THE TIGER. 155 



of laudation towards the successful hunter, and of anger towards his victim, which may 

 now be insulted with perfect impunity. Besides the ordinary trophies, which consist 

 of the skin, claws, teeth, and the ordinary reminiscences of success, other portions of the 

 Tiger are eagerly sought by the natives, the tongue and liver bearing the highest value. 

 These organs are appropriated to the medical art, and after being chopped into little 

 dice-like cubes, are prepared after some Esculapian and mysterious fashion, and thence- 

 forward hold rank as remedies of the first order. 



Another, though less gallant, mode of killing Tigers is by setting certain enormous 

 nets, supported on stakes, so as to form an inclosure, into which the animal is partly 

 enticed and partly driven. 



The height of the stakes to which the nets are suspended is about thirteen feet ; so 

 that, allowing for the droop at the upper portion of the toils, the nets are about eleven 

 feet in height at their lowest point. It is, however, rather a stupid, and withal hazard- 

 ous, mode of Tiger-hunting, and is not very often employed. It requires the aid of a 

 very large body of men, and besides there is always a risk of inclosing some large 

 animal such as the buffalo or elephant, which rushes madly forward, and with the 

 irresistible impetus of its huge body bears to the ground nets, stakes, and sentinels, 

 leaving a wide path free for the remainder of the inclosed game to follow. 



In order to induce the Tiger to leave its lair and to enter the toils, all possible 

 means are used. Fires are lighted, burning torches are waved, guns are fired, drums 

 are beaten, and, lastly, fireworks are largely employed. The most effective kind of fire- 

 work is one which is made on the rocket principle, the tube which holds the fiery com- 

 position being of iron, and the " tail," or shaft, of bamboo. The rocket is held in the 

 hand like a spear, and the fuse lighted. When it begins to fling out its burning contents, 

 and to pull against the hand of the thrower, it is launched by hand, as if it were a 

 spear, in the direction of the concealed quarry. An extremely powerful impulse is 

 given by the burning composition, and the missile rushes furiously onward scattering 

 on every side its burden of fiery sparkles, hissing and roaring with a terrible sound, 

 and striking right and left with its long wooden tail. 



No Tiger can endure this fiery dragon which comes on with such fury, and accord- 

 ingly the terrified animal dashes out of cover, and makes for the nearest place of con- 

 cealment. But so artfully managed is the whole business that his only path of escape 

 takes him among the nets, and, once there, his doom is certain. He cannot leap over 

 the toils, because they are too high, nor break them down, because they are so 

 arranged that they would only fall on him, and inclose him in their treacherous folds. 

 Should he endeavor to climb over the rope fence, he exposes himself as a target for 

 bullets and arrows innumerable ; and, if he yields the point, and tries to conceal 

 himself as best he may, he only delays his fate for a time, falling a victim to the 

 watchful enemies who start him from his last fortress, and, from the safe eminence of an 

 elephant's back, or the branches of a tree, pour their leaden hail on the devoted 

 victim. 



This mode of hunting, as well as the more legitimate custom of following the Tiger 

 into the jungle, while mounted on elephants, requires the aid of many men, elephants 

 and horses, and cannot be undertaken every day. There is, however, another method 

 of killing this terrible beast, which, when employed by hunters who understand each 

 other's plans, and can place the fullest reliance on their mutual courage and tact, is 

 more destructive to the fierce quarry than even the netting system, with its mob of beasts 

 and men. 



Two, or at the most three, hunters set out on their campaign, accompanied by their 

 chosen " beaters " and other servants, and start with the determination of bearding the 

 Tiger in his den, unaided by horse or elephant. It is a bold plan, yet, like many bold 

 plans, succeeds through its very audacity. 



The object of the beaters is by no means to give assistance when a Tiger is started, 

 because they always run away as soon as the brute shows itself ; but to make so 

 astounding a noise that the Tiger cannot remain in the vicinity. When they reach a 

 likely, or, as it is termed, a " Tigerish " spot, they shout, they yell, they fire pistols, they 

 rattle stones in metal pans, they beat drums, they ring bells, they blow horns, and, by 



