118 COMBAT OF 



vour to break through, they may be killed immedi- 

 ately. This, however, is not so easily effected, but 

 that many of these poor wretches are torn in pieces 

 or dreadfully wounded by the enraged animals. 



When every thing is in readiness, the cage of the 

 buffalo is first opened at the top, and his back is 

 rubbed with the leaves of a certain plant, which have 

 the singular quality of occasioning intolerable pain. 

 The door of the cage is then set open, and the ani- 

 mal leaps out, raging with agony, and roaring most 

 dreadfully. The cage of the tiger is then likewise 

 opened, and fire is thrown into it, to make the beast 

 quit it ; which he generally does, running backwards 

 out of it. The tiger no sooner perceives the buffalo, 

 than he springs upon him : his huge opponent stands 

 expecting him, with his horns upon the ground, in 

 order to catch him upon them, and throw him in 

 the air. If the buffalo succeeds in his design, and 

 the tiger recovers from his fall, he generally loses 

 every wish of renewing the combat ; and if the tiger 

 avoids this first attempt of the buffalo, he springs 

 upon him, and seizing him in the neck, or other parts, 

 tears his flesh from his bones. In most cases, how- 

 ever, the strength of the buffalo overcomes the address 

 and ferocity of the tiger. 



This gentleman has promised to pass a few weeks 

 at Belvoir Castle, which will probably afford me op- 



