay back against the rock as a sambhur
disappeared for the third time without
giving me a shot; my rife lay across my
knees, and some evil spirit prompted me to
open the breech, that it might lie more easily
upon them.
The moon was sinking, and the white
clammy mist came rolling in huge pillows
down the mountain side, hiding the trees
thirty hards away, and making the night
colder and damper with its heavy shroud.
Darkness and discomfort have a bad effect
on the nerves, and felt, as ! sat there in no
mood for gre at deeds of daring. Tired
and Indifferent | had dozed off to Sleep
when my companion touched my arm
lightly and whispered the single word, kyd
tiger. | awoke with a start, and looked
in the direction indicated. Here he was,
coming slowly through the mist, straight
toward the rock with the easy rolling
swagger tiger affects wnen he is on the
prowl. | clutch my rifle and snap the
breech. Great heavens! for the first time
since l owned the weapon, it refuses to
closet
The tiger, off which have not taken my
eyes, has reached the foot of the rock, and
a tracted by my movements deliberately
pauses TO gaze at the apparition it beholds.
With the useless rifle in my hands | sit fac
ing it, utterly unable to move, and the
Karen, crouched beside me with his head
between his knees and his hands clasped
above it, is trembling in every LIMB. The
little gray-l oking form is only six feet
from me, and with two short steps can
enter the nook and select either Of us at his
leisure The fixed stare of the blazing
green eyeballs seems to paralyze me; for
fully half minute-it seemed an hour-he
stands there motionless, but at length passes
on, still keeping his eyes on me until he
disappears round the corner of the rock a
few feet away.
Relieved of that appalling stare, breathe
more freely and straining my eyes in the
direction | expect the tiger will take, with
desperate eagerness exert all my strength to
close the breech Of the rifle. 1 can feel no
obstruction, for it is, of course, too dark to
see, but it will not close, and | pause--to
see once more that mesmeric gaze fixed upon
me.
Dissatisfied with his first scrutiny, the
tiger has passed around the rock and re-
turned to repeat it. 1t is sickening. Help
less and dazed, ] sit there, blankly return
ing the steady stare that so perfectly I'M
mo big 40 ',