THE TIGER. 147 



low one more experienced than ourselves to describe 

 the hunt*. 



" We found immense quantities of game, wild 

 jhogs, hog-deer, and the Neil-ghie, (literally blue- 

 | cow.) We, however, strictly abstained from firing, 

 | reserving our whole battery for the nobler game, the 

 ; tiger. It was perhaps fortunate that we did not find 

 ! one in the thick part of the forest, as the trees were 

 so close set, and so interwoven with thorns and pa- 

 i rasite plants, that the elephants were often obliged to 

 ! clear for themselves a passage by their own pressing 

 exertions. It is curious on these occasions to see 

 the enormous trees these animals will overthrow on 

 ia word from the mahout, they place their foreheads 

 against the obnoxious plants, twisting their trunks 

 round it, and gradually bending it towards the 

 \ ground, until they can place a foot upon it. This 

 done, down comes the tree with crashing stem and 

 upturned roots. The elephant must be well educated 

 to accomplish this duty in a gentlemanlike manner : 

 that is, without roaring sulkily, or shaking his mas- 

 ter by too violent exertions. 



" On clearing the wood, we entered an open space 

 . of marshy grass, not three feet high ; a large herd 

 : of cattle were feeding there, and the herdsman was 



* So many accounts of tiger hunts have .lately been be- 

 : fore the public, that we have had some difficulty in making 

 i the selection. The one we have chosen is from Captain 

 , Mundy's Sketches, and will serve also to shew the danger 

 tdiich is sometimes run by the keenness of the elephant. 



