;TIGER. 



Surprise^ by observing a tiger placing himself in a posture for 

 making the fatal spring. One of the ladies, with amazing pres- 

 ence of mind, seizing an umbrella, and unfurling it directly in 

 the monster's face, it instantly retired. Another party, however, 

 had not the same good fortune, and we cannot, without sorrow, 

 record the melancholy catastrophe. 



On the 22d of December, 1792, Mr. Munro, an illustrious 

 character, and three other gentlemen, went on shore on Sauger 

 island, in the East Indies, to shoot deer. They saw several tracks 

 of tigers ; notwithstanding, they continued their sport for some 

 hours, and then sat down to rest themselves, after taking the 

 usual precaution of making a great fire, and firing their pieces 

 several times in the air, in order to terrify and drive away any 

 savage animals that might be lurking around. They had but 

 just commenced their repast, when one of their attendants in- 

 formed them that a fine deer had approached within six yards. 

 The gentlemen instantly seized their guns, when a tremendous 

 roar like thunder was heard, and an enormous tiger sprang on 

 the unfortunate Munro, and carried him off through bushes and 

 every other obstacle, without any apparent difficulty ; every thing 

 yielding to his prodigious strength. 



In this dreadful emergency, the other gentlemen immediately 

 fired at the beast, and, as it appeared, not without effect, for in 

 a few minutes Mr. Munro rejoined them, covered with blood. 

 They lost no time in procuring medical assistance, but the un- 

 fortunate gentleman's skull was so fractured by the teeth of 

 the monster, and his neck so torn by its claws, that he survived 

 but a short time. Thus fell a worthy and gallant officer, who, 

 had he not been cut off by this unfortunate accident, would un- 

 doubtedly have rendered the most essential services to his coun- 

 try. This tiger appeared to be not less than four feet and a half 

 high, and nine long ; and when he made the fatal spring, his roar 

 was terrible beyond description. Fierce and tremendous as this 

 animal is, the hunting of him is a favourite diversion with some 

 of the eastern princes. 



The tigress produces four or five young at a litter, and when 

 robbed of them, her fury rises to the most ungovernable height : 

 regardless of danger, she pursues tne plunderers, who are gene- 

 rally compelled to release one of their captives, in order to re- 

 tard her progress : she has no sooner, however, taken it to the 

 nearest covert, than she renews the pursuit even to the gates of 

 buildings, or the edge of the sea ; and when her exertions prove 

 unavailing, she expresses her maternal agony by the most tre- 

 mendous howlings. 



