PROFESSIONAL MAN-EATERS. 411 



sound was heard to show that any moving thing 

 inhabited the sun-stricken thicket. 



Two or three hours had elapsed before the hunters 

 reached the shelter of the tree to which they had 

 been guided. They were more anxious even than 

 usual to bag this tiger, both on Roopur's account 

 and that of his defunct father, and also because the 

 animal was likely to become a confirmed man-eater. 

 Though he had caused the death of two men, that 

 was in a measure in self-defence ; he had not done 

 so for the sake of food. 



Not yet had he been known to become what 

 may be called a professional man-eater ; that is to 

 say, he did not as yet entirely devote himself to 

 obtaining human flesh for food. But there were 

 grave fears that he would shortly do so. The beast 

 was getting very old, which, combined with his 

 slight lameness, would soon render him unable to 

 cope with the activity of jungle game, and reduce 

 him to the alternative of preying on man. 



Regular man-eaters are usually described as being 

 mangy and hairless, the effect, it is supposed, of 

 their peculiar diet. But as this effect is not observed 

 among cannibals, it may be but the natural conse- 

 quence of old age, and to that, probably, should be 

 attributed the state described. 



Natives, at any rate, in some parts of the country, 



