78 FIGHT BETWEEN AN 



There, in a suitable tree; I had a Munchan erected, 

 well above the pool, and commanding all the 

 approaches. I was snugly seated therein one 

 evening shortly after sunset, and had just laid 

 down a newly -received number of Blackwood, 

 when the ShiJcaree exclaimed, '■'■ Listen, Sahib I " I 

 did listen, and such dreadful sounds I never heard 

 before or since. At first they appeared to come 

 from a great distance, but gradually came nearer, 

 and the mingled roaring aud groans of a tiger 

 w^ere then distinctly audible. " Wliat can be 

 the cause of this ? " inquired I of the ^hUtaree, 

 " I think it is a tiger that has been poisoned. 

 Sahib," said my comj^anion ; '' the villagers 

 often poison them when they destroy too many 

 of their cattle." After a short time a very large 

 tiger appeared, foaming at the mouth, his coat 

 staring, and the wdiole appearance of the animal 

 evincing the most intense suffering. Rushing 

 towards the river, the tiger plunged in and com- 

 menced lapping the w^ater wdth greedy avidity, 

 as if to allay the burning fire raging Avithin 

 from the effects of the poison. He then came 

 out and commenced rolling on the ground and 

 biting at the bushes, seemingly in the most dread- 

 ful agony. A second time he dashed into the 



