426 ANIMALS OF THE 



times the animal, aware of the danger, seems to 

 decline the combat ; but then its antagonist pro- 

 vokes it with a slight touch of the lance, in order, 

 while he is defending himself, to strike a sure 

 blow. As soon, therefore, as the creature feels 

 the lance, it grasps it with one of its paws, and 

 with the other strikes at the arm which holds it. 

 Then it is that the person nimbly aims a blow 

 with his scimitar, which he kept concealed, with 

 the other hand, and hamstrings the creature, 

 which immediately draws back enraged, but in- 

 stantly returns to the charge. But then, receiv- 

 ing another stroke, it is totally deprived of the 

 power of motion ; and the combatant, killing it 

 at his leisure, strips the skin, cuts off the head, 

 and returns to his companions, displaying these 

 as the trophies of his victory. 



This animal, as we are assured, is often more 

 successful against the crocodile, and it is the 

 only quadruped in that part of the world that is 

 not afraid of the engagement. It must be no 

 unpleasant sight to observe, from a place of safe- 

 ty, this extraordinary combat between animals so 

 terrible and obnoxious to man. Such as have 

 seen it, describe it in the following manner. 

 When the tiger, impelled by thirst, that seems 

 continually to consume it, comes down to the 

 river side to drink, the crocodile, which makes 

 no distinction in its prey, lifts its head above 

 water to seize it : the tiger, not less rapacious 

 than the other, and unacquainted with the force 

 of the enemy, boldly ventures to seize it, and 

 plunges its claws into the eyes of the crocodile, 



