56 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



timely arrival of a gentleman who, happily, was fortunate enough, with the aid of his gun, to put an 

 end to her eventful career." Again, it is reported, "that one Tigress, in 1869, killed 127 people, antl 

 stopped a public road for many weeks, and was finally killed by the opportune arrival of an English 



sportsman." 



As might naturally be expected, an enemy so dreadful is sure to have supernatural power 

 ascribed to it by the credulous natives, whose property is destroyed, and whose lives are endan- 

 "ered by the ravages of this terrible beast. People in the state of civilisation of the ordinaiy 

 Indian villages are sure to think there is something more than natural in an animal capable of 

 such wholesale destruction, so wantonly cruel, of such fearful strength and such terrible beauty; 

 and the following passages will give some idea of the prowess ascribed to the Tiger by those who 

 are the greatest sufferers from his bloody disposition : 



" The natives of India, especially the Hindoos, hold the Tiger, as they do the Cobra, in super- 

 stitious awe. Many would not kill him if they could, for they fear that he will haunt them or 

 do them mischief after death. Some they regard as being the tenement of a spirit, which not only 

 renders them immortal, but confers increased powers of mischief. In many parts of India the 

 peasants will hardly mention the Tiger by name. They either call him, as in Purneah, Giahur 

 (Jackal), Janwar (the beast), or they will not name him at all ; and it is the same in the case of the 

 Wolf. But though they will not always themselves destroy him, they are quite willing that others 

 should do so, for they will point out his whereabouts, and be present at his death ; and the delight 

 evinced thereat is intense, for it often relieves a whole village from an incubus of no slight weight, 

 and saves the herdsman from his weekly loss of cattle. The conversation and remarks made by these 

 villagers round the fallen Tiger are often very amusing and characteristic. 



" All kinds of power and influence ai-e ascribed to portions of him when dead ; the fangs, the 

 claws, the whiskers, are potent charms, medicines, love-philtres, or prophylactics against disease, the 

 evil eye, or magic. They are in such demand that the natives will take them ; and we have known 

 whiskers, claws, and even fangs, extracted and carried away during the night, even when the dead 

 Tiger has been placed under the surveillance of a guard. The fat, also, is in great demand, for its 

 many potent virtues in relieving rheumatism and other ailments. The liver, the heart, and the flesh 

 cire taken away and dried, to be eaten as tonics or invigorating remedies that give strength and 

 courage. There is also a popular delusion that a new lobe is added to the liver every year of his life. 

 A Tiger's skin with its whiskers preserved is a rarity ; yon cannot keep them. The domestic, who 

 would preserve any other valuable as a most sacred trust, will fail under this temptation ! The 

 whiskers, besides other wonderful powers, are said to possess that of being a slow poison when 

 administered with the food. Such is the belief, which you may try in vain to disturb ! The clavicles, 

 too little curved bones like tiny ribs are also much valued ; but they are generally lost or over- 

 looked when the Tiger is cut up, lying buried in the powerful muscles near the shoulders." 



It is a very common opinion that the wounds made by a Tiger's claw or teeth are poisonous, and 

 consequently highly dangerous. It is, however, hardly necessary to state that the Tiger's venom is of 

 quite the same nature as that of the Frog and Newt, which so many country people believe in devoutly 

 to this day. The huge jagged canines, and the carefully sharpened claws make wounds which are 

 certainly ugly enough, but their danger arises merely from their depth, and from their liability to 

 fester in a hot climate. 



Of course Tiger-hunting is, par excellence, the "royal sport of India ;" the game calling forth more 

 courage and address from the sportsman than any other, and the " spice of danger " so necessary to 

 the true sportsman being at its maximum. Usually, a hunt is made up of a considerable number of 

 sportsmen, accompanied by a crowd of beaters. The Elephant upon which each hunter rides is 

 provided with a houdah of light wood and basket work, and consisting of two compartments, a front 

 one in which the sportsman himself sits, and a hinder one occupied by his servant, who is in readiness 

 with spare guns. The driver, or mahout, sits on a cushion on the Elephant's neck, armed with a 

 pointed iron rod, or gujbag, to every touch of which the docile animal answers. 



On arriving at a portion of the jungle where Tigers are known to exist, the sportsmen hold 

 themselves in readiness with loaded rifles, while the beaters, on foot, encircle the jungle, 

 and endeavour, with shouts and gesticulations, to drive the game from their lurking-place to the 



