THE TIGER. 277 



also, no doubt, sometimes pleases himself in a similar manner. 

 A well-known sportsman and writer, whose recorded measure- 

 ments have done 4 more to extend the size of the tiger than 

 anything else, informed me himself that all his measurements 

 were taken from flat skins. But the British public demands 

 twelve-feet tigers, just as it refuses to accept an Indian land- 

 scape without palm-trees. So a suppressio veri went forth ; 

 and not only that, but his picture of a dead tiger being 

 carried into camp was improved by a few feet being added to 

 the length of the beast, while, to make room for it, the most of 

 the bearers were wiped out, leaving about four men only to 

 carry a tiger at least fifteen feet long ! Populus vult decipi, 

 etc. 



Sporting stories are apt to breed each other, incident leading 

 on to incident, so that I find I have already killed some frve 

 or six tigers while yet only on the threshold of my subject 

 discoursing of the preliminary exploration of the tigers 

 haunts. I have little more to say on that matter, however, 

 the sum of it all being that every information regarding the 

 tiger s country, the route he usually takes from one haunt to 

 another, the points where he may be most easily intercepted 

 or come upon unawares, good points for scouts, etc., must be 

 obtained. Places must also be fixed on for tying out baits for 

 him at night. He' must be induced, if possible, to kill a 

 buffalo or an ox so tied out ; and it must be in such a position 

 that he can be easily tracked from there to one of his usual 

 haunts. 



It may seem cruel thus to bait for a tiger with a live animal, 

 but there is no doubt that the death of a tiger saves much 

 more suffering than is caused to the single animal sacrificed to 

 effect it. A natural kill will not do so well for many reasons. 

 It will probably not be discovered in time to hunt the next 



