Wild Beasts and Their Ways, Reminiscences of Europe, Asia, Africa and America — Volume 1Baker, Samuel White, Sir
History
Wild Beasts and Their Ways, Reminiscences of Europe, Asia, Africa and America — Volume 1
Baker, Samuel White, Sir
Animal behavior; Hunting
I was in hopes that he would break across the open which I commanded,
but there was no sign of movement in the high grass. The line of
elephants again advanced slowly and cautiously; suddenly at a signal
they halted, and I observed Sanderson, whose elephant was a few yards in
advance of the line, halt, and, standing up, take a deliberate aim in
the grass in front. He fired; a tremendous roar was the response, and
the tiger, bounding forward, appeared as though he would assuredly cross
my path. Instead of this, after a rush of about 50 or 60 yards I saw the
tall grass only gently moving, as the animal had reduced its pace to the
usual stealthy walk. The grass ceased moving in a spot within 30 paces,
and exactly opposite my position. I marked a bush upon which were a few
green shoots that had sprouted since the fire had scorched the grass. I
was certain that the tiger had halted exactly beneath that mark. My
mahout drove the elephant slowly and carefully forward, and I was
standing ready for the expected shot, keeping my eyes well open for an
expected charge; Sanderson was closing in upon the same point from his
position. Presently, when within a few feet of the green bush, I
distinguished a portion of the tiger, but I could not determine whether
it was the shoulder or the hind-quarter. Driving the elephant steadily
forward, with the rifle to my shoulder, I at length obtained a complete
view. The tiger was lying dead!
Sanderson's last shot had hit it exactly behind the shoulder; but the
first right and left had missed when the tiger charged down the line,
exemplifying the difficulty of shooting accurately with an elephant
moving in high excitement.
We now loaded an elephant with this grand beast and started it off to
camp, where Lady Baker had already received two leopards. We had done
pretty well for the 1st April, but after this last shot our luck for the
day was ended.
This day unfortunately deprived me of my companion, as the fever which
had been dormant developed itself in Sanderson and completely prostrated
him. He had a peculiar objection to quinine, therefore in default of
remedies, which were all at hand, he remained a great sufferer during
three successive weeks, and I was left alone with the long line of
elephants to complete the driving of the innumerable churs below the
village of Rohumari. I must pay Mr. Sanderson the well-merited
compliment of praising his staff of mahouts, who were, with their
well-trained animals, placed at my disposal; these men exhibited the
result of such perfect discipline and organization, that, although a
perfect stranger to them, I had not the slightest difficulty; on the
contrary, they worked with me for twenty days as though I had been their
old master for as many years. No better proof could be adduced of the
excellent management of Mr. Sanderson's department.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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