THE TYGER. 161 



their pieces several times in the air, in order to terrify 

 und drive away any savage animals that might be 

 lurking around. They had but just commenced their 

 repast, when one of their attendants informed them 

 that a fine deer had approached within six yards. 

 The gentlemen instantly seized their guns, when a 

 tremendous roar like thunder was heard, and an enor*- 

 mous tyger sprang on the unfortunate Monro, and 

 carried him off through bushes and every other ob- 

 stacle, without any apparent difficulty ; every thing 

 yielding to his prodigious strength. 



In this dreadful emergency, the other gentlemen 

 immediately fired at the beast, and, as it appeared, 

 not without effect, for in a few minutes Mr. Monro 

 rejoined them, covered with blood. They lost no 

 time in procuring medical assistance, but the unfortu- 

 nate gentleman's skull was so fractured by the teeth 

 of the monster, and his neck so torn by its claws, that 

 he survived but a short time. Thus fell a worthy and 

 gallant officer, who, had he not been cut of!' by this 

 unfortunate accident, would undoubtedly have ren- 

 dered the most essential services to his country. This 

 tyger appeared to be not less than four feet and a half 

 high, and nine long; and when he m?de the fatal 

 spring, his roar was terrible beyond description. 

 Fierce and tremendous as this animal is, the hunting 

 of him is a favorite diversion with some of the eastern 

 princes. 



The tygress produces four or five young at a litter, 

 and when robbed of them, her fury rises to the most 

 ungovernable height: regardless Of danger, she pur- 

 sues the plunderers, who are generally-compelled to 

 release one of their captives, in order to retard her 

 progress : she has no sooner, however, taken it to the 

 nearest covert, than she renews the pursuit even to 

 the gates of buildings, or the edge of the sea; and 

 when her exertions prove unavailing, she expresses 

 her maternal agony by the rnost tremendous howl- 

 ings. 



