THE TIGER. , 



The bars which cross the body perpendicularly from the back to 

 the belly, are of the same beautiful black; and the skin altogether 

 is so extremely fine and glossy, that it is much esteemed, and 

 sold at a high price in all the eastern countries, especially China. 

 The mandarins cover with it their seats of justice, and use it 

 also for cushions and pillows. 



The tiger is said by some to prefer human flesh to that of any 

 other animal : it is certain, however, that it does not, like many 

 other beasts of prey, shun the presence of man, and, far from 

 dreading his opposition, frequently seizes him as his victim. 

 These ferocious animals seldom pursue their prey, but lie in am- 

 bush, and bound upon it with a surprising elasticity, and from a 

 distance almost incredible. The strength, as well as the agility 

 of this animal, are wonderful: it carries off a deer with the great- 

 est ease, and will even carry away a buffalo. If left undisturbed, 

 it plunges its whole head up to the very eyes into the body of its 

 victim, to satiate itself with the blood. It attacks all kinds of 

 animals, except the elephant and rhinoceros: furious combats 

 occasionally happen between the tiger and the lion, in which 

 both sometimes perish. 



The ferocity of the tiger can never be wholly subdued : for 

 neither gentleness nor restraint makes any alteration in its dis- 

 position : it appears insensible of the attention of its keeper, and 

 would tear the hand that feeds it equally with that by which it is 

 chastised. 



Father Fachard has favoured us with an account of a combat 

 between a tiger and two elephants, at Siam, of which he was a 

 spectator. The heads and trunks of the elephants were defended 

 from the claws of the tiger by a covering made for that purpose. 

 They were placed in the midst of a spacious inclosure. One of 

 them approached the tiger, which was confined by cords, and 

 received two or three heavy blows upon its back from the trunk 

 of the elephant, which beat it to the ground, where it lay for 

 some time as if it had been dead ; but although that had much 

 abated its fury, it was no sooner untied, than with a horrible 

 roar it made a spring at the elephant's trunk, which that animal 

 dexterously avoided by drawing it up, and, receiving the tiger on 

 its tusks, threw it up into the air. The other elephant was then 

 allowed to come up, and, after giving the tiger some very heavy 

 blows, would undoubtedly have killed it, if an end had not been 

 put to the combat. 



Notwithstanding the determined ferocity of this creature, a 

 sudden surprise has sometimes had an almost miraculous effect 

 in preventing its attack. 



Some ladies and gentlemen being on a party of pleasure under 

 a shade of trees on the banks of a river in Bengal, were suddenly 



