v THE TIGER 91 



ingly stealthy animal, which can approach without the slightest 

 noise, and attack without giving any notice of its presence. A 

 curious example of this danger was given a few years ago in the 

 Nagpur district. A tigress had killed so many people that a large 

 reward was offered for her destruction ; she had killed and dragged 

 away a native, but being disturbed, she had left the body without 

 eating any portion. The shikaris considered that she would prob- 

 ably return to her prey during the night, if left undisturbed upon 

 the spot where she had forsaken it. There were no trees, nor any 

 timber that was suitable for the construction of a mucharn; it was 

 accordingly resolved that four deep holes should be dug, forming 

 the corners of a square, the body lying in the centre. Each hole 

 was to be occupied by a shikari with his matchlock. The watchers 

 took their positions. Nothing came ; until at length the moon 

 went down, and the night was dark. The men were afraid to get 

 out of their hiding-places to walk home through the jungles that 

 were infested by the man-eater ; they remained in their holes, and 

 some of them fell asleep. 



When daylight broke, three of the shikaris issued from their 

 positions, but the fourth had disappeared ; his hole was empty ! 

 A few yards distant, his matchlock was discovered lying upon the 

 ground, and upon the dusty surface were the tracks of the tiger, 

 and the sweeping trace where the body had been dragged as the 

 man-eater carried it along. Upon following up the track, the 

 remains of the unlucky shikari were discovered, a considerable 

 portion having been devoured ; but the tigress had disappeared. 

 This cunning brute had won the game, and she was not killed until 

 twelve months afterwards, although many persons devoted them- 

 selves to her pursuit. 



Many incredible stories have been told concerning the power of 

 a tiger in carrying away his prey, and I have heard it positively 

 stated by persons who should have known better, that a tiger can 

 carry off a native cow simply through the strength of the jaws 

 and neck. This is ridiculous, as the height of the cow exceeds 

 that of the tiger, therefore a portion of the body must drag upon 

 the ground. The cattle of India are exceedingly small, and are 

 generally lean, the weight of an ordinary cow would hardly exceed 

 350 or 400 Ibs. ; as an average male tiger weighs about the same, 

 it can of course drag its own weight by lifting the body partially 

 in its mouth, and thus relieving the friction upon the ground. In 

 this manner it is astonishing to see the strength exerted in 

 pulling and lifting a dead bullock over projecting roots of trees, 

 rocky torrent beds, and obstructions that would appear to be 



