<CHAP. V. FIGHT OF A TIGER AND BUFFALO. 133 



cowardly animal very rarely quits the palisades, but 

 creeps along close to them, wistfully looking up to their 

 tops, as if to measure their height ; and occasionally 

 grinding his teeth at the spectators, many of whom, of 

 the lower orders, secure seats at the top of the in- 

 closure, or peep through the narrow interstices of the 

 sides. As soon as the tiger appears somewhat re- 

 conciled to the place, the buffalo is introduced ; and 

 now," says our authority, "nothing can surpass the 

 animation displayed at this moment." The buffalo, 

 upon entering, smells the tiger, and becomes instantly 

 agitated. His eyes sparkle with fury as they wander 

 in search of his enemy, who is generally attacked the 

 instant he is discerned. The buffalo, shaking his 

 head and pawing the ground for a few seconds, places 

 himself in the posture of attack. With his face brought 

 parallel to the ground, his horns pointing forward, and 

 his tail indicating both his vigour and his determin- 

 ation, he rushes forward at full speed. But the 

 cautious tiger is on the alert, and rarely fails to shift 

 his ground as the buffalo approaches ; if he succeed in 

 this, his infuriated adversary, unable to check the im- 

 petuosity of its career, will sometimes run against the 

 in closure with a tremendous force, and injure the fore- 

 most of the spectators. The immense strength of the 

 tiger lies in his fore paws, a stroke of which would 

 prove fatal to his enemy, if it was given with full effect. 

 The- buffalo, as if aware of this, constantly endeavours 

 to keep in front of his opponent, rushes towards him 

 with his whole force, and recedes with surprising 

 celerity as soon as the tiger evinces a disposition to 

 strike. Sometimes the tiger will follow and make a 

 desperate spring, which, however, the buffalo either 

 avoids by rapidly shifting his ground, or at the same 

 moment darts forward to receive its enemy on its 

 horns. There are instances when the tiger has sprung 

 over the buffalo's back, causing the combatants to 

 change places ; but the former does not, in general, 

 follow up his attacks with spirit while the buffalo, on 

 K 3 



