Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-04-10
Hlisfellat,rous Artlfles.
From Life Illustrated.
A TIGER HUNT.

of the little Umhlanga River, and on the
morning of the day destined to witness
the enactment of this fearful tragedy, /
had arranged with friend to ride to the
river Umhlote for days deer-shooting.
Break Of day found us prepared, and
having carefully loaded our double-bar-
relied rifles, we sprung on our horses, and
were several miles on the road ere the
sun made his appearance in the East.
After riding for about half an hour
beyond the great Umhlanga, we arrived
at the isolated house Of M, an old
Dutch resident, and one of the best hunt
ers in the neighborhood. Here, as Is the
custom in that region, we were offered
cup OF coffee, and while partakiRg Of the
same, M related that he had been
awakened somewhat early that morning
by the cries of his pigs, and on looking
out of his window, caught glimpse OF a
large tiger carrying off one into the adj
Joining copse but as the moon was just
setting at the time, he had thought it ad-
visable to wait till daylight before follow
ing it up.
/ The piece of woods into which the an
imal had disappeared, though very dense
and thick, was not over five or six acres
in extent, and entirely unconnected with
any cover by which the tiger could es-
cape; and as these wild beasts have
great aversion to crossing open lands in
broad daylight, and being particularly
savage when hard pressed, it was IN
doubleday very dangerous proceeding to
make an attack under the existing cir
cumstances.
M was unquestionably an expe-
rienced hunter; it was therefore compar-
atively foolish in us attempting to dis
suade him from his purpose, though his
family were quite as adverse to his going
as we were; but he would go, and fur
ther, insisted on going alone, and limited
that the sooner we proceeded on our way,
the better it would please him. Courte-
sy compelled us to comply, so, thanking
him for his hospitality, we departed
The conversation naturally turned upon
the result but knowing our man, we had
scarcely a doubt of his success, and in
the excitement of the chase, soon ceased
to think much about the matter. How
ever, we determined to call on our return
home, and on riding up to Ms, be-
gan to be somewhat alarmed by the
downcast look of the Caffirs, who, as
taciturn under some circumstances as
they are voluble under others, made ne
other reply to our questions than shake
of the head, coupled with the words
Ioqua (tiger) inkos kokulu "-thest
latter words are common among Caffir
to denote some one who is brave liter
ally meaning big chief
We were about to dismount, when
white man issued from the house, and de
string us not to enter, gave us the follow
ing particulars;
l. 1t appeared that after we left in til
morning, M having taken a fe1
Cafirs to beat the brush for him, ha
started alone with his trusty rife. HI
son, brave lad of about ten years {
age, Il good shot, being brought up wit
gun in his hands, was very DESTROYS
accompanying his father, but was ais
forbidden.
However, after his father had been al
sent some little time, he thought he wouI
take a turn on the outside of the wooC
but was soon tempted 10 venture in ii
tlicket, and had proceeded but vel
little way when, on looking up one
those narrow paths which so common
intersect the thickest brush of Southel
Africa, what was his horror and amaz
ment to see, about hundred yards in a
vance Of him, his father struggling
the ground with tiger on the top of hi
Notwithstanding the danger. the la
with admirable presence of mind al
=. self-possession worthy of hero, rails,
his rifle, fired, and had the qualification
seeing the tiger fall dead, shot throu!
the brain. Poor M was fearful
lacerated, and entirely unconscious;
was carried to the house with the aid
the Cafiirs, and messenger quickly d
patched for medical assistance.
We returned home, and about a we
after, poor Ms funeral passed 7
+ dwelling. He had lived in the great,
agony for three days after the accide
and then death had happily released h
from his sufferings. He was inferred
the burial ground on the outskirts of
town of Durham.
AIR AND EARTH-A large part off
nutrition of vegetation is derived fir