DOMESTICATED TIGERS. 2-1-5 



man to subdue the most ferocious and bloodthirsty of 

 all animals, the tiger. He says, that some of the 

 Foukeers, or mendicant priests, in many parts of 

 Bengal, keep tigers in a state of domestication. He 

 saw one near Colgony, that appeared under subjec- 

 tion to the Foukeer. This priest lived in a small hut, 

 in the midst of a wilderness infested with tigers. 

 The hut stood on a hill, overlooking the flat country 

 on the opposite side of the Ganges. The Foukeer 

 used to walk almost daily to the town, accompanied 

 by the tiger, which seemed to create no alarm amongst 

 the inhabitants, who had perfect confidence in the 

 command the priest had over him.* But Mr. Hervey 

 could not discover by what means this influence was 

 obtained, as it was clearly the interest of the crafty 

 priest to keep his art a secret, that he might retain 

 the veneration of the people, who, doubtless, attri- 

 buted his power over savage beasts to his sanctity. 

 It could not proceed from attachment to one person, 

 so beautifully displayed in many species of animals, 

 particularly the elephant and the dog ; because none 

 but these priests are ever able to tame the fierceness 

 of the tiger, or convert its cruel temper into any thing 

 like friendship, though taken ever so young. It is, 

 therefore, a sort of phenomenon for which Europeans 

 cannot account. The tiger is a beautiful creature ; but, 



* Williamson's Oriental Tield Sports. 



