1 00 A V O Y A G E T O Boo^ 11 



As thefe forefts almofh border on the houfes of the 

 town, the tigers often make incurfions into the ftreets 

 during the night, carrying off fov4s, dogs, and other 

 domellic creatures; and fometimes even boys have 

 fallen a prey to them and it is certain, that ravenous 

 beads, which provide themfelves with food in this 

 manner, are afterwards known to defpife what the fo- 

 refts afford ; and that, after rafting human flefh, they 

 flight that of beafts *. Befides the fnares ufually 

 laid for them the Negroes and Mulattoes, who fell 

 wood in the forefts of the mountains, are very dex- 

 trous in encountering the tiger and fome, even on ac- 

 count of the flender reward, feek them in their re- 

 treats. The arms in this combat, feemingly fo dan- 

 gerous, are only a lance, of two or three yards in 

 length, made of a very ftrong wood, with the point 

 of the fame hardened in the fire; and a kind of 

 cimeter, about three quarters of a yard in length. 

 Thus armed, they ftay till the creature makes an af- 

 fault on the left arm, which holds the lance, and is 

 wrapped up in a fhort cloak of bays. Sometimes the 

 tiger, aware of the danger, feems to decline the com- 

 bat ; but his antagonift provokes him with a flight 

 touch of the lance, in order, while he is defending 

 himfelf, to ftrike a fure blow ; for, as foon as the 

 creature feels the lance, he grafps it with one of his 

 paws, and with the other llrikes at the arm which 

 holds it. Then it is that the perfon nimbly aims a 

 blov/ with his cimeter, which he kept concealed with 

 the other hand, and hamftrings the creature, which 

 immediately draws back enraged, but returns to the. 



* This is an error. Bealls of prey in America are not fo fierce 

 as. in Africa and Afia ; they never attack the human fpecies, but 

 wh- n forced by hunger, or provoked. It is affirmed by the natives, 

 iha ir an European, with his negro and dog, were to meet with 

 two hungry bea'ts of prey, whether tigers or ounces, they would- 

 (eiv.e the dog and negro, and leave the European, But the truth I 

 wever knew experienced. A. 



charge-. 



