THE. PANTHKK. 



Ill 



had recently arrived, in consequence of the cholera-morbus having just then readied Ceylon from the 

 ( 'ontinent, came to my door, tlie former armed with a, fowling-piece, and the two latter with remark- 

 ably blunt hog-spears. They insisted upon setting off, without waiting for my gun proceeding nut 

 much to my taste. The tiger (I must continue to call him so) had taken refuge in a hut, tin' root' ot 

 which, like those of Ceylon huts in general, spread to the ground like an umbrella ; the only aperture 

 into it was a small door, about four feet high. The collector wanted to get the tiger out, at once. I 

 begged to wait for my gun ; but no the fowling-piece (loaded with ball, of course,) and the two hog- 

 spears were, quite enough. I got a hedge-stake, and awaited my fate, from very shame. At this 

 moment, to my great delight, there arrived from the fort an English officer, two artillerymen, and a 

 Malay captain ; and a pretty figure we should have cut without them, as the event will show. ] was 

 now quite ready to attack, and my gun came a minute afterwards. The whole scene which follows 



TJIK .TAlirAH. 



took place within an inclosure, about twenty feet square, formed, on three sides, by a strong fence (it 

 palmyra leaves, and on the fourth by the hut. At the door of this the two artillerymen planted them- 

 selves, and the Malay captain got at the top, to frighten the tiger out, by worrying it an easy 

 operation, as the huts there are covered with cocoa-nut loaves. One of the artillerymen wanted to go 

 in to the tiger, but we would not suffer it. At last, the beast sprang. This man received him on his 

 bayonet, which he thrust apparently down his throat, firing his piece at the same moment. The 

 bayonet broke off short, leaving less than three inches on the musket ; the rest remained in the nnimal, 

 but was invisible to us. The shot went, probably, through his cheek, for it certainly did not seriously 

 injure him, as lie instantly rose upon his legs, with a loud roar, and placed his paws upon the soldier's 

 l>reast. At this moment the animal appeared to me about to reach the eentre of the man's face ; but 



