50 THE TIGER. 



been made to clear and settle it ; and. indeed, an enterprise 

 of this kind would, in the opinion of those who are best ac- 

 quainted with the country, be extremely dangerous, if not 

 impracticable. 



The Tiger generally grows to a larger size than the 

 Leopard or the Panther, though somewhat more slender in 

 proportion to its length and height ; and its form so com- 

 pletely resembles that of the domestic cat, as to induce us 

 to consider the latter animal as a Tiger in miniature. The 

 most striking difference we observe between the Tiger and 

 the other mottled animals of the cat kind consists in the dif 

 ferent marks on the skin. The Panther, Leopard, &c., are 

 spotted, but the tiger is ornamented with long streaks quite 

 across its body. The ground color, in the most beautiful, 

 is yellow, very deep on the back, growing lighter towards 

 the belly, where it softens into white, as it also does at the 

 throat and insides of the legs. The stripes are of a beauti- 

 ful black ; and the entire skin is so extremely fine, smooth, 

 and glossy, that it is much esteemed, and sold at a high 

 price in all the eastern countries, especially China. The 

 mandarins cover with it their seats of justice, and also use 

 it for cushions and pillows. 



Notwithstanding the determined ferocity of this creature, 

 a sudden surprise has sometimes had an almost miraculous 

 effect in preventing its attack. Some ladies and gentlemen, 

 being on a party of pleasure under the shade of trees on 

 the banks of a river in Bengal, were suddenly surprised by 

 observing a Tiger place himself in a posture for making 

 the fatal spring. One of the ladies, with amazing presence 

 of mind, seized an umbrella, and opening it directly in the 

 monster's face, it instantly retired. The ferocity of the 



