THE TIGER. 145 



his jaw, with the same intention, by which means his 

 eyes, ears, &c. become agglutinated, and occasion 

 such uneasiness, as causes him to roll, perhaps among 

 many more of the smeared leaves, till at length he 

 becomes completely enveloped, and is deprived of 

 sight, and in this situation he may be compared to 

 a man who has been tarred and feathered. The 

 anxiety produced by this strange and novel predica- 

 ment, soon discovers itself in dreadful bowlings, which 

 serve to call the watchful peasants, who in this state 

 find no difficulty in shooting the object of their de- 

 testation." 



In addition to these we shall only mention ano- 

 ther device said to be at this day practised among 

 the Chinese ; and singular, as corresponding with the 

 sculptured representation of the ancients. It is 

 taking them in a box-trap, to which the animal is 

 attracted by a looking-glass, placed in the inside, 

 and when attacking its own image, it disengages the 

 fastening of the lid of the box. This very subject is 

 represented by Montfaucon, as carved upon one of 

 the sides of the tomb of the Nasus, and I believe the 

 ancient origin of it is also confirmed by Claudian. 



Since India became so much the country of Eu- 

 ropeans, the race of tigers has been much thinned, 

 and ere long it is probable that they will be driven 

 to the most remote and impenetrable districts. Hunt- 

 ing the tiger is a sport exclusively Indian ; and it 

 suits well to the ardour and spirit of British sports- 



