64 THE TRAPPER'S ART. 



can be distinguished from any other Tiger by the darker tint of the 

 skin, and a redness in the cornea of the eyes. Not even the Man- 

 eating Tiger dares an open assault, but crawls insidiously towards his 

 prey, preferring, as does the lion, the defenceless women and children 

 as the object of attack, and leaving alone the men, who are seldom 

 without arms. 



" The Tiger is very clever in selecting spots from whence it can 

 watch the approach of its intended prey, itself being couched under 

 the shade of foliage or behind the screen of some friendly rock. It 

 is fond of lying in wait by the side of moderately frequented roads, 

 more particularly choosing those spots where the shade is the 

 deepest, and where water may be found at hand wherewith to 

 quench the thirst that it always feels when consuming its prey. 

 From such a point of vantage it will leap with terrible effect, 

 seldom making above a single spring and, as a rule, always being 

 felt before it is seen or heard. 



" It is a curious fact that the Tiger generally takes up his post on 

 the side of the road which is opposite his lair, so that he has no need 

 to turn and drag his prey across the road, but proceeds forward with 

 his acquisition to his den. Should the Tiger miss his leap, he gen- 

 erally seems bewildered and ashamed of himself, and instead of re- 

 turning to the spot, for a second attempt, sneaks off discomfited from 

 the scene of his humiliation. The spots where there is most danger 

 of meeting a Tiger, are the crossings of nullahs, or the deep ravines 

 through which the water-courses run. In these localities the Tiger 

 is sure to find his two essentials, cover and water. So apathetic are 

 the natives, and so audacious are the Tigers, that at some of these 

 crossings a man or a bullock may be carried off daily, and yet no 

 steps will be taken to avert the danger, with the exception of a few 

 amulets suspended about the person. Sometimes the Tigers seem 

 to take a panic, and make a general emigration, leaving, without any 

 apparent reason, the spots which they had long infested, and making 

 a sudden appearance in some locality where they had but seldom be- 

 fore been seen 



" There is a certain bushy shrub, called the korinda, which is 

 specially affected by the Tigers on account of the admirable cover 

 which its branches afford. It does not grow to any great height, but 

 its branches are thickly leaved, and droop over in such a manner that 

 they form a dark arch of foliage, under which the animal may creep, 

 and so lie hidden from prying eyes, and guarded from the unwelcome 

 light and heat of the noonday sun. So fond are the Tigers of this 



