1 8 THE TIGER. 



that it is impossible to apply the- same rules to both. Some will decry all Tiger-shooting on 

 foot as foolhardiness, and others will compare Tiger-shooting off an Elephant to " shooting 

 a mad dog from the roof of an omnibus ! " I can speak with no authority on the subject, 

 never having had the opportunity of shooting a Tiger on foot, with the exception of one 

 wounded one, as described hereafter. I think, however, that there is little doubt that Tiger- 

 shooting on foot may be carried out with very little risk -in favorable localities if properly 

 conducted, as described by Mr. Rice in his most interesting book. For my own part, I 

 should not have the slightest hesitation in firing at a Tiger if he were going away from me, 

 or if I had the advantage of being above him or behind a tree ; but I think that no one who 

 values his life should walk up to a Tiger which is expecting him, however confident he may 

 be in his own shooting. Every one has heard how Tigers, which have been mortally wounded, 

 have struck down men in their dying agonies ; and almost every year some fatal accident 

 occurs to add to the warnings, but they are still too often unheeded. Young sportsmen are 

 usually ready to laugh at the danger which more experienced ones acknowledge, and though 

 men are to be found who have made a practice of shooting Tigers on foot, still more have 

 paid the penalty of their rashness, and those who do survive will usually be among the first to 

 point out the danger. The blow of a Tiger's paw is irresistible, and though he may generally 

 be turned from his charge, if he does charge home, death is nearly inevitable. With other 

 animals this is not the case : the Elephant or the Gaur may be dodged and avoided ; while, 

 however unpleasant, a " rough and tumble " with Bear, Leopard, or Pig is by no means 

 necessarily attended with fatal consequences. 



My first introduction to Tigers was in May, 1863. I was invited by M. to join his party, 

 which consisted of his brother C. M., and B. He had upwards of fifty Elephants out, but 

 as I had not been expected there was no howdah for me ; so I was provided with a ' Chdr- 

 jdmd' a sort of padded seat with a light iron rail round it, not very comfortable nor easy to 

 shoot from, but superior to an ordinary pad. 



On the 5th of May the camp being at Kheree, not far from Roorkee, we proceeded to 

 beat the jungles behind the bungalow. Tracks of Tigers were abundant, but we beat for 

 a long time in vain. Coming to the end of what we intended to be the last beat, and 

 seeing nothing but deer, we fired at them. I had just missed a Chi'tal, and finished reloading, 

 when I saw a large Tiger going slowly up the high bank about fifty yards off. I fired at him, 

 and he fell back and lay for several seconds. I thought he was done for, but he got up again, 

 and as the Elephant moved, I missed with my second barrel. Dismounting, I reloaded and 

 ran up the bank with my Shikari. We found a row going on up above, the Tiger having 

 charged and scattered the Elephants ; and on M.'s coming up, he insisted on my mounting 

 the Elephant with him. Two Tigers were on foot, but the Mahouts funked and let them 

 get away. M. and I went in search of my Tiger, while the other two went after the second 

 one. We had a long hunt without success ; but they were more fortunate, found, and killed 

 their Tiger. 



We returned to camp to breakfast, and again went out in the evening. After going a 

 very short distance we saw a Tiger returning from the water and went after him at once. 



