vii THE TIGER 151 



toll from those within a radius of four or five miles, always return- 

 ing to the same haunts, and occupying or laying up in the same 

 jungle. The great peculiarity of this particular tiger consisted in 

 the extreme contempt for firearms : it exposed itself almost with- 

 out exception when driven by a line of beaters, and when shot at 

 it simply escaped, only to reappear upon the following day. I was 

 informed that everybody that had gone after it had obtained a 

 shot, but bullets were of no use against a devil, therefore it was 

 always missed. 



I was 30 miles distant when I heard of this tiger, and I 

 immediately directed our course towards Bhundra. It was a pretty 

 and interesting place, where the presence of rich hematite iron ore 

 has from time immemorial induced a settlement of smelters. There 

 are jungle-covered low hills upon which large trees are growing, yet 

 all such important mounds are composed of refuse from furnaces, 

 which were worked some hundred years ago. 



We arrived there early in May during the hottest season, and 

 the clear stream below the village, rushing over a rocky bed, was 

 a sufficient attraction to entice the animals from a great distance. 

 This would account for the permanent residence of tigers. 



The headman was a Thakur, a person of importance, and, as 

 our camp had been sent forward on the previous day, we found 

 everything in readiness upon our arrival; the Thakur and his 

 people were in attendance. 



After the usual salutations, I inquired concerning the celebrated 

 tiger : " How long was it since it had been heard of? " 



The Thakur placidly inquired of our attendant, and I was 

 informed that three days had elapsed since it killed the last cow ; 

 it would therefore in all probability kill another animal to-morrow. 

 There was no excitement visible, but the natives spoke of the tiger 

 as coolly and as unconcernedly as though it had been the postman. 



My shikari was present, and I ordered him to tie up a good 

 large buffalo, in prime condition, as the tiger was in the habit of 

 selecting the best cattle for attack. After some delay, an excellent 

 buffalo was brought for inspection, about sixteen months old, in 

 fine condition, and there was little doubt that the tiger would 

 attack, as the period had arrived when they might expect a kill. 



The Thakur knew the exact position for the buffalo as bait, 

 and he coolly assured me that the tiger would certainly kill, and 

 that on the following day I should as certainly get a shot, but 

 that the bullet would either fall from the hide, or in some way 

 miss the object. He declared that upon several occasions he had 

 himself obtained a shot, like everybody else, but it was useless, 



