208 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



about the ship like a Cat, and perform a number of 

 tricks, with an agility that was truly astonishing. 

 There was a Dog on board the ship with which it 

 would often play in the most diverting manner. 

 From these circumstances, one might be led to 

 suppose, that the disposition of the Tiger, like 

 that of many other animals, was capable of some 

 degree of culture. But it ought to be remembered, 

 that at the time this one was taken on board the 

 ship, it was only a month or six weeks old; and 

 when arrived in this country, it had not quite com- 

 pleted a year. How much longer its good humour 

 might have continued, it is impossible to say: but 

 it is much to be doubted, whether the same inno- 

 cent playfulness would have formed a part of its 

 character when arrived at its full state of maturity. 



Notwithstanding the cruelty of this creature's 

 disposition, a sudden check has sometimes had a 

 good effect in preventing its meditated attack. 

 Some ladies and gentlemen being on a party of 

 pleasure, under a shade of trees, on the banks of a 

 river in Bengal, were suddenly surprised at seeing 

 a Tiger ready to make its fatal spring: one of the 

 ladies, with amazing presence of mind, laid hold of 

 an umbrella, and unfurling it directly in the ani- 

 mal's face, it instantly retired. Another party had 

 not the same good fortune. A Tiger darted among 

 them while they were at dinner, seized on a gentle- 

 man, and carried him off in the sight of his discon- 

 solate companions. 



They attack all kinds of animals, even the Lion ; 

 and furious combats have frequently been main- 

 tained between them, in which both have perished. 



Father Tachard gives an account of a battle 

 between a Tiger and two Elephants, at Siam; of 



