132 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



tiger, whose head was carried in the front on a 

 spear. 



^ly gang marched at the head of the procession, 

 and five ancient dancing-girls from the village were 

 pirouetting before the cart, howling and yelling as 

 they whirled on the •' light fantastic," in such a 

 manner that they reminded one strongly of the 

 witch scene in Macbeth. The whole camp turned 

 out to view the carcass of the man-eater, and many 

 were the congratulations I received from all parties 

 that evening. 



I gave a few sheep and fowls to my gang, with 

 some rackee, and throughout the night " tliere was 

 a sound of revelry." The next day the mutilated 

 carcass was paraded on a cart in all the neighbour- 

 ing villages by Kistimah and the dhoby, who, by 

 levying contributions either in coin or kind, realised 

 a little fortune for themselves. 



I have killed many tigers both before and since, 

 but I never met with such a determined enemy to 

 mankind, for he was supposed to have carried off 

 more than a hundred individuals. He fully exem- 

 plified an old Indian saying, " that when a tiger 

 has once tasted human blood he will never follow 

 other game, men proving an easier prey." On the 

 spot where the tiger was killed a large mausoleum 

 now stands, caused by the passers-by each throwing 

 a stone until a large heap is formed. Since that 

 day many a traveller who has passed that way has 

 been entertained by the old pensioned sepoy who 



