82 FEROCITY OF THE JAGUAR. 



he is easily dislodged with fire-arms or lances, but 

 not so readily from the second; yet some of the 

 Indians occasionally venture to approach him, carry- 

 ing spears, and having their left arms covered with 

 a sheep's skin ; a temerity too often followed with 

 fatal consequences. The traveller who unfortu- 

 nately falls in with this fierce animal, especially 

 after sunset, has little time for consideration; should 

 he he urged to the attack by hunger, not even fire- 

 brands, so terrible in general to ravenous creatures, 

 nor the loudest shouts, avail to frighten him; nothing 

 short of the celerity of a musket-ball can anticipate 

 his murderous intentions. The aim must be quick 

 and steady ; life or death depend upon the result. 



Many parts of South America, once grievously 

 infested by Jaguars, are now free from them, or 

 only occasionally subjected to their incursions ; 

 for however terrific, they, in common w r ith all their 

 rapacious brethren, are easily exterminated by the 

 use of fire-arms. Such also is the case in the an- 

 cient continents. Tigers used to swarm in the wild 

 jungles of Currah and Camaulpoor, but, since the 

 country has been settled under the British govern- 

 ment, they have gradually disappeared, and they will 

 soon become as rare in the East as in the West. 

 Reptiles of various descriptions retain their hold in a 

 country much longer. 



The Puma and the Jaguar will seldom attack men 

 except under the excitement of fear or hunger, but 

 they wage continual war upon the smaller animals, 

 roaming along the sea-coast and in the neighbourhood 

 of houses. Should, however, their intended victims 

 boldly repel them, they may be often seen to dart 



