120 FLESH-EATERS OF THE LAND 



type of heroic animal perfection ; but the Tiger has ever 

 been viewed as the emblem of bloodthirstiness, treachery, 

 and unbridled ferocity. The latter is extremely pertinacious, 

 and, unlike the lion, if its first attack is unsuccessful, it will 

 not slink back to its retreat, but will pursue its victim with 

 a speed and activity scarcely credible. 



Of the Tiger's fierce and unprovoked onslaughts it would 

 be easy to afford instances by the hundred, but the following 

 will serve as an excellent example. A party of naval officers 

 landed near the mouth of the Hooghly to shoot deer, which 

 sport they followed for several hours. An eyewitness 

 writes : 



' About half-past three we sat down on the edge of the 

 jungle, and had just commenced our meal, when a black 

 servant informed us that there was a fine deer within six 

 yards of us. Captain Downing and I immediately jumped 

 up to take our guns ; mine was nearest, and I had just laid 

 hold of it, when I heard a roar like thunder, and saw an 

 immense Tiger spring on Mr. Munro, who was sitting down. 

 In a moment his head was in the beast's mouth, and he 

 rushed into the jungle with him with as much ease as I 

 could lift a kitten, tearing him through the thickest 

 bushes and trees, everything yielding to his monstrous 

 strength.' 



Though the poor youth was still in the creature's mouth, 

 four shots were fired at the Tiger, which staggered as it 

 disappeared. ' A few minutes after, Mr. Munro came up to 

 us, all over blood, and fell. He lived twenty-four hours in 

 the utmost torture ; his head and skull were all torn and 

 broken to pieces, and he was also wounded by the animal's 

 claws all over his neck and shoulders. But it was better to 

 take him away, though irrecoverable, than leave him to be 

 mangled and devoured.' 



The following furnishes an example of the muscular 

 powers of the Tiger. An Indian peasant found a buffalo 

 in a quagmire, in which it was so deeply embedded that all 

 efforts to get it out were unavailing. While the man went 

 to procure the assistance of his friends a Tiger appeared, 

 seized the buffalo, and dragged it out. When help arrived, 

 the immense Cat was carrying its prey towards the jungle, 



