White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1931-12-24
LOTS OF THRILLS
IN TIGER HUNTING
Risky, but Fascinating to
the Sportsman.

humaL flesh, his depredations are
almost unbelievable, says e. e. Long,
G. B. E., in Pearson's Weekly.
single tiger is known to have killed
no fewer than 1OS people in a space
of years, while another killed an
average of 80 year till he was
tracked down and shot. Another
man-eating tiger so terrorized a dis
trict that for time 13 villages were
abandoned, and tract of $50 square
miles put out of civilization.
Only those who have actually
tracked the tiger to his haunts can
realize his opportunity for devasta-
ton, and the difficulty of cornering
him. Risky as the sport is. how
about to seize it's prey.
But the true huntsman prefers to
find his beast, follow him up, and
shoot him. This, however, necessi-
tates the use Of highly trained ele-
plants.
The hunter uses cane and wood
box-like structure known as chow
dah," which is bound firmly on the
elephants back. The howdah has
two compartments, one for the gun"
and the other for his loader. When
game is expected, the "gun" general
" wedges himself upright in his
howdah, with both his gun and rifle
ready.
The elephants are trained for hunt
ing when they are very young, and
the females are the best, being more
reliable and steadier. Big game
shooting is an extremely expensive
business, for usually anything from
a dozen to two dozen elephants are
used, and sporting elephants are
very expensive.
Then the running expenses mount
up, for all food, apart from the game
ever, it is well worth while.
Northern India is the hunters Par
adise, so far as tigers are concerned.
At the base of the giant Himalayas
lies vast tract of land over thou
sand miles in length, and from 25 to
SO miles in width, in which Turk in
Vulnerable beasts of prey.
From the nature of the country,
the sport of tiger hunting cannot be
obtained on foot. Either the sports
man must pursue the chase on ele-
| plant back. or he must be trans
ported by elephant into the heart of
the jungle, there to climb into the
fork Of large tree, where a plat
form of boughs has been built, and
to wait in absolute silence the com.
ing of the spoil, driven to him from
afar by beaters.
The Indian name for this tree
hiding place is machan. Another
variation of machan shooting is to
tie up an animal in the jungle near
by, and shoot ones quarry as 1t is
killed, has to be carried over rough
Jungle. And there Is little army
of native servants and helpers.
Some days of "shoot" are devot.
ed exclusively to the tiger Special
arrangements and precautions are
made.
A tiger having been spotted, some
experienced beaters on elephants are
told to rouse him, and get him on the
run in q particular direction. There
the guns have been posted. to get
him In the line of fight, something
in the same way in which gums" are
posted in game shoot in this
country.
If shot should take effect and
wound the tiger slightly, the whole
complexion of the business is altered
Before, the tiger was only too anxious
to get away from the huntsmen.
But now his blood is up. and he will
show fight to the end.
What thrills one gets l remem-
Der once tiger had been wounded
We had lost the beast and all sal,
there in trepidation.
Suddenly, a heard "a deep growl
right ahead, which caused my ele-
plant to start. In another second,
| saw q striped. flaming body rise like
an arrow from the dense jungle
grass Is or 20 yards in front of me.
and hurl itself at my elephant.
AS | wheeled my rifle round and
raised it to my shoulder, 1t seemed
| as if the brute was actually above
me, and descending upon me. re.
member thinking Now it is mine, "
and, picking out a tawny spot in the
| tigers coat, just above the heart,
| fired two bullets in quick succession.
Without sound the tiger fell dead
| almost at the feet Of my elephant.
One never forgets personal en-
counter like that
rs11 RaA