CHAPTER VI. 



Tigers and Tiger- shooting Disappearing from many Districts of the 

 Lower Provinces Formerly extremely Numerous in Bengal A 

 Great Bag Plassey, as it Was and Is Difference in Tigers Size 

 and Length Time and Method of Measurement Man-eaters The 

 old Man-eating Tigress of Raipoor Man-eaters often Lusty and 

 Handsome A famous Man-eating Tiger killed Wild Santhals 

 Roaring The " Provider " Adventure with Tiger and Jackals 

 " Bobbery " Pack attacked by Jackals Desperate Fights between 

 Tigers Cannibalism of Tigers Relative Strength of Tigers and 

 wild Bull Buffaloes Tiger and English Bull. 



WHATEVER impression it may convey to others, to me the 

 very name of tiger, tigre, or tyger, spell it as you will, carries 

 with it a sense of power, cruelty, and cunning all combined 

 which no other word does in the same degree. I think some 

 " Shikarees " are affected in a similar manner by the mere 

 mention of " bagh " by any one within hearing. I admit 

 that I have no love for the animal ; no desire to cherish it, 

 or make it a constant companion, as certain persons did in 

 India, and some may still do for aught I know to the con- 

 trary, holy fakeers and hermits as well as others; but if I 

 love tigers little, I love snakes, sharks, and crocodiles less ; 

 and yet the desire to attend the funerals of these last is 

 never so keen as the longing to be in at that of the first; 

 they (the tigers) have never done me harm ; true they may 

 have jumped upon me once and again, but on the whole they 

 have afforded me more pleasure than pain, and I owe them 

 many a pleasant hour spent in sweet communion together 

 in the jungles ; but yet I never see a tiger without picking 

 out upon his sleek hide the particular spot which I would 

 make the billet of my rifle bullet. 



