THE TIGER. 



the spot, for a second attempt, sneaks off discomfited from the scene of his humiliation. 

 The spots where there is most danger of meeting a Tiger, are the crossings of nullahs, or 

 the deep ravines through which the water-courses run. In these localities the Tiger is 

 sure to find his two essentials, cover and water. So apathetic are the natives, and so 

 audacious are the Tigers, that at some of these crossings a man or a bullock may be 

 carried off daily, and yet no steps will be taken to avert the danger, with the exception of 

 a few amulets suspended about the person. Sometimes the Tigers seem to take a panic, 

 and make a general emigration, leaving, without any apparent reason, the spots which 

 they had long infested, and making a sudden appearance in some locality where they 

 had but seldom before been seen. 



In the districts where these terrible animals take up their abode, an unexpected 



TIGER. Tigris Regalis. 



meeting with a Tiger is by no means an uncommon event. While engaged in hog- 

 spearing, the sportsmen have many times come suddenly upon a Tiger that was lying 

 quite composedly in the heavy " rhur " grass from which the hog had started. In such 

 cases, the terror of the native horses is excessive, for their dread of the Tiger is so 

 great, that the very scent of a Tiger's presence, or the sight of a dried skin, is sufficient 

 to set them plunging and kicking in their attempts to escape from the dreaded propin- 

 quity. One horse, which had been terrified by a Tiger, could not afterwards endure 

 the sight of any brindled animal whatever, and was only restored to ordinary courage 

 by the ingenious device of his master, who kept a brindled dog in the same stable with 

 the horse until the poor beast became reconciled to the abhorred striped fur. 



A very curious introduction to a Tiger occurred to a gentleman who was engaged in 

 deer shooting. 



