58 WILD ANIMALS. 



Lion-baiting was more often practised. Mr. Jesse refers to a 

 remark made by a foreigner wbo travelled in England at the 



period : " To see cocks fight is a royal pleasure in England 



Eyerytliing , that is called fighting is a delicious thing to an Eng- 

 hshman." These entertainments were given as a public exhibition 

 for profit, and it is curious to read in the advertisements occa- 

 sionally, "Any person who brings a dog will be admitted 

 gratis." 



Mr. Jamrach had a rather ugly adventure with the tiger 

 before referred to, previous to its sale to Mr. Edmunds. 

 ® " Through some want of strength in the den in which the tiger 

 was confined, he managed to escape into RatclifE Highway, and 

 caught up a little boy, about nine years old, who was playing in 

 the street. Jamrach rushed up and caught the tiger by the loose 

 skin of her neck ; but, although a very strong and powerfully-built 

 man, he could not hold the beast, who immediately started off 

 down the street at a gallop, carrying the boy in her mouth as a 

 cat would a mouse, Jamrach holding on tight all the time to the 

 tiger's neck, and keeping up with loog strides by her side, like 

 the groom by the side of a runaway horse. Finding that his hold 

 was giving way, he managed to slip the tiger's hind-leg from 

 under her, and she fell to the ground. Jamrach instantly threw 

 his whole weight down on her, and letting go the skin of her 

 neck, fastened his two thumbs . behind her ears with a firm grip. 

 The tiger, man, and boy lay many minutes all together in a heap, 

 the man gripping the tiger, the tiger (still holding the boy in his 

 fangs) all the while suffering great pain from the pressure of 

 Jamrach's hands and from impeded respiration. After a time, 

 one of Jamrach's men was actually bold enough to put his head 

 round the corner to see if he could render his master assistance. 

 Jamrach cried out, ' Bring me a crowbar ! ' The man got the 

 crowbar, and struck the tiger three severe blows on the nose with 

 it, which made her drop the child from her mouth. Jamrach then 

 sent for some ropes ; these ropes, of course, in the confusion, be- 

 came entangled, and the tiger watching her opportunity, sprang 

 up, and getting loose, ran back again up the street, Jamrach after 

 ' See " Curiosities of Ifatural History," Third Series. Frank Buckland. 



