HISTORY OF THE TIGER. 61 



lid of the box. This very subject is represented by Mont- 

 faucon, as carved upon one of the sides of the tomb of the 

 Nasus, and I believe the ancient origin of it is also confirm- 

 ed by Claudian. 



Since India became so much the country of Europeans, 

 the race of tigers has been much thinned, and ere long it 

 is probable they will be driven to the most remote and 

 impenetrable districts. Hunting the tiger is a sport exclu- 

 sively Indian ; and it suits well to the ardor and spirit of 

 British sportsmen : it is looked upon as far pre-eminent 

 over the other sports of India, as that of the fox in Britain 

 is held superior to a chase with rabbit beagles. It is pur- 

 sued with great parade and show, a large retinue of follow- 

 ers, and almost royal splendor ; and in addition, it possesses 

 the excitement of being attended with considerable danger. 



The only animal found suitable to assist in the ca'pture 

 of this formidable beast, is the elephant, which often dis- 

 plays great courage and coolness in the chase, and at times 

 a sagacity which has saved the rider's life. When notice 

 has been given that there is a tiger in the neighborhood, 

 the whole station is roused, and preparation to proceed to 

 the cover is commenced; the elephants are prepared, and 

 the tumult which commences before all is ready, between 

 mahouts, dogs, horses, elephants and their masters, can be 

 compared to nothing in this country, where in well regu- 

 lated hunting establishments, rule arid regularity prevail. 

 From ten to thirty of these animals, each carrying a sports- 

 man armed with rifles of various descriptions, generally 

 start for the jungle, though sometimes a field of one hundred 

 elephants have been out, and being arranged in line, com- 

 mence regularly to beat for game ; but having thus brought 

 them to the jungle's edge, we shall allow one more experi- 

 enced than ourselves to describe the hunt. 



"We found immense quantities of game, wild hogs, hog- 

 deer, and the Neil-ghie, (literally blue-cow.) W^e, however, 



