66 LLOYD’S NATURAL HISTORY. 
fore, but the most comieff 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 Assistant 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 upona 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-sult, | 
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- | 
