Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1852-08-06
Royal Tiger Hunt.

Royal Tiger Hunt.
81 had hunted the lion and the iaguar, or IT,
gercat of American. had equally chased the
A frican lion, and would, for once at least find
myself in the presence Of the tiger OF lIndostan.
Our party conssten Of five Europeans--three
Engllsnmen, one lrshman, and myself Frencbl
besides four Maays, two sepoys, and eight
dogs Of which they spoke wonders. The heat
was scorching, without breath OF air. IN In
dia, when once you have made preparation for
a perous expedition, you can no longer be in
terested in "smaller game" Good bullets, sharp
harpoons, spears, the best of temp,red sabres,
would be OF very little use to you against the
bengalees and the Joyous clouds Of b rds of the
most varied and brilliant pumage which vocal
Use in the air; you leave them at liberty, respect
them even in their sleep; and that is the reason.
probably, which makes them so familiar and
tame in their incessant evolutions. A powerful
motive, however, compels you TO respect them,
above all when you are at some distance from
town or plantation the report Of your gun
would not alone awaken these vast and imposing
solitudes; under the bushes in the vicinity,
near to the muddy marshes and swamps, repose
the lion, sleeps the tiger, and for such visitors
your arms should ever be in state of readinessl
AT mid day we came to halt at the delightful
low-spirted, but who nevertheless, gave US a
warm reception. The previous evening a
panther had leaped the wall enclosing his
lodge and carried off and devoured the son Of
Malay, his servant, while sleeping in it's cot.
The wall was thirteen English feet in height,
and the leap of the furious beast must have
been confined and difficult still more by a ditch
on the other side" (tiere sudden tornado,
peculiar to the East, overtakes the party, and
compel them to remain over mighty " On the
following morning, before break Of day, we
were on march, reinforced by the brother and
sister of the devoured Malay, who would be re-
venged of the panther or the tiger.
The dogs in front kept close 10 us, as il fear
ful Of approaching danger. By the advice Of
our guides we quickly passed through thick
wood, and arriving at clear and extensive
pain, seated ourselves 10 take breakfast. The
tiger did not leave US much leisure. On its
first and awful roar the dogs, which they had
told us were so courageous, skunk behind us,
their tails between their legs, and looking here
and there, with the most stupid fright express-
ed in their faces, neither whip, nor blows with
the gun, nor menaces, nor caresses, would
conquer them, so we resolved to pass them BY.
A second roar, shorter and louder, told US the
! tiger WAS approaching. We looked at our pri>
ming, and awaited him in order of battle the
Malay three PAGES in advance, his sister BY his
side, both armed with pistol and an iron hand
harpoon. Behold him in our presence More
beautifully striped than the Zebra, snorting
astonls he'd much more than frightened at our
presence-immoveabl at first, putting forth
deaiening and profound roars, raising his furry
eyeds, licking his half opened lids with a
rough and fiery tongue. lie was magnificent
n hnhf L..
steps, lie made some towards us; and all at
once, as II they were ashamed of their pusil-
lanlmlty, the dogs without being set on, came
and placed themselves in our front, close to-
geIher, impatient, but silent. At ghl OF the
dogs the tiger became furious; he no longer
regarded us, his first victims were to be tho
dogs, who dared to brave and await him. They
advanced together, at first, then divided and
attacked the ferocious beast in front, behind
and on the anks. The tiger fixed his eye on
the most bold among them he gave a spring.
and IN an instant he had one enemy the less
the dogs entrails were strewed on the ground
by single pressure Of the beasts Jaws. We
wished to assist The Others who had run back X
some steps, but the Malay, bv sign of the
hand, intmacd thai 1t was not time to act yet /;
he WISHED us all 10 return home in safety. His
sister showed admirable sang froid and intre-
pidity; in her vigorous hands she held the
sharp-pninled harpoon and ] remember that
: her yellow complexion gradually assumed a
red or bright copper tint. The field of battle
now became more confined, not exceeding fifty
PAGES at most; our enemy was surrounded by
twenty within this space. AT signal from the
Maylay the dogs flew on all at once; the tiger
roared, bounded like the boa-conslrictor, and
chrushcd one dog after another, and although
bleeding in every part was still as furious and
menaclng as ever. All the dogs were pu,
horS de conbai, the only three alive still seem
ed to implure the Malay, who advanced Ind
We iollowed-a bullet was discharged, the tiger
roars, attempts to spring, but falls to the ground
:, like an aerOlyte the young girl advances and
ances her harpoon, which penctrates his body
he attempts to retreat, but the more he moves
more the deadly weapon cnleJs his flesh. A
general discharge of our rifles brought his end
10 dead certainty We had returned half
way home, when the two Malays, who pre-
i ceded us, uttered a Ioud shrek. We ha|tenet
our steps, and soon found these two unforta
mates stretched on the ground and kissing will
transport part OF human body. 1t was por
T lion of the head and throat of their younge
= brother, which they recognised from Sigh
r scar on the forehead. y Ardgo.