The Cat Tribe. 75 



tiger, he always preserves the teeth and claws as tokens 

 of his success, and the natives would not think of 

 leaving the cLad tiger without burning off its whiskers, 

 as a kind of charm. 



Besides these manifold traps, the tiger is also hunted 

 in various ways, the most usual being by means of 

 elephants. Upon these animals ride the hunters, who 

 are seated in the ' howdah ' (pronounced ' huodah '), 

 a sort of open carriage firmly fastened upon the back 

 of the elephant. A large number of beaters are pressed 

 into the service, who endeavour, by means of shouting, 

 blowing horns, beating drums, letting off fireworks, 

 etc., to drive the tiger from its concealment. 



In spite of the size and strength of the animals 

 ridden by the hunters, this sport is not without danger, 

 the tiger often facing his pursuers, leaping upon the 

 elephant, and even reaching the howdah. 



It is only by careful training that the elephants are 

 induced to face the infuriated beast at all. First, they 

 are taught to familiarize themselves with a stuffed skin, 

 and to gore it with their tusks, and trample upon it. 

 Next, a boy is placed inside the skin, in order to 

 counterfeit the movements of the animal, and accus- 

 tom the elephant to the sight of the skin in motion. 

 Finally, a dead tiger is shown to the animal, instead 

 of the stuffed skin. 



Yet, with every precaution, and the most careful 

 training, even the most courageous elephant will some- 

 times turn and run before an angry tiger, in spite of 

 the exertions of the ' mahout,' or driver, who rides 

 upon the neck of the creature. 



One would naturally think that so destructive an 

 animal would be almost universally sought after and 

 destroyed. Yet in many parts of the country the 

 tiger is absolutely protected, being considered as a 

 sacred animal, and treated accordingly. Many of the 



