tiger* 
311 
considerable bodies of men, well mounted and 
armed with lances. As soon as the animals are 
roused, they are instantly attacked on all sides, 
with pikes, arrows, and sabres, and are presently 
destroyed. This diversion is, however, always at- 
tended with danger : for if the tiger feels him- 
self wounded, he seldom retreats without sacri- 
ficing one of the party to his vengeance. There 
are men who, covered with a coat of mail, or 
even armed only with a shield, a poniard, and a 
short scimitar, will dare to attack these blood- 
thirsty animals singly, and fight with them life for 
life : for in combats of this nature ihere is no other 
alternative, than to vanquish or to fall. 
The inhabitants of these countries predict their 
success or losses by omens taken from this animal. 
If they are marching against an enemy, and a tiger 
is seen flying nearly in the same direction, victory 
is always supposed to be certain. But as it must 
of course happen that the reverse frequently takes 
place, they are never in want of a subterfuge to 
justify a similar augury. 
The tigress, like the lioness, produces four or 
five young at a litter. She is at all times furious ; 
but her rage rises to the utmost extremity, when 
robbed of her young. She then braves every dan- 
ger ; and pursues her plunderers, who are often 
obliged to release one of their captives in order to 
retard her motion. She stops, takes it up, and 
carries it to the nearest covert ; but instantly re- 
turns and renews her pursuit even to the gates of 
buildings, or the edge of the sea ; and when her 
hope of recovering her offspring is lost, she ex- 
presses her agony by bowlings, so hideous as to 
excite terror wherever they are heard. 
The roar of the tiger is said to be exceedingly 
dreadful. It begins by intonations and infiections, 
deep, melancholy, and slow ; presently it becomes 
