152 THE TIGER. 
He had crept up to a convenient spot, from whence he could command a clear view of 
the deer, which were lying asleep in the deep grass ; had taken aim at a fine buck which 
was only at twelve y rards® distance, and was just going to draw the trigger, when his 
attention was roused by a strange object which was waving above the grass, a few feet on 
the other side of the deer, It was the tail of a Tiger, which had approached the deer 
from the opposite direction, and had singled out the very animal which was threatened 
by the rifle. Not exactly knowing what kind of an object it was that stirred the grass, 
the sportsman re- -adjusted his piece, and was again going to fire, when a Tiger sprang 
from the cover of the “ moonje” grass, and le raped upon the very buck which had been 
marked out as his own. Under the circumstances, he did not choose to dispute the 
matter, but retreated as quietly as possible, leaving the Tiger in possession of the field. 
The deer was an Axis, or Spotted Deer, animals which are ve ry common in some parts 
of India, and are much appreciated by Tigers as well as men. Peacocks also abound in 
the same districts ; in short, wherever spotted deer and peacocks may be found, Tigers 
are sure to be at no great distance from them. On one occasion, another sportsman ‘had 
wounded a peacock, which fluttered about for a time, and then fell into a little open 
space in the bushes. As these birds, when winged, can run too fast to be overtaken by a 
man, the sportsman ran after the bird in order to catch it as it fell, and on entering the 
little area found himself in the presence of three Tigers, which had been evidently 
asleep, but were just roused by the report of the gun, and were looking about them in a 
dreamy and bewildered manner. The peacock lay dead close to the Tigers, who probably 
lo a light repast on the game thus unexpectedly laid before them, for the sportsman. 
took to ‘4s heels, and did not feel himself safe until he was fairly on board of his vessel. 
he Chicf weapons of the Tiger are his enormous feet, with their sharp sickle-like 
. cut like so many knives when the animal delivers a blow with his powerful 
limb ‘en were the talons retracted, the simple stroke of that sledge-hammer paw is 
sufficient {> strike to the ground as large an animal as an ox; while, if the claws lend 
their trenchant aid to the heavy blow of the limb, the terrible effects may be imagined. 
Besides the severity of the wound which may be inflicted by so fearful a weapon, 
there are other means of destruction that lie hid in the Tiger’s claws. From some cause 
or other,—it may be presumed on account of some peculiar manner in which the claws 
affect the nervous system,—even a trivial wound has often been known to produce 
Jockjaw, and to destroy the victim by the effects of that fearful disease. It may be, 
that the pear of mind caused by the attack of the Tiger, may have some hand 
in the matter. Captain Williamson, an officer of twenty years’ experience in Bengal, 
states that he never knew a person to die from the wounds inflicted by a Tiger's claws 
without suffering from lockjaw previous to death; and he adds, that those cases which 
appeared the least alarming were the most suddenly carried off. 
Many modes are adopted of killing so fearful a pest as the Tiger, and some of these 
plans are very ingenious. 
There is the usual spring-bow, which is placed in the animal’s path, the bow 
drawn to the arrow’s head, and a string leading from the trigger across the path in such 
a manner that the creature presses against it with its breast, discharges the weapon, and 
so receives the arrow in its heart. 
The bow is set by fastening it to two strong posts set by the side of the Tiger's 
path, the string of the bow being parallel with the path. The string is then drawn back 
to its utmost limits, and a stick placed between the bow and the string, thus keeping 
the weapon bent. A long wedge is inserted between the stick and the bow, and the 
liberating cord tied to its projecting end. Lastly, the arrow is laid on the string, and the 
engine is ready for action. Of necessity, as soon as the Tiger presses the cord, the 
wedge is drawn away, the guarding stick drops, and the bow hurls its deadly missile. 
So rapidly does this simple contrivance act, that the Tiger is generally hit near the 
shoulder. The arrow is usually poisoned by means of a thread dipped in some deadly 
mixture, and wrapped round the arrow-point. 
There is another plan, in which human aid is requisite, namely, by building a strong 
bamboo enclosure, in which the hunter lies, armed with a spear. At nightfall the Tiger 
