THE TIGER. 147 



low one more experienced than ourselves to describe 

 the hunt*. 



" We found immense quantities of game, wild 

 hogs, 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- 

 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 

 a 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 

 the selection. The one we have chosen is from Captain 

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

 orhich is sometimes run by the keenness of the elephant. 



