Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-05-18
Miseellaaeo,ls Rsadina.
A. WOMAN TIGER SHOOTING.
Drive BY Natives In an Indian Jun,
ole.

Drive BY Natives In an Indian Jun
| gle.
Although 1t Is doubtful II tigers are
really decreasing in India, It is certain
that they are more difficult to obtain,
both by residents in the country and
globe trotters. Tigers in India may
be roughly divided into two classes
those that, owing to their environ
ment, can take care Of themselves,
and those preserved in native states
and produced II possible when a ra-
jah wishes to show sport to his
guests.
AS instance the swampy islands at
the mouth Of the Hugh. These Is
lands swarm with tigers. so much so
that we were credibly informed that
the keeper of lighthouse had shot
five from his window in year. The
dense and impenetrable cover, how
ever renders shooting a work Of su-
preme danger and discomfort and the
chance of success is practically nil.
An instance Of the second kind we
were shown at Jaipur while there
last year, writes a correspondent of
the Ladies' Field. We were pointed
out an isolated patch of jungle Cat
the very most some half a mile
square) and were told that they were
already placing "kills" in 1t with a
view to the Prince Of Wales shooting
there during his visit. Moreover,
our informant. high official, inform
ed us Of the exact number Of tigers
namely, seven-which would be there.
His royal highness has since killed his
first tiger from this very strip Of jun
gle.
The shoot of which am describing
a beat, while belonging to the second
class, Is of a more sporting descrip-
ton than the instance I have just CIV
en-. 1t took place In one Of the big
reserves Of the state of Hyderabad.
The Nizam, himself. a keen sports
man, takes a lot Of trouble over the
game Of all sorts In his territory and
/
lowing way: He has one district re-
served for himself alone and only shot
by himself and his personal guests.
In this reserve Of late years none but
royalty or viceroy has shot. Rough
ly. It Is about 1000 square miles. He
has another reserve apportioned for
guests or visitors. and this Is about
10000 square miles, speaking very
roughly.
The rest Of tiger shooting-and
some Of 1t Is very goods drawn for
by yearly applicants, a certain pref
erence, however, being given to off,
sportsmanlike and unselfish system 1t
Is hard to imagine, especially when 1t
is remembered that even In the third
portion two years ago, two guns kill
ed. think it was fifteen tigers.
However, 1t was In the second re-
serve that Nizam was kind enough to
ask my husband and myself to shoot.
Nothing can exceed the hospitality of
many of the Indian rajahs, and GER
tainly nothing that Of the Nizam.
Tents, food, wines and rice are pro-
vided daily and carried immense dis
tances, and nothing is left undone to
insure the comfort Of his guests. With
regard to insuring sport 1t Is differ
ent.
| On this occasion we breakfasted at
8, and soon afterwards our shikari
came in to report and his report was
| good. Two buffaloes were killed, and
by the "pugs'' or "spoor" he was en-
abled to say that there had been one
very large tigress and three or four
little ones. A tiger having killed,
eats: having eaten carries away the
remains, and lies up by 1t during the
heat Of the day to scare away jackals
it for supper. A tigers strength Is so
great that he will carry in his jaws a
young bull equal in size to a Jersey
SOW for a mile or more often without
letting any portion touch the ground.
Having reported. our shikari goes
to examine the ground to make all
preparations for beat. He also at
tends to the fixing Of machans. as our
little platforms In the trees are
called. At about noon he returns, and
we all start out. for a twelve mile
ride. How hot 1t is!' One cannot
touch ones rifle barrel in the sun,
and even the saddle seems nearly to
blister you! The jungle is too leafless
to give much shade, while the dead
leaves crackle so underfoot that 1t
seems as II every tiger in the state
must hear.
Eventually we come up to the COO
lies, 22S of them. and a motley crowd
they are. Some carry sticks. some
weird old guns, some gongs some
rattles and some bombs. and all give
the impression that they would rather
be at home minding the children than
driving tigers We leave them, mar
shalled under q shikari, and go on
some two miles further to places. AS
we are now passing close to where
we hope our tiger is caution Is OBJ
served.
The last mile Is done on foot, and
when by accident l put my foot on a
dry leaf, the shikari turns round with
such a furious glance that I am filled
with shame. We find our machan'
some four trees stretched across a
pass between two rocky hills. l may
here mention that our guns are four
l-Major c.. Mr.. H.. my husband ana
myself. am armed with .3O3
Mannlicher. really too light a weapon
unless the bullet Is very accurately
placed.
We had previously drawn for places
and Major c. had drawn the post on
the right which is accounted the best
then my husband, then myself, and
then Mr. H. Our seats are some eight
feet up, and we get to them by frail
bamboo ladder which sways In a
most uncomfortable way, as, does the
seat itself when l get there, and feel
| that as far as 7 am concerned he Will