The shooting camps were invariably pitched on the bank of a river or stream.  One evening, two of the servants crossed the shallow stream in front of the camp to enjoy some fishing.  They found a suitable place behind a mound and here they sat quietly watching their lines.  The afternoon hours passed swiftly and the sun was nearing the horizon when their attention was simultaneously drawn to a sound above their heads.  Looking up, to their horror, they saw an immense tiger just above them.  One of them shivered with terror and, clutching his companion, said in a hoarse whisper:  “Our hour has come.”  The other whispered back:  “Keep perfectly still and quiet.”  Breathless, the two watched the huge tiger descend the bank and pass majestically to the edge of the water where he stopped to quench his thirst.  It seemed to the two trembling men that it took the Lord of the Jungle fully half an hour to drink his fill.  Then, as slowly and impressively, the tiger turned from the stream and ascended the bank.  When he reached the top he stood there, gazing before him either as if admiring the scenery or contemplating a meal off one of the men.  The pair scarcely dared to breathe and wild schemes of taking to their heels to gain the centre of the stream and swim down the river shot through their brains.  At last the tiger slowly turned away from the river and disappeared into the forest.  Then, after some time, the frightened servants hurried across the stream back to camp, and told the Maharajah of their terrible experience.  The footprints of the animal corroborated their story and their asseveration that they had seen a very very big tiger.

During one of the shoots, the shikaris (native sportsmen) brought news that a rhino had been seen in a certain jungle.  The guests were much excited and a beat was organised for the next day.  The morning dawned and all set out and were soon posted to their various positions.  The front “stop” guns were on the bank of a river.  The Maharajah was in the beating line.  When about half way through the piece of jungle he noticed that one of his brother guns looked disappointed.  He accordingly asked “What’s up?” The guest answered that he thought that a large animal had broken back.  However nothing was discovered and as it was mid-day a halt for lunch was considered desirable.  A spot was soon selected and the signal given and the lines broke up.  Just as the foremost elephants were about to kneel to permit their riders to dismount, there arose from the “stop” elephants a cry of “Tiger”.  In the jungle, quite close to one of the “stop” guns, a tiger was enjoying a feed of a wild pig; and as the elephant turned to join the others, he almost trod on the tiger.  In a moment the line was re-organised, but the surprised tiger, finding itself surrounded by foes, turned tail and ran down the bank of the river.  The stream was nearly dry and the bed was very shingly, and as the startled tiger picked its way gingerly across