THE ROYAL TIGER. 



which he drinks every drop before he tears the body in pieces (a). He does 

 not purfue his prey, but lurks among the bullies, on the fides of rivers, from 

 whence he Iprings or bounds on the unhappy victim with an elaflicity and 

 from a diftance fcarcely credible : if he mifs his aim, he inftantly makes off, 

 and does not renew the attack. " I was informed, by very good authority," 

 fays Mr. Pennant, " that, in the beginning of this century, fome ladies and 

 gentlemen, being on a party of pleafure, under a made of trees, on the banks 

 of a river in Bengal, obferved a Tiger preparing for its fatal fpring ; one of 

 the ladies, with amazing prefence of mind, laid hold of an umbrella, and 

 furled it full in the animal's face, which inftantly retired, and gave the 

 company opportunity of removing from fo terrible a neighbour (b)." 



Another party, the memory of one of which is Hill dear to thofe who 

 knew his worth, had not the fame good fortune. The event is thus related, 

 by a gentleman who was an eye-witnefs of the horrid fcene. " Yefterday 

 morning, Dee. 22, 1792, Mr. Downey, Lieut. Pyefinch, poor Mr. Munro(c), 

 and myfelf went on more, on Saugur Ifland, to moot Deer. We faw 

 innumerable tracks of them, as well as of Tigers ; notwithftanding which 

 we continued our fport till half pari three, when we fat down on the 

 edge of the jungle, to refrelh. ourfelves, and had juft commenced our 

 meal, when we were told a fine Deer was within fix yards of us : 

 Mr. Downey and I immediately jumped up, to take up our guns ; I had but 

 juft: laid hold of mine, when I heard a roar like thunder, and faw an immenfe 

 Royal Tiger fpring on the unfortunate Munro, who was fitting down : in 

 a moment his head was in the heart's mouth, and he ruihed into the 

 jungle with him, with as much eafe as I could lift a kitten ; tearing him 

 through the thicker! bulhes and trees, every thing yielding to his monftrous 

 ftrength. The agonies of horror, regret, and, I muft fay* fear, (for there were 

 two Tigers, a male and a female), ruihed on me at once ; the only effort I 

 could make, was to fire at him, though the poor youth was ftill in his mouth. 

 I relied partly on Providence, partly on my own aim, and fired a mufket. 

 The Tiger fiaggered and feemed agitated, which I took notice of to my 



(a) Pennant. (b) Pennant's Syn. Quad. 103, (c) Only fon of Sir Heftor Munro, K. B. 



