70 TIGER. 



stantly retires abashed ; but, when successful, carries off 

 the largest animal, with almost as much apparent facility 

 as a cat would carry off a mouse. 



A species of cruelty has been remarked in the character 

 of the tiger unknown to the generous lion ; as well as a 

 kind of cowardice, when under the impulse of surprise, or 

 when frustrated in its aim. It is related, on good autho- 

 rity, that, about the beginning of the last century, a party 

 of ladies and gentlemen, on the banks of a river in 

 Bengal, observed, under the shade of some trees, a tiger, 

 in the act of preparing for its fatal spring. In this very 

 critical dilemma, one of the ladies, with astonishing pre- 

 sence of mind, seized an umbrella, and unfurled it full 

 in the animal's face ; upon which he instantly retreated, 

 and thus gave the company an opportunity of withdrawing 

 from the presence of such a dreadful and unexpected 

 neighbour. 



I am sorry to have a melancholy catastrophe to record 

 relating to some of our too-venturous countrymen, in 

 which the tiger unhappily proved successful in his aim. 

 On the 22d of December, 1792, Mr. Munro (only son of 

 Sir Hector Munro, K. B.) and three other gentlemen, 

 went on shore on Saugur-island, in the East Indies, to 

 shoot deer. They saw several tracks of tigers, but never- 

 theless incautiously continued their sport for several hours ; 

 after which they sat down on the edge of a jungle to refresh 

 themselves; first taking the usual precaution to light a 

 large fire round them, and to discharge several pieces in 

 the air, to disturb any savage beast that might be lurking 

 near. They had but just commenced their repast, when 

 some of their attendants brought word that a fine deer had 

 approached within six yards of them. The gentlemen in- 

 stantly seized their guns ; when a roar was heard like 

 thunder, and an immense royal tiger sprang on the unfor- 

 tunate Munro, and bore him through bushes and every 

 obstacle, without any apparent effort, every thing yield- 

 ing to its prodigious strength. In this horrid situation, his 

 companions fired at the savage, and (as it appeared) not 



