112 SPORT IN BENGAL. 



blood was found where he lay groaning for some minutes 

 before making off into the heavy covert, but his body, though 

 sought for, was never found-, and he died probably in some 

 favourite lair at a distance from the spot where his wound 

 or wounds had been received, and with him disappeared for 

 ever the Topechansi man-eater. 



M. missed bagging this fine tiger by just an inch. The 

 rifle bullet struck the animal above the nostrils and broke 

 both upper and lower jaws, carrying away a portion of the 

 cheek and lips ; had the elevation been an inch higher it 

 would have entered the upper part of the head, and by its 

 great size, five or six to the pound, have completely fractured 

 the skull. It is probable that the second bullet, fired as he 

 leapt into the bushes, also struck him, as much blood was left 

 where he had laid down and groaned grievously as if shot 

 through the lungs. 



The conduct of the old " Shikaree " as has been above 

 described, was unusual in a seasoned hand. Further it may be 

 noted that although he detected the tiger crouching among 

 the rocks, and pointed towards him his shaking hand, he 

 would not pronounce the name of the dreaded beast; and this 

 objection is not uncommon among certain classes of the 

 natives who live near or frequent j ungles infested by tigers. 



It seems likely that this tiger came to the salt-lick a little 

 before him, and on the same errand, viz., to watch for a 

 sambur, and, startled by the number of his attendants, and 

 by the torches carried by them, had crouched low to conceal 

 himself, until the departure of his followers would give him 

 a better chance of a successful attack, and an exchange of 

 venison for human flesh for supper. 



The propensity to kill through caprice, or pure love of 

 mischief, is largely developed in some tigers, more so in the 

 young than in the old ones ; even confirmed man-eaters will 

 now and then exhibit this bloodthirsty trait, as did a pair 

 near Bhoyrub Bazaar, in the " Mymensingh " district, which, 

 after carrying off and devouring two men and a woman in 

 the course of forty-eight hours, killed a score or more wild- 



