LEOPARDS, PANTHERS, ETC. 189 



nnd take away the sheep and goats kept within, leaping 

 back with them in their mouths. They come into the 

 streets of the towns or villages at night, where I have 

 often seen them jumping about and chasing each other. 

 Our chief surgeon had a house on the outskirts of the 

 forest, that he might enjoy more room than he could 

 have in barracks ; and one night, while sleeping there, 

 he thought he heard his servant-boys (who generally 

 remained all night in the verandah) dancing outside his 

 bed-room door. He called to them to be quiet, and for 

 a minute or two the noise ceased. As this happened 

 Feveral times, he rose, took a large stick, opened his 

 door a little way, in order to punish them, when, instead 

 of his sable attendants, he saw two large panthers per- 

 forming their own dance ; and it is scarcely necessary 

 to say that he quickly closed his door, and tolerated 

 the nuisance. 



A woman at Annamaboo was very much scarred on 

 one arm and shoulder, in consequence of a panther hav- 

 ing sprung upon her when her child was at her back, 

 and she was carrying a pitcher of water. The pitcher 

 fell, and she made so vigorous an attack upon his eyes, 

 that he became bewildered, and retreated. This is not 

 the only instance I have heard of wild and ferocious 

 animals being driven away by blows on this part. 



A little girl of fourteen, who was to have been my 

 maid as soon as she was old enough, was not as fortu- 

 nate as her neighbour, she being attacked by a panther 

 who sprang upon her through an open window in a 

 room where she was sleeping by herself. Her cries 

 brought her family round her, and the beast made his 

 escape as he had entered ; but having once tasted blood 

 there, he was sure to return, and a trap was made which 



