THE TIGER. 67 



of whicli appears to be in some way essential to the proper 

 management and subjugation of tte tiger. I rode my horse, a 

 nice little Arab, close up to one or two of tlie tigers, and neither 

 tiger nor horse manifested the least emotion. My httle Arab 

 pricked his ears, and the tom-tiger blinked his yellow eyes in a 

 lazy fashion, and that was all." 



Regarding the use of the rattle of bells in taming the tiger, it 

 is of very ancient date. ^Han says, however, that the sound of 

 bells and timbrels causes the animals to grow into such a rage and 

 madness, that they tear their own flesh from their backs. Certain 

 sounds, colours, and perfumes have frequently an extraordinary 

 effect upon the senses of some animals. For instance, although 

 dogs dislike the smell of valerian, nearly all the cat-tribe, except 

 the cheetah, exhibit a strong liking for it. Mr. Austen reported 

 in Land and Water, in 1866: "I have been enabled to try the 

 eff'ects of valerian on feline and other animals, and to compare 

 the results produced. It appeared to have the strongest influence 

 on the lion, tiger, and jaguar ; these animals, when a drop was 

 spilt on a piece of paper, and placed in their cage, rolled over it 

 in a state of the utmost apparent enjoyment, the males in all cases 

 manifesting a stronger partiality than the opposite sex, and 

 evincing the greatest recognition of its presence." 



Among the sports the English people delighted in during the 

 early part of the last century, from the lowest to the highest, was 

 the baiting of animals, and we have many descriptions of bull and 

 bear baiting in the various memoirs of the period ; but tiger-baiting 

 was such rare sport that, on perhaps the only time it took place, 

 the fight ^ was well attended. The Daily Advertiser, of November 

 28, 1747, called attention to the performance in the following 

 manner : — " We hear that there will be a large tiger baited on 

 Wednesday next, at Mr. Broughton's amphitheatre in Oxford 

 Road, being the first that ever was baited in England. He is the 

 largest that ever was seen here, being eight feet in length. He is 

 one of the fiercest and swiftest of savage beasts, and it is thought 

 will afford good sport. The doors to be opened at nine, and the 

 diversion begins at eleven." 



" " History of the Dog." 



