ADVENTURE WITH TIGER AND JACKALS. 93 



to alarm the boldest unaccustomed to hear it ; it is a loud 

 prolonged yell of terror, of mental and physical pain, the 

 keenest of disappointed expectations, blasted hopes, and 

 acute toothache, all combined, multiplied a hundredfold and 

 served up piping hot at intervals of a few seconds ; at least 

 that is what it seems to be, but as a plain matter of fact it is 

 only the natural yell of the jackal when suddenly or exces- 

 sively startled, and is given forth not only as an easy relief to 

 its own mind, but as a warning to its friends and relations. 

 Having stood within a few paces of the " provider " when it 

 sent up this cry, and watched its conduct in the presence of 

 a tiger, a panther, a brace of big Australian hounds, of a 

 "bobbery pack" in full cry, and even a firebrand hurled 

 suddenly at it with good aim, I know that no " provision " is 

 intended or dreamt of, but that fear alone causes it; also that 

 an amiable desire to warn others draws forth frequent 

 repetitions. I could cite instances of this without number, but 

 let the following suffice : 



One afternoon as I was about to fire at a tiger on the out- 

 skirts of a jungle, a couple of " providers," who previously 

 were trotting ahead leisurely, keeping half an eye upon me, 

 set up this terrific cry on perceiving the brindled tyrant, who 

 had business enough of his own to engage all his attention, 

 without being bothered by the chase of a couple of mangy 

 jackals, who therefore had really nothing to fear from him 

 then, but simply were too startled to abstain from a loud 

 expression of their feelings ; even after the object of their 

 dread had fallen dead they maintained the howls, running 

 about in a wild and excited manner, whisking their brushes 

 and cutting extraordinary antics, quite regardless of me. 



One night in camp two very fine and powerful brindled 

 hounds which lay at my feet, suddenly bounded out of the 

 tent after a jackal, on which its companion set up the 

 same cry. One morning, chasing a jackal on the laterite plain 

 west of the church at Midnapoor, my "bobbery pack" ran up 

 to him in the low dwarf " sal," and again the same yell was 

 uttered; and not in vain, for immediately afterwards two or 



