46 an the tiger,- Sept. I2f 



with the sailors in their hammocks ; and would suf- 

 fer two or three of therti to repose their heads upon 

 its back, as upon a pillow, whilst it lay stretched out 

 upon the deck. In return for this, however, it would 

 now and then st^al their meat. Having one daj 

 Taken a, piece of meat from the carpenter, he followed 

 the animal, took the meat cut of its mouth, and beat 

 it severely for the theft -, which punifhment it suf- 

 fered with the patience of a dog. It would frequent- 

 ly run out upon the bowsprit ; climb about the Ihip 

 like a cat ; and perform a number of tricks, with an 

 agility that was truly astonilhing. There was a dog 

 on board the fliip, with which it would often play in ■ 

 the most diverting manner. 



If there were no reason to doubt the truth of this 

 account, still we must advert that it was only a month 

 or six weeks old when it was taken on board the fhip. 

 It is probable, from what is known ta be the case with 

 others, tliat when it had attained a mature age, its 

 natural ferocity might have returned ; for among the 

 great number of tigers which have been carried 

 through this country as a Ihow, it is found, in gene- 

 ral, that neither gentlenefs nor restraint have any ef- 

 fect in softening its temper. It does not seem sen- 

 sible of the attention of its keeper ; and would equal- 

 ly tear the hand that feeds, with that which chastises 

 it. 



We are informed by captain Hamilton, that ia 

 Shindah Raja's dominions there are no lefs than three 

 sorts of tigers, the smallest of which are the fiercest. 

 The small ones are about two feet high, the second 

 three feet, and the larger sort above three feet and au 



