68 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
of the hole rather sloped inward from the top to the 
bottom so as to increase the difficulty of escape, of 
which indeed there was little chance, should the ani- 
mal fall into the snare. 
Early in the evening before the tiger returned, a 
goat was placed upon a small platform slightly fixed 
in the centre of the hole, on a level with the sur- 
rounding surface and supported by weak bamboos ; so 
that little additional weight would precipitate it into 
the chasm below. The rest of the surface above was 
covered with grass, and no appearance of an opening 
remained. The night happened to be unusually dark 
and we repaired early in the morning to the spot 
where this preparation had been made for entrap- 
ping the sanguinary tyrant of the forest. When at 
some distance, perceiving that the bait had not been 
taken, we concealed ourselves behind a few intervening 
trees to see if the tiger would quit the place of his 
security and fall into the snare that had been so in- 
geniously placed to betray him. We had not waited 
above half an hour when our wishes were grati- 
fied by observing the beautiful beast rush from its 
lurking-place, and, when within about five yards of 
the devoted goat, spring upon it with a yell so fero- 
cious that I trembled where I stood, though removed 
from all chance of danger. The platform instantly 
gave way with a crash, and the tiger and goat both 
fell into the hollow beneath. As soon as the former 
found itself a prisoner it howled with rage, lashed 
its sides with its tail, erected the fur upon its back 
and exhibited fearful demonstrations of fury. It made 
the most desperate efforts to escape, springing up the 
