Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-08-15
The Tiger Slayer.

The morning after our arrival it was
signifed to us that there was large roy
al tiger in nulla near the town. This
was soon confirmed by the appearance OF
native who was preparing to attack il
single-handed The man was short, not
robust, but completely made, sinewy and
active; having countenance remarkable
for its expression Of calm determination.
He was entirely naked above the hips,
below which he simply wore coarse lin
en- trowsers, reaching half way down the
thigh. He was armed with ponderous
knife, the blade of which was exceeding
ly wide and thick, with an edge almost as
keen as razor. On the left arm, he
bore small conical shield, about eigh-
teen inches in diameter, covered with
hide, and studded with brass. My COM
panion and myself walked with the Hin
doc to the lair of the sleeping foe. We
were the less apprehensive OF any per-
sonal danger, knowing that the tiger is
very cowardly animal. and scarcely ever
makes an open attack; and further, that
it always prefers attacking native to
European.
We soon reached the nulla, and dis
covered tho beautiful beast at the extrem-
ity, basking in the sun. Its proportions
were prodigious. have never seen one
larger. The nulla was narrow, but at
the bottow perfectly free from Unequal
tiles, so that the area was more than usu-
ally favorable for the operations of the
undaunted tiger slayer. As soon as we
reached the spot, the man boldly leaped
into the hollow, and al the same time
Uttered shrill cry, in order to arouse
him from his slunibers. Upon seeing
its resolute agressor slowly advancing,
the animal raised itself upon its forelegs,
with terrible howl. As the little Hin
doc continued to approach. which he did
slowly, and with his dark eyes keenly
fixed upon the face of his formidable foe,
the tiger rose TO its full height and began
to lash its sides furiously with its tail,
yet it evidently appeared to be in state
of embarrassment. Still the man adj
vanced deliberately, but undauntedly, the
uneasiness and rage of the excited beast
increasing with every step. AT length it
crouched. evidently with the determine
ton to make its terrible spring.
The man suddenly stopped, when the
tiger paused, turned up its head, and
making horrible noise, between snarl
and howl, made one step forward. and
sprang towards his victim, who instantly
bent his body, receiving the animals
paws upon his shield, dashed the knife
into his body, and feH under, but almost
entirely beyond the extremities of his
wounded enemy. The creature turned
upon its back, and the little Hindoo re-
gained his feet in an instant, striking the
PROSTATE tige., with astonishing precision
and quickness, desperate blow upon
The throat which completely severed
the windpipe, at the same moment spring
ing with the rapidly of thought beyond
the reach of the monsters claws. The
tiger died most instantly. When assur-
ed that it was positively past doing any
more mischief--for il had done much in
ito iime-we descended into the nulla.
The cash in the animals body was ter
rife. The lower region Of The heart had
been wounded, and the intestines cut
through. By way of trophy, the victor
deliberately skinned the dead enemy,
which he soon accomplished, and with
great dexterity, and then returned in the
pride Of power, with the token of victory
upon his shoulder. He obtained from
us two or three pagodas, which he con-
sidered most liberal reward for his
brayery.-Easf India Travels.