I 5 2 



THE TIGER. 



He had crept up to a convenient spot, from whence he could command a clear view 

 of the deer, which were lying asleep in the deep grass ; had taken aim at a fine buck 

 which was only at twelve yards' distance, and was just going to draw the trigger, when 

 his attention was roused by a strange object which was waving above the grass, a few 

 feet on the other side of the deer. It was the tail of a Tiger, which had approached 

 the deer from the opposite direction, and had singled out the very animal which was 

 threatened by the rifle. Not exactly knowing what kind of an object it was that stirred 

 the grass, the sportsman re-adjusted his piece, and was again going to fire, when a 

 Tiger sprang from the cover of the " moonje " grass, and leaped upon the very buck 

 which had been marked out as his own. Under the circumstances, he did not choose 

 to dispute the matter, but retreated as quietly as possible, leaving the Tiger in posses- 

 sion of the field. 



The deer was an Axis, or Spotted Deer, animals which are very common in some 

 parts of India, and are much appreciated by Tigers as well as men. Peacocks also 

 abound in the same districts ; in short, wherever spotted deer and peacocks may be 

 found, Tigers are sure to be at no great distance from them. On one occasion, another 

 sportsman had wounded a peacock, which fluttered about for a time, and then fell into 

 a little open space in the bushes. As these birds, when winged, can run too fast to 

 be overtaken by a man, the sportsman ran after the bird in order to catch it as it fell, 

 and on entering the little area found himself in the presence of three Tigers, which 

 had been evidently asleep, but were just roused by the report of the gun, and were 

 looking about them in a dreamy and bewildered manner. The peacock lay dead close 

 to the Tigers, who probably made a light repast on the game thus unexpectedly laid 

 before them, for the sportsman took to his heels, and did not feel himself safe until 

 he was fairly on board of his vessel. 



The chief weapons of the Tiger are his enormous feet, with their sharp sickle-like 

 talons, which cut like so many knives when the animal delivers a blow with his power- 

 ful limbs. Even were the talons retracted, the simple stroke of that sledge-hammer paw 

 is sufficient to strike to the ground as large an animal as an ox ; while, if the claws lend 

 their trenchant aid to the heavy blow of the limb, the terrible effects may be imagined. 



Besides the severity of the wound which may be inflicted by so fearful a weapon, 

 there are other means of destruction that lie hid in the Tiger's claws. From some 

 cause or other, it may be presumed on account of some peculiar manner in which the 

 claws affect the nervous system, even a trivial wound has often been known to produce 

 lockjaw, and to destroy the victim by the effects of that fearful disease. It may be, 

 that the perturbation of mind caused by the attack of the Tiger, may have some hand 

 in the matter. Captain Williamson, an officer of twenty years' experience in Bengal, 

 states that he never knew a person to die from the wounds inflicted by a Tiger's claws 

 without suffering from lockjaw previous to death ; and he adds, that those cases which 

 appeared the least alarming were the most suddenly carried off. 



Many modes are adopted of killing so fearful a pest as the Tiger, and some of these 

 plans are very ingenious. 



There is the usual spring-bow, which is placed in the animal's path, the bow drawn 

 to the arrow's head, and a string leading from the trigger across the path in such a 

 manner that the creature presses against it with its breast, discharges the weapon, and 

 so receives the arrow in its heart. 



The bow is set by fastening it to two strong posts set by the side of the Tiger's 

 path, the string of the bow being parallel with the path. The string is then drawn 

 back to its utmost limits, and a stick placed between the bow and the string, thus keep- 

 ing the weapon bent. A long wedge is inserted between the stick and the bow, and 

 the liberating cord tied to its projecting end. Lastly, the arrow is laid on the string 

 and the engine is ready for action. Of necessity, as soon as the Tiger presses the 

 cord, the wedge is drawn away, the guarding stick drops, and the bow hurls its deadly 

 missile. So rapidly does this simple contrivance act, that the Tiger is generally hit 

 near the shoulder. The arrow is usually poisoned by means of a thread dipped in 

 some deadly mixture, and wrapped round the arrow-point. 



There is another plan, in which human aid is requisite, namely, by building a strong 

 bamboo enclosure, in which the hunter lies, armed with a spear. At nightfall the 



