154 THE TIGER. 





dropping a door over the entrance. The Tiger trap is little more than the mousetrap, 

 only made on a much larger scale, and of strong wooden bars instead of iron wires. 

 The bait is generally a pariah dog, or a young goat, both of which animals give vent to 

 their anxiety by loud wailings, and so attract the prowling foe. In order to secure the 

 living bait from being drawn out of the trap by the Tiger's claws, it is protected by an 

 inner cage, to which the animal cannot gain access without dropping the door against 

 his egress. This plan, however, is not very generally followed, as it possesses hardly 

 sufficient elements of success. 



A more productive plan productive, because the reward for killing a Tiger, together 

 with the sum for which the skin, claws, and teeth sell, is sufficient to keep a native for 

 nearly a twelvemonth, is, by digging a hole in the ground near a Tiger's haunt, putting 

 a goat in the hole, and tethering it to a stake which is firmly driven into the centre of 

 the little pit. A stone is then tied in one of the goat's ears, which cruel contrivance 

 causes the poor animal to cry piteously, and so to call the attention of the Tiger. On 

 hearing the goat cry, the Tiger comes stealthily to the spot, and tries to hook up the 

 goat with his paw. Not succeeding, on account of the depth of the pit, he walks round 

 and round, trying every now and then to secure the terrified goat, and thus exposing 

 himself fairly to the hunters, who, quietly perched on a neighboring tree, and taking a 

 deliberate aim with their heavy firelocks, lay him dead on the spot of his intended 

 depredation. 



A somewhat similar, but more venturous mode of proceeding, is that which is adopted 

 by the Shikarries, as these native hunters are called. 



When a Tiger has carried off a bullock, or some such valuable animal, the shikarrie 

 proceeds to the spot, and after waiting sufficient time for the robber to gorge himself, 

 and become drowzy, he sets off in search of the murdered bullock ; a dangerous task, 

 but one which is much lightened by the indications afforded by vultures, jackals, and 

 other carrion-loving creatures, which never fail to assemble round a dead animal, of 

 whatever race it may be. 



Having found the half-eaten carcass, and ascertained that the Tiger is fast asleep, 

 the hunter calls together as many assistants as possible, and with their aid, rapidly 

 builds a bamboo scaffold, some twenty feet high, and four feet wide, which is planted 

 close to the spot where the dead and mangled bullock lies. On the summit of the 

 scaffold the shikarrie mounts ; his gun and ammunition are handed up to him by his 

 companions, his sharp " tulwar," or sword, is hung ready to his grasp, and after offering 

 their best wishes for success, the assistants take their leave, each putting in a claim for 

 some part of the spoils. The claws are the most coveted portion of the animal, for the 

 natives construct from two of these weapons a charm, which, on the homeopathic prin- 

 ciple, is supposed to render the wearer invulnerable to attacks from similar weapons. 



After a while, the Tiger wakes from the drowzy lethargy which was caused by 

 repletion, and after shaking himself, and uttering a few yawns, which draw the attention 

 of the watchful hunter, proceeds to his temporary station, for the purpose of making 

 another meal on the remains of the slaughtered animal. 



The shikarrie takes advantage of the opportunity, and resting his gun on the plat- 

 form, takes a deliberate aim and lodges a bullet often an iron one in, the body of the 

 Tiger. Generally the aim is so true that the Tiger falls dead, but it sometimes happens 

 that the wound, although a mortal one, is not instantaneously fatal, and the animal 

 springs furiously upon the foe who dealt the blow. The Tiger is no climber, but rage 

 will often supply temporary ability ; and so fiercely does the animal launch itself against 

 the scaffolding, that if made of a softer material, permitting the hold of the Tiger's 

 claws, the creature might reach the hunter ; or that if not firmly planted, the whole 

 edifice would be brought to the ground. But the smooth, hard surface of the bamboo 

 affords little hold for the sharp talons ; and, even if the animal should succeed in 

 approaching the platform where the hunter sits, a blow from the razor-edged tulwar 

 strikes off a paw, and the tiger falls helplessly to earth, only to meet its fate by a second 

 bullet from the deadly firelock. 



Attracted by the report of the hunter's gun, the neighbors flock to the spot, each 

 man armed according to his ability ; and if the beast is killed outright, join in a chorus 



