160 THE TIGER. 
them—who actually “preserve” the Tiger as carefully as English squires preserve foxes, 
and will permit none to be killed except those whose honourable fate calls them to die 
nominally by a royal hand. Nominally, because it only needs that the Oriental potentate 
should once discharge his weapon for the assembled crowd to give him the credit of killing 
the Tiger, even though the muzzle of his piece may at the time have been pointed to the 
zenith. Nowhere does courtiership reign so diseuiseless as in the East. 
The Tiger is a capital swimmer, and will take to the water with perfect readiness, 
either in search of prey, or to escape the pursuit of enemies. 
It has been known to carry its aquatic audacity to such an extent, as to board a vessel, 
and by its unexpected advent, to cause an involuntary mutiny among the crew. Some 
jumped into a boat that was being towed astern, others leaped overboard, and sought 
safety in swimming, while others fled into the cabin, and barricaded the doors thereof. 
The 'Tiger, meanwhile, was left in possession of the vessel, but not comprehending the use 
of a rudder, he soon drove the vessel ashore, and springing to land, he indulged in a few 
erowls at the occupants of the boat, and then disappeared in the jungle. 
The Tiger swims rather high in the water, and therefore affords a good mark to those 
who are quick of aim. His natatory abilities are by no means small, and while swimming 
he can strike out with his paws most effectively, inflicting deep wounds wherever his 
outspread talons make good their aim. So cunning is the animal, that if there should 
be no cause for hurry, it will halt on the river’s brink, and deliberately put its paw into 
the water, so as to ascertain the force of the stream. This point being made clear, it 
proceeds either up or down the river, as may best suit its purpose, and so makes allowance 
for the river stream, or the ocean tide. 
The experienced natives say that there are more female than male Tigers, and that 
this discrepancy in numbers is caused by the unnatural behaviour of the adult males, who 
destroy every young one of their own sex upon whom they can lay a paw. All Tigers, 
when wild, seem to have a habit of rolling themselves in dusty spots, probably for the 
purpose of destroying the parasitic insects with which these animals are largely infested. » 
This process is analogous to the dust-baths, of which birds are so fond. 
In all barbarous ages, men have been accustomed to seek amusement by witnessing 
the combats which take place between various animals, among whom the armed human 
animal was the favourite. Next to the gladiatorial duels with which we are all familiar, 
stand the combats between vartous ferocious beasts, such as the lion, tiger, leopard, &e. 
Even to the present day, and in the Christian world, vast multitudes of people derive 
ferocious gratification from the tortures of an irritated bull, and the imminent peril of 
human life and limb that forms the most exciting part of the spectacle. Therefore, it is 
no cause of wonder that in the heathen world, combats of a similar nature should minister 
largely to the savage joys of the inhabitants. Many animals are kept solely for the 
purpose of fighting each other, or of contending with certain enemies, whether human or 
bestial, which are brought to oppose them. 
The cruel sports which delight the Oriental monarchs are familiar to all students of 
the Oriental character, who have found an admirable subject of contemplation in the last 
monarch who has ruled, or pretended to rule, the great kingdom of Oude. All kinds of 
animals were kept by this sensualist, simply for the purpose of fighting each other, and 
among the most celebrated of these warlike animals was the magnificent Tiger known by 
the name of JUNGLA. 
This splendid animal has been brought to England, and I have been fortunate enough 
to procure a portrait, drawn from the living creature. 
“Jungla” is one of the finest, if not the very finest Tiger that has ever set foot on 
English ground, and even when penned in the straight limits of a wooden cage that would 
not permit his noble head to be raised to its full height, and only gave room for a 
single short step backwards and forwards, his grand proportions were most striking. His 
present age is about five years. 
In height he is about four feet, and the relative proportions can be judged from the 
illustration. The total length of the animal is said, by his keeper, to be thirteen feet six 
inches, and in girth he measures four feet eight inches. The principal peculiarity in the 
