306 PARADE THE DEAD MAN-EATER. 



rather nervous, especially as this was the first tiger she had carried ; she 

 had been a wild animal herself not long before. 



On the way to Morlay beyond Hebsoor we entered an extensive stretch 

 of rice-fields, then dry and the crops cut, but yet on the ground, below the 

 Eamasamoodrum lake. Ordinarily fires were kept up at the threshing- 

 floors, and much merriment went on all night ; but the dread of the tigress 

 latterly had been so great that all was quiet and apparently deserted. Not 

 a fire was to be seen nor a voice heard. Dotted about the plain were large 

 trees which we knew sheltered the anxious watchers of the threshing-floors 

 below. We had brought torches and men from Hebsoor, and after much 

 calling that the tigress had been shot, voices were at last heard from dif- 

 ferent trees, lights began to appear, and watchers came from all directions, 

 some shouting to us from the distance to let them come up and see the 

 " dog." We humoured them and they were delighted, all remarking what 

 a huge tiger it was ! (was there ever a small tiger to the native mind ?) 



I was struck at the quick return of everything to its old groove after 

 this. Instead of small bodies of people hurrying fearfully homewards early 

 in the afternoon, and not a villager visible after five o'clock, as had lately 

 been the case, odd villagers now used the path past camp after dusk, and 

 the rice-fields were again the scene of work and harvest merry-making. 

 There was little doubt from the place where the tigress was found that 

 she was the man-eater, though we could not be positive of this, as there 

 were several tigers about. I was relieved, therefore, as time progressed, by 

 finding that all killing ceased. It will be years, however, before the recol- 

 lection of the lyenpoor tigress is lost in that part of the country ; and her 

 name will be preserved in legend, with exaggerated accounts of her doings 

 and the manner of her death, long after all fact regarding her has been lost. 



Contemporary with this tigress there lived in our jungles, amongst others 

 of his race, a male tiger of the largest size. He had been locally known, 

 as the " Donnay " tiger for many (it was said upwards of twenty) years. 

 Donnay in Canarese means a cudgel, and is applied to persons rough or 

 rude; this tiger had gained the sohriquet from his immense size and 

 imposing appearance. But as far as human beings were concerned he was 

 the most harmless and good-natured beast imaginable ; he never hurt the 

 smallest cow-boy, and was really rather liked than otherwise by the villagers. 

 He was, however, a glutton at beef; he required his steaks both regularly 

 and of good quality, and from long experience had become a most accom- 

 plished hunter of cattle. There was no avoiding him ; he understood the 

 habits and ways of the animal man perfectly, and probably knew all the 

 cow-boys personally. If the cattle were not seized out at graze, it was 



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