THE ROYAL TIGER; 



Buffalo over his fhoulder, as a Fox does a Goofe, and was carrying it away, 

 with the feet upwards, towards its den ; as loon as it faw the men, it let fall 

 its prey, and inflantly fled to the woods : but it had previoufly killed the 

 Buffalo, and fucked its blood. The Indian Buffalo ufually weighs a thoufand 

 pounds, which is twice the weight of our black cattle ; from hence fome 

 idea may be formed of the enormous flrength of this cruel and rapacious 

 animal, which could run off with a creature twice its own weight with fuch 

 apparent eafe (a)." 



Father Tachard gives an account of a combat he faw between a Tiger and 

 three Elephants at Siam, which we lhall infert, to furnifh a more complete idea 

 of the amazing flrength and courage of this terrible animal. A lofty palifade 

 was built with bamboo cane, an hundred feet fquare ; and in the midft of 

 this place were three Elephants appointed for combating the Tiger. Their 

 heads and a part of their trunks were covered with a kind of armour, to 

 defend thofe parts from the claws of their fierce adverfary. " As foon," 

 fays he, " as we arrived at the place, a Tiger was brought forth from its 

 den, of a fize much larger than we had ever feen before. It was not at firfl: 

 let loofe, but held with cords, fo that one of the Elephants approaching, 

 gave it three or four terrible blows, with its trunk, on the back, with fuch 

 force, that the Tiger was for fome time Aunned, and lay without motion, as 

 if it had been dead. However, as foon as it was let loofe, and at full liberty, 

 although the firfl; blows had greatly abated its fury, it made at the Elephant 

 with a loud lhriek, and aimed at feizing his trunk. But the Elephant, 

 wrinkling it up with great dexterity, received the Tiger on his great teeth, 

 and toffed it up into the air. This fo difcouraged the furious animal, that it 

 no more ventured to approach the Elephant, but made feveral circuits round 

 the palifade, often attempting to fly at the fpeclators. Shortly after, three 

 Elephants were fent againft it, and they continued to flrike it fo terribly with 

 their trunks, that it once more lay for dead ; and they would certainly have 

 killed it, had not there been a flop put to the combat." 



" From this account, we may readily judge of the ftrength of this animal, 

 which, though reduced to captivity, and held by cords, though firfl; difabled, 



(a) Captain Hamilton. 



