THE TIGER. 155 
of laudation towards the successful hunter, and of anger towards his victim, which may now 
be insulted with perfect impunity. Besides the ordinary trophies, which consist of the 
skin, claws, teeth, and the ordinary reminiscences of success, other portions of the Tiger 
are eagerly sought by the natives, the tongue and liver bearing the highest value. 
These organs are appropriated to the medical art, and after being chopped into little 
dice-like cubes, are prepared after some Esculapian and mysterious fashion, and thence- 
forward hold rank as remedies of the first order. 
Another, though less gallant, mode of killing Tigers is by setting certain enormous nets, 
supported on stakes, so as to form an inclosure, into which the animal is partly enticed 
and partly driven. 
The height of the stakes to which the nets are suspended is about thirteen feet ; so 
that, allowing for the droop at the upper portion of the toils, the nets are about eleven feet 
in height at their lowest point. It is, however, rather a stupid, and withal hazardous, mode 
of Tiger-hunting, and is not very often employed. It requires the aid of a very large body 
of men, and besides there is always arisk of inclosing some large animal, such as the buffalo 
or elephant, which rushes madly forward, and with the irresistible impetus of its huge body 
bears to the ground nets, stakes, and sentinels, leaving a wide path free for the remainder 
of the inclosed game to follow. 
In order to induce the Tiger to leave its lair and to enter the toils, all possible means 
are used. Fires are lighted, burning torches are waved, euns are fired, drums are beaten, 
and, lastly, fireworks are largely employed. The most effective kind of firework is one 
which is made on the rocket principle, the tube which holds the fiery composition being 
of iron, and the “tail,” or shaft, of bamboo. The rocket is held in the hand like a spear, 
and the fuse lighted. When it begins to fling out its burning contents, and to pull against 
the hand of the throw er, it is launched by hand, as if it were a spear, in the direction of 
the concealed quarry. An extremely powerful impulse is given by the burning compo- 
sition, and the missile rushes furiously onward, scattering on every side its burden of 
fiery sparkles, hissing and roaring with a terrible sound, and striking right and left with 
its long wooden tail. 
Noi Tiger can endure this fiery dragon which comes on with such fury, and accordingly 
the terrified animal dashes out of cover, and makes for the nearest place of concealment. 
But so artfully managed is the whole business that his only path of escape takes him 
among the nets, and, once there, his doom is certain. He cannot leap over the toils, 
because they are too high, nor break them down, because they are so arranged that they 
would only fall on him, and inclose him in their treacherous folds. Should he endeavour 
to climb over the rope fence, he exposes himself as a target for bullets and arrows 
innumerable ; and, if he yields the point, and tries to conceal himself as best he may, he 
only delays his fate for a time, falling a victim to the watchful enemies who start him 
from his last fortress, and, from the safe eminence of an elephant’s back, or the branches of 
a tree, pour their leaden hail on the devoted victim. 
This mode of hunting, as well as the more legitimate custom of following the Tiger 
into the jungle, while mounted on elephants, requires the aid of many men, elephants, 
and horses, and cannot be undertaken every day. There is, however, another method of 
killing this terrible beast, which, when employed by hunters who understand each other's 
plans, rand can place the fullest reliance on their mutual courage and tact, is more destruc- 
tive to the fierce quarry than even the netting system, with its mob of beasts and men. 
Two, or at the most three, hunters set out on their campaign, accompanied by their 
chosen “beaters” and other servants, and start with the determination of bearding the 
Tiger in his den, unaided by horse or elephant. It is a bold plan, yet, like many bold 
plans, succeeds through its very audacity. 
The object of the beaters is by no means to give assistance when a Tiger is started, 
because they always run away as soon as the brute shows itself ; but to make so astounding 
a noise that the Tiger cannot remain in the vicinity. When they reach a likely, or as it 
is termed, a “ Tigerish ” spot, they shout, they yell, they fire pistols, they rattle stones in 
metal pans, they beat drums, they ring bells, they blow horns, and, by their united 
endeavours, produce such horrible discord, that not even a Tiger dare face such a mass of 
