THE TIGER. 148 



animal passing. The bow is made of split bamboo, 

 from six to eight feet in length, and at the middle 

 from nine to ten inches in girth. The string is of 

 strong catgut, and often half an inch in circumference. 

 The bow is fixed with great nicety at the middle by 

 two stakes, distant enough to allow the arrow to 

 pass freely without touching, and placed at a distance 

 from the ground, in proportion to the size of the 

 animal to be killed. The string is drawn back and 

 fastened by a wedge, to which a cord is attached, 

 and strained moderately tight to a stake on the op- 

 posite side of the path, to be traversed by the ani- 

 mal. The tiger generally falls within 200 yards of 

 the fatal shot, being frequently struck through the 

 lungs, and often through the heart, and the poison, 

 if less mortally wounded, seldom fails to kill within 

 the hour. 



A heavy beam is also sometimes suspended over 

 the path, to which a cord is attached, which is in 

 like manner disengaged, and the animal is crushed 

 below the weight of the wood. Another method 

 said to be common in Persia, is mentioned in the 

 Oriental Field Sports. " This device consists of 

 a large spherical cage, made of strong bamboos, or 

 other efficient materials, woven together, but leav- 

 ing intervals throughout, of about three or four inches 

 broad. Under this cover,, which is fastened to the 

 ground by means of pickets, in some place where 

 tigers abound, a man provided with two or three short 

 strong spears, takes post at night. Being accompa- 



