SPORT IN BENGAL. 



sites, but all the time keeping an eye on the business in hand, 

 and steadily approaching the point from which he has resolved 

 to make his attack. Meanwhile, as long as their enemy is at 

 some distance, the lazy oxen may take no notice of him beyond 

 a stupid stare, or the cocking of the ears and tails of those 

 on the skirts of the herd, who will, perhaps, slowly close upon 

 the main body. Finally, when the attack is made upon them, 

 with the swiftness of a lightning flash, the herd will scatter 

 over the plain in all directions, leaving two or three of their 

 number struck down, and the last in the grasp of their re- 

 morseless foe. The tiger's tactics are very different when he 

 purposes to take one of a herd of buffaloes, on whom a direct 

 and open attack is more than he dares to make, since these 

 powerful beasts will not hesitate to bear down upon him in a 

 body, should his skulking approach be seen or scented. I once 

 had an opportunity of observing the proceedings of a brace of 

 tigers bent upon killing one of a large herd of the savage and 

 bulky half -wild buffaloes of Eastern Bengal. It was while 

 riding over an extensive " chur " in the Noakholly district, 

 on which large herds of buffaloes grazed all the year round 

 among the tamarisk bushes. A little before sunset a pair of 

 tigers, after carefully reconnoitring the ground from the cover 

 of the jungle, adopted the plan now to be related to get posses- 

 sion of one of a considerable herd, which they durst not attack 

 openly. The female, lithe and active, leaving her lusty lord 

 crouched in concealment, made a circuit under cover, and 

 getting to windward of the grazing herd, showed herself at a 

 point opposite to that where her mate lay hidden, and, as 

 she intended, was soon seen and scented by the buffaloes 

 nearest to her. At first the herd, throwing up their heads 

 angrily, snuffed the air, slowly advancing a few paces ; then, 

 as they clearly made out the shirking form of their detested foe 

 in their covert side, with one accord they closed upon the leaders 

 with loud snorts and bellows, and in an irresistible phalanx 

 bore down at speed upon her. The tigress now made off with 

 long and rapid bounds, while the tiger, advancing from the 

 rear, fell upon and struck down a weak and sickly young 



