2^4 tHli TIGElt. 



immediately drew out the animal, on whicK ttia 

 united efforts of several men had been of no effect. 

 When the people returned, the first object they be- 

 held was tbs Tiger with the Buffalo thrown over his 

 shoulder : he was carrying it away with tlie feet up- 

 v/ard, towards his den. As soon, however, as he 

 saw the men, he let fall his prey, and instantly fled 

 to the woods ; but he had previously killed 

 the Buffalo, and sucked its blood *. It may be 

 here observed, that some of the East Indian Buffa- 

 loes weigh above a thousand pounds, which is twice 

 as heavy as the ordinary run of our black-cattle : 

 whence we may form a conception of the enormous 

 strength of this rapacious animal, that could thus 

 ,>i'un off with a weight double that of itself. 



M. D'Obsonville was present at a terrible com- 

 bat between a Tiger and an Elephant, in the camp 

 ofHyder Ali. The Tiger, not yet of full strength 

 (for he did not seem more than four feet high), was 

 brought into the area, and fasteneci with a chain to 

 a stake, round which he could turn freely. On one 

 side, a strong and well-taught elephant was in- 

 troduced by his keeper. The amphitheatre was en- 

 closed by a triple rank of lance- men. The action^ 

 when it commenc^fc^vas furious ; the Elephant^ 

 however, after reremng two deep wounds, proved 

 victorious. But from an encounter like this, where 

 the animal seemed a feeble one of its species, and 

 was at the same time restrained by chains, wc can- 

 not form an accurate judgment of its powers in a 



* Hamilton, i. 204. 



