Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-06-06
From Buckingham's Autobiography.
ADVENTURE WITH A TIGER.

eTnOI VI the Il OFT OI dnnans ABOUT seven
or eight miles from Bombay: and as
had disappointment at home inthe morn
ing, and the night was remarkably fine,
with brilliant moonlight, l declined the
hospitable invitation of my host to re-
main with them during the night and
ordering my palanquin 10 be ready at ten
o'clock, left Tannah at that hour for
Bombay. Great portion of the way was
over level plain of some extent and
while we were in the midst of this, the
bearers, of whom there were eight, fourto
carry, and four for relay, with two
musSauljees, or lantern bearers, who
carry their lights in the moonlight as well
as in the dark, as matter of etiquette
which it is thought disrespectful to omit
in short, the whole party Of ten in an
instant disappeared, scattering them
selves in all directions, and each run
ming at his utmost speed. was perfect
ly astonished at this sudden halt, and
wholly unable to conjecture its cause,
and all my calling and remonstrance
were in vain. In casting my eyes be-
hind the palanquin, however, saw 10 my
horror and dismay, a huge tiger, in full
career towards me, with his tail almost
perpendicular, and with growl that in
dicated too distinctly the intense satisfac-
ton with which he anticipated savory
morsel for his hunger. There was not
moment to lose, or even to deliberate.
To get out of the palanquin, and try to
escape, would be running into the jaws
of certain DEATH To remain within was
the only alternative. The palanquin is
an oblong chest or box, about six feet
long, two feet broad, and two feet high.
1t has four short legs for resting it on the
ground, three or four inches only above
the soil. Its bottom and sides are fiat,
and its top is gently convex, to carry off
the rain. By pole projecting from the
centre of each end the bearers carry it on
their shoulders, and the occupant lies
stretched upon thin mattress on an open
cane bottom, like couch or bed, with
pillow beneath his head The mode
of entering and leaving the palanquin is
through square opening on each side,
which, when the sun or rain requires it,
may be closed by sliding door; this is
usually composed of venetian blinds 10
allow light and air, in a wooden frame,
and may be fastened, if needed, by a
small brass hook and eye. Everything
about The palnnquin, however, is made as
light as possible, to lessen the labor of
the bearers and there is no part of the
panelling or sides more than an half inch
thick, if so much. All could do, there
fore, was in the shortest possible space
of time to close the two sliding doors,
and lie along on my back. had often
heard that if you can suspend your
breath, and put on the semblance of be-
ing dead, the most ferocious of wild
beasts will leave you. attempted this,
by holding my breath as long as posi-
BILE, and remaining as still as a recum-
bent statue. But found it of no avail
The doors were hardly closed before
the tiger was alongside, and his smelling
and snorting were horrible. He first
butled one of the sides with his head,
and as there was no resistance in the
other, the palanquin went over on its
beam ends, and lay perfectly fiat, with
the cane bottom presented to the tigers
view. Through this, and the mattress,
heated no doubt by my lying on it, the
odor of the living flesh came out stronger
than through the wood, and the snufing
and smelling were repeated with increas-
ed strength. 1 certainly expected every
moment that, with a powerful blow of
one of his paws, he would break in some
part of the palanquin, and drag me out
for his devouring. But another butting
of the head against the bottom of the
paIanquin rolled it over on its convex
top, and then it rolled to and fro like a
cradle. All this while was obliged, of
course, to turn my body with the revo-
lutions of the palanquin itself, and every
time | moved | dreaded lest l should
provoke some fresh aggression. The
beast, however, wanting sagacity, did not
use his powerful paw as l expected and
giving it up in despair, set up hideous
howl Of disappointment, and sl:nked off
in the direction from whence ne came.
1 rejoiced, as may be well imagined, at
the cessation of all sound and smell TO
indicate his presence but it was full
quarter of an hour before had courage
to open one of the side doors, and put
nv head out to see whether he was gone
or not. Happily, he had entirely disap-
peared, and 1 was infinitely relieved.
The next course to be considered was,
whether 1 should get ont and walk to
Bombay, a distance of four miles, now
near midnight, or whether l should again
close my doors and remain where | was.
| deemed this the safest plan, and re-