288 THE TIGER, 



like thunder was heard, and an immense Tiger seiz- 

 ed our unfortunate friend *, and rushed again into 

 tlie jungle, dragging him through the thickest 

 bashes and trees, every thing giving way to its mons- 

 trous strength ; a Tigress accompanied his progress. 

 The united agonies of horror^, regret, and fear, rush- 

 ed at once upon us, I fired on the Tiger ; he seem- 

 ed agitated. My companion fired also ; and in a 

 few moments after this, our unfortunate friend came 

 up to us, bathed in blood, Every medical assist- 

 ance was vain ; and he expired in the space of 

 twenty-four hours, having received such deep 

 wounds from the teeth and claws of the animal, as; 

 rendered his recovery hopeless. A large fire, con- 

 sisting often or twelve whole trees, was blazing near 

 us at the time this accident took place, ^nd ten or 

 niore of the natives were with us. The human 

 mind can scarcely form any idea of this scene of 

 horror. We had but just pushed our boat from this 

 accursed shore, when the Tigress made her appear- 

 ance, ahnost raging mad, and remained on the sand 

 all the while u e continued in sight." 



On the borders of Tartary, Tigers are very fre- 

 quent ; and in so populous an empire as China, it 

 would seem impossible for them to have remained 

 till the present day unextirpated. In the Northern 

 roads, hundreds of travellers are seen with lantherns 

 carried before them, to secure them from these ra- 



^ Mr. Monro, the son of Sir Hector Monro, bart. This fatal event 

 took place in the year 179'2. 



t ten. Outl. of Gl, iii. <!0. 



