Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-05-09
A Tiger Combat.

several occasions. He was certainly one OF the lar
gest have seen, and beautifully streaked with
his glossy coat, it moved freely over its muscular
limbs and long back. The connoisseurs in sport had
despaired of finding fitting adversary for Kagra,
when news arrived that tiger of enormous size and
strength had been taken, uninjured, in the Terai-
the long strip of jungle land between Dude and Me-
paul. just at the foot of the Himalayas 1t was anti
cpa,ed that there would be glorious sport when this
new monster was brought face to face with the re-
doubted Kagra
| "The cages of Tagra and Terai-wallah (thc name
given to the MONASTERY were brought to opposite
sides of the yard, both commanded by our po-
| sitons in the gallery. We could see the long, shin
ing backs of The tigers they roamed round their Ca
ges IN great excitement; occasionally there was
snarl and display of teeth alarming to witness, as
some attendant approached the cages. 1t was IN.
tended that the animals should become aware of
each other, and hence the previous delay; for, ero
cIous as the tiger is, he is cowardly animal, and
If brought unexpectedly into the presence of danger
may cover and retreat from the contest.
I" The signal given-the bamboo railing in
front OF the cages simultaneously either side
the doors of the cages opened Terai.wallah
sprang, with single bound, out Of his cage, opening
his huge jaws widely, and shaking from side to side
his long tail in an excited way. Kagra advanced
more 1esurely into the arena but wi similar demon
sraons They might have been fifty feet apart, as
they stood surveying each other, open mouthed, the
tail playing all the time At length Kaga advanced
with upon the yard, just where he stood, facing
him, but with his feet we'll under him, not extended,
evidently quite prepared for spring. Kagra watch
ed his foe lntently, and still advanced slowly and
cautiously, but not in a straight line, rather toward
the side, describing of circle as he drew
near.
The Terai- wallah soon rose to his feet and like
wise advanced, describing similar the oppo
site sde both gradually approaching each other, how
ever ltwas moment of breathess suspense in the
a. oI.k
tants as they thus tried 10 circumvent each other it
was enough to arrest attention, for the tigers were
unusually large; both in beautiful condition,
plump and muscular; the color of the 1erai- wallah
was somewhat lighter than that Of Kagra-a more
yellowish hue shone between the black stripes
Both were very beautiful and very courageous and
Very formidable.
's AT length, as :hey thus advanced step by step,
very slowly, Kagra made spring. His former VIC
tories had probably made him little self confident.
He sprang, not as it it were voluntary effort OF
his own, but if he suddenly lmpelled aloft
by some uncomfortable galvanic force which he could
not resist. The spring was so sudden, so rapid, SO
mpetuous that il had quite the appearance of being
involuntary The Terai-wallah was not unprepared
AS rapidly Kagra hurled himself up into the air.
SO rapidly did he jump aside; both movements seem
ed to be simultaneous, admirably were they exc
cuted Kagra aghted, foiled; but before he could
recover himself before he could we'll have assured
himself that he foiled, the Tera-w -wallah was
upon MIN. l ne claws OF MS adversary were nXed
firmly in his neck; and the hoTrid jaws were already
grating near his throat. 1t was the work of mo
ment. We could scarcely that the Terai wallah
had gained the advantage-we could scarcely disn-
gush his huge toe-paws grasplng the neck, and his
open mouth plunged at the throat-when Kagra made
another spring, bound in which ne evidently con-
centrated ali his energy The Terai.wallah was
dragged with him little, the claws that had been
dug into his neck were torn gratngly through it !;
the open mouth snapped ferceIy but haImlessly at
/ the advancing shoulder, and Kagra free.
1t was but an instant that the two tigers stood
surveying each other open mouthed, after Kagra had
shaken off the grip of his antagonist With dis
s tended aws-the ample mouths opened to their ut
most limit, their beautifully steaked skins starting
from their foams in excitement their eyes dstended
as they watched each other, the ends of their tails
moving once or twice. as if with convulsive twtches
they stood. Kagra was the first 10 attack again.
This time his opponent was too to try his for
mer sraagem of slipping TO side. He met him
boldly They STOOD at this moment, near the centre
of the arena, and the sharp claws moved inces-
sanity, and the huge mouths tried to grasp the neck
either side, it was impossible to distinguish the
tack from the defence; all was rapid
/ "Drawing gradually nearer, as they thus fought
with claws and mouths ferociously, utterng fierce
snars they did so, each seemed to have succeeded
in gripping his antagonist. With their mouths bur.
led in each others hr0ats, and their claws dug deer
into The neck, they rose at length 10 The contest or
their hind egs-straining and tugglng, and wrestling
were, with each oher each with his utmost force
Il and skill
/ 1t was spectacle of startling interest, that and
however you may turn away, good madam, and ex
claim horrible! or savage! believe me- there wer,
many elements of the sublime in that contest; ant
doubtless, such contests often take place in the Jun
gle They stood more than six feet high as the,
thus grappled with each ober elevated on their hn(
legs in sort of death-struggle their round head
and garing eyes surmounting the muscular pillars
their long bodies beautifully" X
AS the tigersubme is all we value these extract
for, We merely sum up the remaining detsils. Kagr
threw his antagonist, who then turned him and got
deadly advantage, from which he was forced off wit
hot lion rods, while poor Kagra escaped into hi
cage.