60 HISTORY OF THE TIGER. 



to prowl around the villages, and attack the cattle, to seize 

 indiscriminately whatever comes in his way. Travelling 

 parties are followed, and a luckless straggler seldom 

 escapes ; the baggage-trains, consisting of troops of oxen 

 and buffalos trained to the yoke, are closely watched, and 

 though attended during the day with drums and noisy 

 instruments, and during the night with torches, a journey 

 is seldom performed without some accident or attack. 



Various methods were formerly employed by the natives 

 to destroy this animal, most of which could only be partially 

 successful. One of the most approved methods, and one 

 that is practiced to a considerable extent in Russia, is men- 

 tioned in the Oriental Field Sports. 



This device consists of a large spherical cage, made of 

 strong bamboos, or other efficient materials, woven together, 

 but leaving intervals throughout of about three or four 

 inches broad. Under this cover, which is fastened to the 

 ground by means of pickets, in some place where tigers 

 abound, a man provided with two or three short strong 

 spears, takes his post at night, being accompanied by a 

 dog, which gives the alarm, or by a goat, which, by its 

 agitation, answers the same purpose, the adventurer wraps 

 himself up in his quilt, and very composedly goes to sleep, 

 in full confidence of his safety. When a tiger comes, and, 

 perhaps after smelling all around, begins to rear against the 

 cage, the man stabs him with one of his spears through the 

 openings of the wicker-work, and rarely fails of destroying 

 the tiger, which is ordinarily found dead at no great distance 

 in the morning." 



Another very curious mode of hunting the tiger is said to 

 be practiced among the Chinese at this day ; and corres- 

 ponding with the sculptured representations of the ancients. 

 It is taking them in a box-trap, to which the animal is 

 attracted by a looking-glass, placed in the inside, and when 

 attacking its own image, it disengages the fastening of the 



