t86 MY I IKST TIGER. 
F. 1. 
The largest I have killed was ... 9 3 
Height at shoulder 3 6 
I killed my first tiger when out at the Avalanche on 
August 9, 1854. After having shot a splendid old saddle 
back with grand horns, I was descending the mountain 
towards the bungalow ; about half way down 1 saw some- 
thing outside the shola, at first I thought it w^as a couple 
of jungle sheep lying down, but on another look I saw 
stripes, and on bringing the glasses to bear 1 saw it was 
a royal tiger stretched out at full length on the grass. I told 
Francis what it was, and he said we must kill him. The 
ground was favourable for the stalk as the animal was lying 
in a little dip ; we crept cautiously up to the mound above 
the tiger, and on looking over I saw his immense head and 
neck; at first I thought he was looking at me, but it 
was just the contrary, he was looking straight before him. 
At that moment a couple of shots were fired near the 
bungalow and the tiger turned his head in that direction, 
giving me a beautiful shot behind the ear ; 1 took a steady 
aim and pulled ; he fell over with a smothered roar, I 
retreated under cover of the hill, but felt certain he was 
dead, and sure enough when we got a sight of him again, 
there he was lying exactly in the same place. 1 returned to 
the mound where I first fired at him and Francis begged I 
would put another bullet into him, so 1 fired at his chest and 
he drew all his legs together and curled his tail over his back 
and thus remained. I rather wanted to go up to him, but 
Francis said, *'if he is dead he will be there to-morrow, 
and if he is not he is best left alone," and so after another 
good look we left him for the night, and 1 arrived at the 
