A TERROR-STRICKEN POPULATION 



their destruction. Indeed, a similar visitation, were such 

 possible, would, even in civilized Europe, be likely to 

 create equal consternation, and be calculated to arouse 

 superstitious belief of a somewhat similar nature. Be 

 that as it may, the situation had now assumed a most 

 alarming and terrible aspect. 



One hundred and fifty-four human beings had already 

 fallen victims to the monster's insatiable lust for human 

 flesh, and it was evident that unless some preventive 

 measures were soon adopted, the villages affected would 

 speedily be depopulated. 



Public feeling was strong, the subject was taken up by 

 the Press and discussed in a manner not altogether com- 

 plimentary to the local authorities, nor were the people 

 themselves sparing in their insinuations. But, as a matter 

 of fact, the responsible district officials, while fully alive to 

 the necessity of putting an end to this horrible scourge, 

 were practically powerless. 



They had made every endeavour possible to locate and 

 destroy the brute, and all recognized and many hitherto 

 unknown methods for the destruction of the " Man-Eater " 

 had been adopted, but without success. The only plan 

 left untried was the poisoning of the kills, which under 

 ordinary circumstances would in all probability have 

 proved successful. 



This otherwise unsportsmanlike manner of destroying 

 dangerous game, would in the present instance have been 

 pardonable and gladly resorted to, so desperate had the 

 situation become. Unfortunately, one of this wily monster's 

 peculiarities was that it never returned to its kill after 

 making the first meal off it, a practice, while entirely 

 opposed to all recognized and well-established theories as 

 to the habits common to all animals of the cat tribe, which 

 secured for it an absolute immunity from any such attempts 

 at its destruction. 



The hundreds upon hundreds of acres of dense sugar 

 cane crops which covered the face of the country was 

 another serious obstacle to the location of so active and 

 cunning an animal, and one taken full advantage of by the 

 shrewd beast. 



Frequent consultations had been held by the officials 



