ROUGHING IT IN SOUTHERN INDIA 253 



culprit be careful not to describe him as having been in one 

 place at the same time that he had been seen in another. 



Regarding the epicurism of tigers in general endless tales 

 are told. Work-worn, sinewy old bullocks may go safely, 

 so far as they are concerned, as long as better are to be 

 had. And it is the same with human beings : anything may 

 do at first, but not when a tiger gains practice and discern- 

 ment ; then his daring passes belief, for he will carry off 

 one person from amongst dozens of others. Of this a notable 

 instance is said to have happened in Coorg. An enormously 

 fat Brahmin gentleman had occasion to go upon a journey 

 through a district suspected of harbouring a tiger of evil 

 repute. This journey, it would seem, was imperative, so 

 he engaged two or three local shikaris to travel with liim ; 

 also, for greater safety, instead of being carried in a litter, 

 as became his rank, he had a travelling-carriage built, 

 according to his own directions, of teak-wood strengthened 

 with iron, and covered in with heavy wooden lattice- work. 

 An army of attendants were bestowed in coaches and carts, 

 and he saw to it that of all the drivers his was the leanest — 

 one for whom a tiger would only feel contempt ; his coach, 

 too, must be in the very middle of the procession, as pre- 

 sumably the safest place ; then, when everything had been 

 thought of and arranged with a sole view to his protection, 

 and he himself ensconced behind his barricades, the party 

 set out. Yet, notwithstanding his precautions, the Brahmin 

 himself was the very man to be picked out from amongst 

 them all. A tiger came out of the forest and sprang upon 

 the coach, sending woodwork and lattice flying ; he then 

 dragged his prey out of it, and made off before anything 

 could be done to stop him. Though I cannot vouch for the 

 truth of this story, it is quite in accord with both Brahmin 

 and tiger character, and was never called in question. 



At one time we knew a young man whose business it was 

 to superintend the making and upkeep of roads, bridges, 



