207 



" wild brethren they generally kept at a respectful distance. If a 

 " pack of wild dogs were to attempt to close in on a tiger to kill 

 " him, they must leave some of their number dead on the battle 

 " ground before they succeeded. Yet I have never heard of any 

 " one meeting with such a sign. The tiger, like all the cat tribe, 

 " is not naturally a bold animal, and though both he and the 

 " leopard will not hesitate to steal on and kill the largest dog, yet 

 " they have not the courage to fairly face a pack of the smallest 

 " curs ; the instinct of the wild dcg has taught him this, and hence, 

 " I imagine, the cause of the scene my friend witnessed. 



" Let me take this opportunity of adding a few remarks on the 

 " courage of tigers. I have constantly heard it stated that the 

 " tigers in Southern India and especially those on the Neilgherries, 

 " are less courageous than the same animal in Central India. I can 

 " understand certain animals of the same species being more savage 

 " than others ; but I cannot understand a district, whether North, 

 " South, East or West, producing that effect ! and here I am at 

 " issue with " HAWKEYE," who states, if I recollect aright, that the 

 " bears in the Northern Division are more savage than those down 

 " south. With regard to the tiger, the different manner of shoot- 

 " ing him may have a deal to do with his apparent courage a rat, 

 " if badgered and bullied when driven into a corner, will turn on 

 " one. There is a vast difference between driving out a tiger with 

 " a line of elephants and hundreds of yelling beaters with tom- 

 " toms, rockets and what not, and stealing on him unawares in the 

 " deep and silent jungle, and planting a bullet in his striped hide ; 

 " the latter is enough to terrify an animal of much greater natural 

 " courage than a tiger. We cannot hunt the tiger in the South as 

 " they do in Bengal, we have not the means, and our heavy forests 

 " would not admit of it if we had ; but I think if we could stir 

 " him up as they do, he would charge as well home here as he 

 " does there. Remember it is generally at the elephant the charge 

 " is made, one of their own brute beasts, and not at the superior 

 " animal man that they will charge man many an unfortunate 

 " black, and white too, has known to his cost, but as a rule it is 

 " only when driven to it, fear making them desperate ; for I maiu- 

 " tain that all tigers are cowards and sneaks, but very dangerous 



