THE ROYAL TIGER. 



feels himfelf wounded, he feldom retreats without facrificing fome one to 

 his vengeance. 



The female Tiger goes three months with young, and produces feverar at 

 a litter(A): it is therefore no wonder that the endeavours of the inhabitants, 

 to extirpate this cruel and deflruclive creature, prove ineffectual. Whilli ihe 

 has young ones to bring up, Ihe exceeds, if pofhble, her ufual rapacity: if her 

 young are taken from her during her abfence, me purfues the robber with 

 inconceivable fury, who, to fave a part, is contented to lofe a part, and lets 

 fall one of her cubs, which the immediately carries to her den, and inflantly 

 renews the purfuit ; he then drops another, and by the time me has placed 

 that in fafety, he generally gets clear off with the remainder. If lhe cannot 

 find any of her young, lhe then becomes defperate ; boldly approaching 

 towns, and committing horrid llaughter wherever me goes. 



The only benefit man derives from this dreadful animal is the Ikin, which 

 is held in high efteem all over the Eatt, and particularly in China, where the 

 mandarins cover their feats of juftice with it, and apply it to other purpofes : 

 perhaps it acquires an additional value from the difficulty and danger with 

 which it is procured. 



(a) -D'Obfooville. 



