66 Lloyd's natural history. 



fore, but the most comical episode in connection with Cherra 

 Tigers happened, I think, in 1859. Saturday night's dinner at 

 Inglis' hospitable board had grown into an institution. Coming 

 away from these entertainments, which we did in a body for 

 mutual protection, was rather good fun on account of occasional 

 scares, and as the major portion of the guests lived on the way 

 to the Mess, we saw each other home. The x\ssistant Com- 

 missioner, however, had his house away from all, so left us a 

 few yards from our entertainer's gates, and, being of a some- 

 what timorous disposition, generally brought with him, in ad- 

 dition to his table-servant, a torch bearer for further security, 

 travelling in one of the old-fashioned sedan-chairs carried by a 

 couple of Khasias — a cavalcade sufficient, one would imagine, 

 to frighten the life out of any Tiger. His house was round a 

 bend, and about half a mile distant. One night we parted 

 with him at the junction, where he got into the ancient con- 

 veyance, and we each pursued our way, reaching our respective 

 houses in due course. Not so the magistrate, who had scarce 

 reached the bend of the road, when away fled retainers and 

 chairmen, having come suddenly upon a Tiger. The poor man 

 was in fix, for though the chair was stout enough to resist all 

 attempts to open it, the wind was beginning to rise and might 

 not only topple it over, but smash in the panels. The occu- 

 pant yelled and shouted, but to no purpose ; he was far too 

 frightened to come out and make the best of his way home, 

 and at that time of night there was not the remotest likelihood 

 of anyone passing along the lonely road. The best had to be 

 made of matters, and so he passed the night in a dress suit, 

 expecting every moment that the enemy would put in an ap- 

 pearance. Daylight released him at last, but he contracted an 

 attack of rheumatism that lasted his lifetime. Traps were 

 placed all over the station, and a goodly number of Tigers 

 caught in this way, though there is always a feeling of repug- 



