THE EOTAl TIGEE OF BENGAL. 37 



of the day, not six miles distant, and when there 

 were eight other men in company. 



" A karen who was killed by a tiger near the forks 

 of the Tenasserim, was walking with three others in 

 company a couple of hours before sunset, and had a 

 gun on his shoulder. The karens that lived nearest 

 immediately set traps in the paths that led to their 

 villages, and the animal was soon caught near one of 

 their houses. 



" On one occasion I reached a lone karen village 

 at dusk, and was surprised to find it barricaded all 

 round to prevent access. On inquiry, I found that 

 two men had been devoured by a tiger the day 

 before in the neighbourhood close by. It appeared 

 that one man had been carried off, and four others 

 armed themselves and went in pursuit ; after a day's 

 search, and while in the track, the beast came out 

 boldly on the plain and succeeded in carrying off 

 one of the armed karens who had engaged in the 

 pursuit. 



" A few years ago a little body of karens removed 

 from Tay and settled on the upper part of Tavoy 

 river ; but, after losing four or five men in as many 

 different years by the tigers, they have been com- 

 pelled to descend into the more populous parts of 

 the valley." 



The natives of India, especially the Hindoos, hold 

 the tiger, as they do the cobra, in superstitious awe. 



