160 THE TIGER. 



of them who actually "preserve " the Tiger as carefully as English squires preserve 

 foxes, and will permit none to be killed except those whose honorable fate calls them 

 to die nominally by a royal hand. Nominally, because it only needs that the Oriental 

 potentate should once discharge his weapon for the assembled crowd to give him the 

 credit of killing the Tiger, even though the muzzle of his piece may at the time have 

 been pointed to the zenith. Nowhere does courtiership reign so disguiseless as in the 

 East. 



The Tiger is a capital swimmer, and will take to the water with perfect readiness, 

 either in search of prey, or to escape the pursuit of enemies. 



It has been known to carry its aquatic audacity to such an extent, as to board a 

 vessel, and by its unexpected advent, to cause an involuntary mutiny among the crew. 

 Some jumped into a boat that was being towed astern, others leaped overboard, and 

 sought safety in swimming, while others fled into the cabin, and barricaded the doors 

 thereof. The Tiger, meanwhile, was left in possession of the vessel, but not compre- 

 hending the use of a rudder, he soon drove the vessel ashore, and springing to land, he 

 indulged in a few growls at the occupants of the boat, and then disappeared in the jungle. 



The Tiger swims rather high in the water, and therefore affords a good mark to 

 those who are quick of aim. His natatory abilities are by no means small, and while 

 swimming he can strike out with his paws most effectively, inflicting deep wounds 

 wherever his outspread talons make good their aim. So cunning is the animal, that if 

 there should be no cause for hurry, it will halt on the river's brink, and deliberately 

 put its paw into the water, so as to ascertain the force of the stream. This point being 

 made clear, it proceeds either up or down the river, as may best suit its purpose, and 

 so makes allowance for the river stream, or the ocean tide. 



The experienced natives say that there are more female than male Tigers, and that 

 this discrepancy in numbers is caused by the unnatural behavior of the adult males, 

 who destroy every young one of their own sex upon whom they can lay a paw. All 

 Tigers, when wild, seem to have a habit of rolling themselves in dusty spots, probably 

 for the purpose of destroying the parasitic insects with which these animals are largely 

 infested. This process is analogous to the dust-baths, of which birds are so fond. 



In all barbarous ages, men have been accustomed to seek amusement by witnessing 

 the combats which take place between various animals, among whom the armed human 

 animal was the favorite. Next to the gladiatorial duels with which we are all familiar, 

 stand the combats between various ferocious beasts, such as the lion, tiger, leopard, etc. 



Even to the present day, and in the Christian world, vast multitudes of people 

 derive ferocious gratification from the tortures of an irritated bull and the imminent 

 peril of human life and limb that forms the most exciting part of the spectacle. There- 

 fore, it is no cause of wonder that in the heathen world, combats of a similar nature 

 should minister largely to the savage joys of the inhabitants. Many animals are kept 

 solely for the purpose of fighting each other, or of contending with certain enemies, 

 whether human or bestial, which are brought to oppose them. 



The cruel sports which delight the Oriental monarchs are familiar to all students of 

 the Oriental character, who have found an admirable subject of contemplation in the 

 last monarch who has ruled, or pretended to rule, the great kingdom of Oude" All 

 kinds of animals were kept by this sensualist, simply for the purpose of fighting each 

 other, and among the most celebrated of these warlike animals was the magnificent 

 Tiger known by the name of JUNGLA. 



This splendid animal has been brought to England, and I have been fortunate 

 enough to procure a portrait, drawn from the living creature. 



" Jungla " is one of the finest, if not the very finest Tiger that has ever set foot on 

 English ground, and even when penned in the straight limits of a wooden cage that 

 would not permit his noble head to be raised to its full height, and only gave room 

 for a single short step backwards and forwards, his grand proportions were most 

 striking. His present age is about five years. 



In height he is about four feet, and the relative proportions can be judged from the 

 illustration. The total length of the animal is said, by his keeper, to be thirteen feet 

 six inches, and in girth he measures four feet eight inches. The principal peculiarity 



