TIGERLAND 



But the tiger was now dead, and the sportsmen, all 

 eager to measure the enormous carcass, were soon around 

 it, busy with the tape. 



The measuring of a tiger is always an exciting moment, 

 even when the animal appears to be of ordinary dimensions. 

 Imagine then the excitement created by this monster, so 

 obviously a giant of his tribe ! 



And such in fact he proved to be, for when the measure- 

 ments were completed, the following were the figures 

 recorded by the tape : 



Feet. Inches. 



Length from tip of nose to root of tail ... ... 7 



Length of tail 3 7 



Total length from tip of nose to end of tail 10 7 



Height at shoulder 3 4 



Girth 4 8J 



Upper arm 2 1 



Forearm 1 7| 



These measurements were tested with the greatest 

 care, each of the sportsmen taking them in turn. Satisfied 

 at length, though none the less amazed at the huge pro- 

 portions of the beast, they resolved to weigh it before taking 

 off the skin. 



Most of the runaway elephants had returned by now, 

 and the staunchest amongst them being selected was made 

 to kneel beside the body. Two stout ropes were then 

 passed round the tiger's neck and loins, and their ends 

 secured to two of the larger elephants. 



As these animals obeyed the order to move forward 

 the huge carcass rose slowly off the ground, and guided 

 by some score or so of the drivers from below was finally 

 placed across the pad of the kneeling elephant. 



This patient animal, which had been kept on its knees 

 throughout these lengthy proceedings, was now permitted 

 to rise, and with its heavy and most unwelcome burden, 

 headed the procession to the tea garden adjoining. 



On arrival at the factory, the body of the tiger, doubled 

 up as far as possible, was placed on an enormous pair of 

 scales, ordinarily used for weighing tea leaves, and was 

 found to weigh 419 Ibs. 



Such a weight, considering the length and great bulk 

 of the animal, was so obviously out of all proportion to 

 134 



