240 HUNTING THE TIGER WITH ELEPHANTS. 



when his horrible claws were within a short distance of 

 my body, tumbled dead, almost under the feet of the 

 elephant. 



A tremendous shout announced our triumph. It was 

 with much difficulty the mahout could restrain the en- 

 raged elephant from trampling the dead tiger to pieces. 

 But he succeeded in keeping him back ; and then our 

 rejoicing friends descended to take a survey of the animal 

 that had given such ferocious battle. He was the largest 

 of his kind that I had ever seen. His body was much 

 heavier than that of the common lion, and of astonishing 

 length. The skin was very beautiful, although streaked 

 with blood. The eyes glared fiercely even in death ; and' 

 the superstitious Hindoos hurried to singe off the blood- 

 stained whiskers, as if fearful that his spirit might con- 

 tinue " the deeds done in the body." 



Our howdah was now replaced, and fastened more se- 

 curely than before. The body of the tiger was wrapped 

 in a large cloth, to conceal it from the gaze of the ele- 

 phants, and placed upon the back of one of the females. 

 We then returned in triumph to the village our Hindoos 

 singing a rejoicing chorus, and making all manner of 

 noises, imitative of the beasts of the forest. A crowd wel- 

 comed us, and when the body of the tiger was, displayed 

 there was much exultation. We yielded entire possession 

 of the vanquished monster to our host, as a compensation 



