CHAPTER XVIII.

THE GREAT ANNAMULLAY FOREST.-TIGER-
HUNTING.

Our plan of operations.-The hunting-grounds.-Preparations. -The journey.-Jungle travelling.-Our bivouac.-A lonely glen. Signs of game.-The ambuscade.-Forest signs and jungle melody. Googooloo gives tongue. The spoiler spoiled. An unexpected rencontre.-A wounded tigress.Her retreat stormed.. Fatal accident. Retribution.-The

Shekarry's grave.

TOWARDS the latter end of May, having become

somewhat weary of the commonplace routine. of ordinary cantonment-life in Ootacamund, I determined, before the monsoon broke, to have a fortnight's hunting with my old chum B in that immense

tract of virgin forest which lies to the south of the Neilgherri mountains, and extends over the Annamullay range, and along the western Ghauts. This region, which in the most recent maps is still left blank as an "unexplored district," is one continuous wilderness of mountains and dense waving forest, veined with broad rivers and streams, extending over

an area of several hundreds of square miles, inhabited only by a few wild, uncivilised tribes, said to be the aborigines of the country, who for ages have shrunk from intercourse with the rest of the world, living in hollow trees or caves, and subsisting upon wild fruits, jungle-roots, and such small animals as they can bring down with their arrows.

These woods, in which the sound of an axe is seldom heard, are the haunts of the largest denizens of the forest. Here vast herds of elephants and bison (Bos gaurus) wander through the leafy solitudes unmolested; and tigers, panthers, and bears are so numerous, that after nightfall they may be heard in different parts of the jungle howling and calling to each other with those peculiarly wild and deeply melancholy intonations which appal and strike awe into the hearts of those who are not accustomed to such serenades.

The natives in this part of the country have a strange superstition about these hunting grounds. They say that in the inmost recesses of the forest, where the eye of man has never yet penetrated, there is a lake, to the banks of which elephants, when they feel the approach of dissolution, go to die. Perhaps this popular belief may in some measure be accounted for by the fact, that the body of an elephant that has died a natural death has rarely, if ever, been found in the woods. Some say that the remains of the dead are buried by their companions in the herd.

Hunting trips being everyday occurrences, but little time was required for preparation either by myself or my companion. I examined my battery (which consisted of a pair of double rifles of ten-gauge by Purdey, a pair of double smooth-bores by Westley Richards, carrying two-ounce round balls, and a couple of fowling-pieces), and saw that all were in perfect order, and fitted with ammunition.

I then paraded my "Skekarries," or hunting-gang, which comprised Chineah, Googooloo, Naga, Veerapah, Hassan, the Gooroo, Ali, and Ramasawney, eight stalwart fellows, all well tried and true, and inspected their hunting-gear, clothing, and equipments, so as to make sure that all were in perfect marching trim, and fit to commence a jungle campaign. My baggage ponies having been re-shod, then passed muster with their burdens, consisting of a small hill-tent, carpet, blankets, cooking-apparatus, rice-bags, &c., and finally my dogs, four huge creatures, any two of which would bring a bear to bay, or a hog to a standstill.

In the mean time B

paid a visit to Framjee's celebrated emporium for what the French term "comestibles,” and filled out two pairs of large "cowry baskets, with everything necessary for the support of

*Round wicker-baskets, which are slung at each end of a bamboo, and carried over the shoulder.

the "inner man," at the same time engaging a couple of stout Coolies to carry them.

All being in readiness, I gave orders to Chineah my head (shekarry) to proceed at once, with the gang, guns, and baggage, to a hut I had built on a previous hunting expedition at the top of the Taketty Pass, which was four marches from Ooty, and there await our arrival.

Although this was the hottest season of the year, the temperature on the table-land of the Neilgherri Hills was rarely much over 80°, but knowing from experience that it would be at least 40° higher in the plains, we determined to get over that part of the journey by night, in palanquins, with posted bearers, so as to avoid any unnecessary exposure to the sun, and get fresh to our ground.

Having made arrangements with the police Ameen to this effect, on the next day but one after the departure of our people, we left my snug little domicile, Burnside Cottage, at about three in the afternoon, arriving at the travellers' bungalow, in Metrapollium, at the foot of the Coonoor Pass, by sunset, dined, and afterwards proceeded to Coimbatore, where we remained only a few minutes, and again started for the Annamullay Hills, the base of which we reached by 10 A.M.

Here, to my surprise, I found Chineah, the Gooroo, and one of B―'s followers with our rifles, who

informed us that they had come across a couple of Mulchers (a jungle tribe), who had taken them to a ravine alive with game of all kinds, which they begged we would try before ascending the Ghauts. At first I did not care to alter my former plan of exploring the table-lands of the Annamully range, but after a consultation with B- it was resolved to follow Chineah's advice; so, having donned our hunting-gear, we dismissed our bearers, who returned with the palanquins to Ooty, shouldered our rifles, and struck off by a jungle-track leading along the base of the hills.

The heat was intense in the extreme, and we perhaps felt it the more, having so lately left the vernal freshness of the hills; but signs of game were to be seen on every side, which encouraged us to proceed, and after what B called "a moist tramp" of nearly four hours, we arrived at the dry bed of a mountain torrent, which we followed for nearly three miles through a narrow gorge between two densely-wooded hills. During this part of our route we were entirely sheltered from the oppressive beams of the sun by overarching trees, which were so densely covered with convolvuli, and similar delicate climbers of every colour, as to form an impervious shade overhead; indeed, it seemed as if we were traversing a vast leafy bower.

At last, after a good hour's clambering over huge