136 THE TIGER. 



and, from that elevated position, to keep watch over the country, and detect the Tiger if it 

 attempt to steal quietly away. 



Not only is the Tiger skin considered as an article possessing a commercial value, but the 

 fat commands an equally high price among the natives, who employ it as an infallible specific 

 against rheumatic affections. It is prepared for use in rather a* curious, and withal, a simple 

 manner. 



Were the fat to be exposed to the action of the atmosphere, it would soon become rancid, 

 and then putrid ; but by subjection to the native mode of treatment, it clarifies itself with no 

 trouble to the preparer. As soon as removed from the animal, the fat is cut into long strips 

 of a convenient size to enter the necks of sundry bottles, which are cleansed for the purpose. 

 By the aid of a stick, as many as possible of these strips are pushed into the bottle, which is 

 then corked, and set in the sunshine for a whole day. The heat of the sun's rays soon melts 

 the fat, and liquefies it as if it w T ere oil. In this state it is permitted to remain until the even- 

 ing, when it cools down into a firm white mass, resembling lard. This prepared fat is as 

 useful to Europeans as to natives, not so much to rub on their rheumatic joints, as to lubricate 

 their guns and locks, on which may depend the life of the owner. 



Those who have hunted the Tiger in a genuinely sportsmanlike manner, matching fairly 

 man against beast, are imanimous in asserting it to be a very cunning animal, putting all the 

 powers of the human intellect to the proof. As is the case with the fox, — our most familiar 

 instance of astuteness among brutes, — each Tiger seems to have its peculiar individuality so 

 strongly marked, that it must be separately matched by the hunter' s skill. 



In India, many tales are told of the Tiger and its ferocious daring. It has often been 

 known to leap on the roof of a native hut, tear up the slight covering with its claws, and leap 

 into the room below. However, when a Tiger acts in this manner, the tables are generally 

 turned, for the noise made by the scratchings and clawings on the roof give warning for the 

 inhabitants to make their escape by the door, and bar the entrance behind them. It is not so 

 easy to jump out of the house as into it, and in consequence, the neighbors speedily change 

 the course of events by getting on the roof in their turn, and shooting the burglarious quad- 

 ruped through the opening which its own claws had made. 



A rather ludicrous adventure occurred to an old woman who was on her way home. She 

 had just arrived in sight of her doorway, when she perceived a large Tiger crawl up to the 

 entrance, and allured, probably, by the scent of provisions, walk coolly into her house. With 

 great presence of mind she closed the door on the intruder, and calling for aid from her friends, 

 soon had the satisfaction of placing her hand upon the Tiger's carcass as he lay on her floor, 

 pierced with the missiles hurled at him through the window. 



Many of these beautiful animals have been brought to America, and through the medium 

 of Zoological Gardens and travelling menageries are familiar to us all. When caught in its 

 first infancy, or when bom and bred in captivity, the Tiger is as tameable an animal as the 

 lion or any of the feline race, displaying great attachment to its keeper, and learning many 

 small accomplishments, such as jumping through hoops and over sticks, enacting the part of 

 a couch to its keeper, letting him pull its huge jaws open, and all with perfect good humor. 

 These exhibitions, however, are never quite safe, and ought not to be permitted. 



On some occasions the animal may be in a bad temper, and not willing to go through its 

 performances, and upon being urged strongly to act against its inclination, may turn upon its 

 persecutor and inflict a fatal wound in a moment. The creature may not intend to commit 

 murder, but its strength is so great that, having no mathematical knowledge of the theory of 

 forces, it cannot calculate the effect of a blow from its paw, or a grip of its teeth. Such events 

 have more than once occurred, one of which, the death of the well-known "Lion Queen," was 

 singularly tragical. The Tiger was required by the "Lion Queen" to exhibit some part of his 

 usual performances, and being in a sulky mood, refused to obey. The girl struck him with her 

 whip, when he sprang upon her, forced her against the side of the cage, and seized her by the 

 throat. She was almost immediately extricated from his grasp and removed from the cage, but 

 although no apparently mortal injury had been inflicted, she died within a very few minutes. 



Dissimilar as are the lion and Tiger, there has been an example of a mixed offspring of 



