234 THE TIGER. 



Most persons imagine that if a tiger were deprived of his claws 

 and teeth, he would be rendered harmless ; but this is erroneous. 

 The weight of the limb is the real cause of the mischief ; for 

 the talons are rarely extended when a tiger seizes. The ope- 

 ration is similar to that of a hammer ; the tiger raising his 

 paw, and bringing it down with such force, as not only to stun 

 a common sized bullock, or buffalo, but often crushing the 

 bones of the skull. I have seen many men and oxen killed 

 by tigers, in most of which the mark of the claw could not be 

 seen j and where scratches did appear, they were obviously the 

 effect of chance, from the paw sliding downwards. I once 

 witnessed an instance, which gave me a very complete idea of 

 a tiger's proceedings and of his powers. I was travelling post 

 in my palankeen, through the Ramghur district, which is 

 mountainous and little cultivated,, being for the most part in 

 a state of nature and abounding in jungles, when a bangy-wollak, 

 who conveyed two baskets of linen and refreshments, and who 

 preceded the palankeen about a hundred and fifty yards, set 

 down his load, and seated himself on the road-side to rest 

 awhile. About two yards behind him was a small bush, not 

 much larger than a good sized currant-tree, round which a 

 small quantity of jungle-grass was growing. There was not 

 another twig to be seen for at least half a mile, on that side 

 of the road. No sooner had the poor fellow seated himself, 

 than a tiger sprang from behind, or rather from within the 

 bush, and after giving the fatal blow with his paw, seized the 

 man by the shoulder and dragged him off, with the utmost 

 ease at a quick pace, into a thick cover which had formerly 

 skirted the road, but which had been cut away, to the distance 

 of about one hundred yards, for the safety of travellers."* 



Waterton says that " many years ago, Colonel Duff, in India, 

 was laid low by the stroke of a Bengal tiger. On coming to 

 himself, he found the animal standing over him. Recollecting 

 that he had his dirk by his side, he drew it out of the case, 

 in the most cautious manner possible ; and, by one happy 

 * Oriental Field Sports. 



