TIGERS. 67 



than a year chained to a tamarind tree, and regularly 

 baited by all the curs in the neighbourhood, but this 

 rough treatment did not seem to have any lasting effect on 

 her temper for she subsequently became too affectionate. 

 The tigress occasionally broke her chain and would then 

 always make for the bungalow, emitting a rough kind of 

 purring noise, and intensely pleased. The first time she 

 visited me in this way, her approach was heralded by the 

 noise of the broken chain and the loud purring. I was 

 writing a letter when she entered the room, and began 

 to push herself against my chair in the way a cat does 

 when pleased, nearly sending me flying on to the floor ; 

 but a few rough words caused her to cease, and she 

 lay quietly down by my side. All the natives had bolted 

 on the first alarm except the syce's wife, a very plucky 

 woman, who followed the tigress, and, on my calling, 

 entered the room, caught the end of the chain, and walked 

 off followed by E-ani, exactly as if she was a big cat ; she 

 was then secured without further trouble. 



Bani never showed bad temper except when feeding, 

 when nobody dare approach her ; on these occasions she 

 would lie in a corner watching the food, which was 

 generally cooked goat's flesh, and if anybody came near 

 she would spring forward, growling savagely, to the full 

 extent of the chain, which luckily never gave way in these 

 rather critical circumstances. One day, wrapping myself in a 

 tiger skin, I went to see her ; much to my surprise, instead 

 of being delighted she became perfectly paralysed with fear, 

 and rushed into a corner, trembling all over. Soon after 

 this she again broke her chain, and, seeing a cow belonging 

 to a bheestie (water-carrier) in the compound, stalked and 

 killed it, being recaptured and chained with difficulty. 



JHer disposition completely changed shortly afterwards, and 



F 2 



