346 TIGER. 



the thickest bushes and trees, every thing giving 

 way to his monstrous strength ; a Tigress accom- 

 panied his progress. The united agonies of horror, 

 regret, and fear, rushed at once upon us. I fired 

 on the Tiger : he seemed agitated : my companion 

 jfired also, and, in a few moments after this, our 

 unfortunate friend came up to us, bathed in blood. 

 Every medical assistance was vain, and he expired 

 in the space of twenty-four hours, having received 

 such deep wounds from the teeth and claws of the 

 animal as rendered his recovery hopeless. A large 

 nre, consisting of ten or twelve whole trees, was 

 blazing by us at the time this accident took place; 

 and ten or more of the natives with us. The hu- 

 man mind can scarce form any idea of this scene 

 of horror. We had hardly pushed our boat from 

 that accursed shore, when the Tigress made her 

 appearance, almost raging mad, and remained on 

 the sand all the while we continued in sight." 



The Tiger is described by Pliny as an animal of 

 tremendous swiftness: " animal tremendce velocita- 

 tis. " This, however, is said to be not so applicable 

 to the pace of the animal in running, as to the ve- 

 locity of his spring when darting on his prey. 

 There can be little doubt, however, that the Ti- 

 ger is in reality an animal of great swiftness, and 

 Mr. Pennant adduces the authorities of two faith- 

 ful travellers, viz. Pere Gerbillon and Mr. Bell, 

 in confirmation of Pliny's account. 



The Tio'er has been known to attack even a 



O 



Lion, and both animals have perished in the con- 

 flict. The Tigress, like the Lioness, produces 



