THB nOYAL TIGER OF BENGAL. 33 



is said tliat when a tiger has onoe killed a man, and 

 tasted human flesh, he prefers it to all other food. 

 Whether this be true or not I cannot say ; but there 

 can be no doubt that when once the dread, natural 

 in all animals, of the human form has been overcome, 

 the man-eater becomes so formidable as sometimes 

 to cause the depopulation of a village and become 

 the dread of a district. That this is not always 

 the character of the tiger is proved by the in- 

 difference with which he is often regarded by the 

 natives, who carry on their usual avocations as herds- 

 men, cultivators, wood and grass cutters, close to the 

 cover in which they know he is concealed. This 

 may arise either from their peculiarly apathetic or 

 fatalistic character, or from the experience which 

 teaches them that, generally, so long as the tiger is un- 

 molested, and has other food, he will not injure men. 

 But it is not less certain that over many roads and 

 along many paths through the forest or grass, men 

 will not pass at night, or even in the day, alone, with- 

 out torches or tomtoms to scare away the enemy that 

 they believe is lurking ready to seize them as they 

 pass. It sometimes happens that a road or path is 

 closed for weeks or months by a tiger, and only be- 

 comes safe after some European or native shikari has 

 met and destroyed the enemy. Not only postmen, 

 herdsmen, and casual foot travellers are occasionally 

 seized and carried off, but even those travelling on 

 horseback or in hackeries (bullock carts) have been 

 taken. Yet, withal, it is strange to see the apparent 



