Wichita eagle., 1888-03-25
BIG GAME IN INDIA.


swinging punkah or large fan, suspended
from the ceiling by ropes and pulled by
natives from the outside, so as to create a
breeze.
Col G, P and myself were talking of
going up into the Terai or large iungles
situated on the Nepaul frontier, and about
300 miles from where we were then stu
station in the northwest provinces of
India.
After long talk over the matter we de-
termined to go, as information told us
that large number of tigers were to be
found during that time Of the year, when
the grass was not so thick as it was in
winter. 1t was my first tiger hunt, and
in consequence / was greatly excited and
rushed off to send in an application for
leave, awaiting which l was in fear and
trembling lest it might be refused.
Fortune favored me, however, and be-
gan to get ready for the fray. Taking the
advice of Col. G., an old tiger slayer,
as to what kind of rifles to take, the re-
suit was l took the following weapons
wherewith to deal slaughter to the deadly
man eater: An eight bore rifle, double
barreled central fire $50 express rifle, a
revolver and central fire twelve bore
gun for any small game that might ap-
pear on our marches. such as partridge,
Jungle fowl and bustard. In addition to
firearms, a strong hunting knife was car
ried for skinning the game. Shooting
coats, well padded with cotton wool, and
strong boots, trousers and helmets, COM
pleted our kit, and we were ready for a
start.
We determined to travel as far as pos
sible by night, so boarded train bound
north at 1870 o'clock. Having got q car
riage to ourselves, and the automatic
punkahS in full swing, we laid our rugs
down on long sleeping seats and made
ourselves comfortable for the night.
could not sleep, for I was thinking of
the sport to come, and l worried the
colonel and p, who slept as if going
tiger shooting was an every day occur
renee.
At Z O'Clock the next morning we
changed trains, and went to a place
called Mozutferuagar, arriving there
about midday. Here ended our railway
journey, and now began the trials of the
trip.
Imagine scorching hot day and nearly
fifty miles to go at snail's pace, for our
tent carts could go no faster. However,
we started and the first day covered
twenty miles. After dinner we sat down
outside on the grass, smoking so as to
keep the mosquitoes away. While en-
gagged thus l heard a most peculiar cry,
resembling that of cat. l asked the col
onel what it was, and he answered, "A
leopard" so 1 determined to attempt to
shoot it, as there were no tigers in that
neighborhood.
l started a man off, and got small
goat from a village close by and then pro
ceeded to the supposed haunts of the Loop
ard, tied the goat up in an open glade il
the jungle and seated myself in tree
about fifty yards away, but well to lee
ward of the goat.
1t was bright moonlight night and
could see everything quite distinctly for
nearly 100 yards. ! was armed with my
$50 express rife and revolver, which
latter weapon proved useful, as the sequel
will show. l sat patiently in my tree for
nearly two hours and never beard a sound
of living creature, when suddenly a low,
deep snarl nearly made me drop my rife,
for it seemed to come from underneath
me. l hung on, however, and looked
down, and to my delight, not unmixed
with nervousness, espied large leopard
and q couple of Cubs. / had scarcely
sighted them when the old leopard shifted
the goat, and in an instant had sprung on
it and felled ii to 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, / could see
her eyes glittering like balls of fire and l
raised my rife For moment or two
my hand shook SO that 1 could not pull
the trigger, at last I fired and had the
satisfaction of seeing the leopard roll over
on its back without even a groan, while
the two cubs scampered off into the
jungle.
Iwaited a 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 get it away, heard a 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 moment utterly took away all
power from my limbs, but on seeing him
slowly approaching, flashing his tail and
growing, began quietly TO retreat toward
the jungle behind me, keeping my face
and revolver toward the beast. / had
hardly got five yards away before he gave
a bound toward me, so | raised my re-
volver and fired at random, striking him
on the shoulder and stopping him short.
turned and made bolt for it, trying to
recover my tree if possible. had just
gained it and got up about seven feet above
the ground, when i was again seen by the
now Infatuated monster, for after firing at
him / had got into the jungle and gone
round him to my tree. On he came, but
now was cooler and waited for him, be-
ing comparatively safe, till he got under
the tree, then fired and broke his spine
and he fell; now got my rifle and
finishe him. It gave me lesson, how
ever. not TO go without my rifle again. !
measured these leopsrds; the female was
eight feet from the tip Of her nose to the
tip of her tail, and the male was seven
feet eight inches, measuring in the same
way. Both were beautifully marked and
fat animals, evidently never having lacked
for food.
Inow returned to camp, sent four men
off to bring in the spoil and related the
adventure to the colonel and P, both Of
whom laughed immoderately and said
that should be eaten before I had many
more hunts.
now turned into bed and slept for
couple of hours. after which we struck
tents and continued marching the whole
of that day and part of the next. arriving
at our shooting headquarters about 9
O'Clock in the morning.
Men were instantly sent ont for news Of
tigers, and, after three or four hours. two
old 'shikkaris," or native crackers. came
and reported that a man eating tiger was