212 
HABITS OF THE TIGER. 
of a bush not far from the roadside. Hap¬ 
pily, the bearers did not see him, and trotted 
on, and the tiger, being either asleep or 
fully fed, suffered them to pass without 
molestation. In general, the natives are 
well informed as to the haunts and habits 
of the tiger; and some lives have been 
lost by the rashness of young officers in 
not attending to their counsels. I recollect 
one instance in which a native guide 
endeavoured earnestly to dissuade an of¬ 
ficer who was travelling express from 
setting out before daybreak, as the country 
through which they had to pass was wooded 
and had been very much infested with 
tigers. The officer, in his self-conceit, 
thought the man was making excuses for 
his own laziness, and finally accused him 
of cowardice and falsehood. The guide 
said no more, but took his arms and went 
on before, and the officer followed, exult¬ 
ing, no doubt, in his success in over¬ 
coming obstacles. The moon was shining, 
and gave light enough to distinguish 
objects. They were proceeding along 
a narrow path, when a tremendous roar 
was heard, and a tiger sprang from the 
