A FAMOUS TIGER. 307 



■only because the Don was waiting for them near the village, and would 

 seize one on their return in the evening ; but as he had a large circle of 

 villages where he was upon visiting terms, he never degenerated into an 

 oppressor to any community in particular. The only mishap to his friends 

 the Morlayites that ever happened through him was once when he knocked 

 over one of them whilst netting hares in a small ravine within a few 

 hundred yards of the viUage ; in this place the Don had ensconced himself 

 with some designs in connection with his main object in life, beef, and the 

 villagers unwittingly surrounded him with their nets and went inside to 

 beat. In escaping he had to " over " one man to clear the way, but it was 

 universally agreed that it was a pure accident ; and though the man died 

 Boon afterwards, the Don lost nothing in public esteem by the mischance. 



From a long course of immunity from misadventure to himself the Don 

 had come to be regarded as enjoying the especial protection of Koombappa 

 of the temple, the great jungle-spirit ; and it was universally believed that 

 when that deity went the rounds of his jungles the Don was chosen by him 

 as his steed. The villagers had even made an effigy of the Don, respectably 

 got up in wood and paint, and looking truly formidable, with a seat on the 

 back, and on wheels, which they dragged round the temple and down to the 

 river in solemn procession on feast-days. Though the Morlayites always 

 entered with delight upon any hunts I organised, hardly any of them 

 beheved the Don would ever be shot, and it thus became a point of 

 importance with me to slay this notable rival. Accordingly, as soon as I 

 got through the work of putting everything in train for elephant-catching, 

 I turned my attention during the hot months of 1874 to circumventing him. 



It would fill pages to relate our unsuccessful days, the number of times 

 he escaped us in almost miraculous ways, and the devices which I planned 

 against him. He ate quite a small herd of cattle picketed for him, but no 

 return for the outlay was to be had but bootless drives and unsuccessful 

 night-watchings. Never had a tiger so many lives, never did one retain his 

 skin more cleverly. The Don bore no malice withal, and after a day's 

 hunting we would find his huge square pugs next morning close to camp ! 

 He was not going to quarrel about trifles, and had probably taken a bullock 

 during the night to relieve us of apprehension on that score. 



On one occasion he did a most extraordinary thing, which was, however, 

 quite on a par with his general uncertainty and originality. A cow was in 

 the habit of straying into the fields at night, so her owner secured her by a 

 yoke to an old bullock when sent to graze. Instead, however, of the cow's 

 becoming reformed, the ancient bullock was corrupted through his close 

 association with so loose a character; and one evening, instead of returning 



