Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1857-11-05
OBJ fanilp Gmtls.
Wild Bear Fights in India.

the author was invited TO witness some OIL
the contests Of ferocious animals, which
form part of the amusement of that
prince The Rajah, it appears, prided
himself on the possession Of savage crea-
lures, having sundry lions and tigers, in
cages some of which were under such con-
troll, that it is said he was in the habit Of
introducing them into his palace before
his guests, without even the restraint Of
q keeper.
On the day appointed, the party re-.
paired to the palace of the Rajah, and af-
ter liberal repast proceeded to the gal
lery, which overlooked an area full hun
dred yards square, and as soon as the
prince arrived the sports commenced.
The first contest was between a boar
and three goats in succession. The next
was of far more awful character. a
man entered the arena, armed only with
a Coorg knife, and clothed in short trow.
sers, which barely covered his hips, and
extended half way down his thighs. The
|instrument, which he welded in his right
hand, was llra~y Llade. something like
the coulter of a pillow, about two feet lone
and full three inches wide, gradually di.
minishing towards the handle, with which
lit formed right angle. The knife is
used by the Coorgs with great dexterity
being swung around in the hand before
the blow is inflicted, and then brought in
to contact with the object intended to be
struck, with force and effect. truly as
founding.
The champion who now presented him
self before the Rajah was about to be op-
posed to tiger, which he had volunteer
ed to encounter almost naked, and armed
only with the weapon have described -
tie was rather tall, with Slight figure;
but his chest was deep, his arms long and
muscular. His legs was thin, yet the ac-
| ton of his muscles was perceptible in eve
+ y movement, whilst the freedom Of his
| gait, and tHs few contortions he perform
ed preparatory to the hazardous enter
prise in which he was about to engage.
| showed that he possessed uncommon ac-
tiyity, combined with no ordinary degree
OF strength. The expression of his coun-
tenance was sublime when he gave the
signal for the tiger to be let loose; it was
the very concentration of moral energy
the index Of high and settled .resolu-
ton. His body glistened with the oil
which had been rubbed over it in order
to promote the elasticity of his limbs. He
raised bis arms for several moments above
his head, when he made the motion to ad-
nit his enemy into the area. The bars
OF huge cage were instantly opened from
above: huge royal tiger sprang forward
and stood before the Coorg, waving his
tail slowly backward and forward erect
ing the hair upon it, and uttering a sup.
pressed howl. The animal first looked
at the man, then at the gallery, where the.
Rajah and his court were seated to see
the sports, but did not appear to be at all
easy IN his present state of freedom:-it
was evidently confounded at the novelty
OF its position. After short survey i'll
turned suddenly round, and bounded into
its cage, from which the keepers, who
stood above, beyond the reach of mischief
tried to force it, but in vain The bars
were then dropped, and several crackers
fastened to its tail, which projected
through one of the intervals.
A lighted match was put intothe hands
ofthe Coorg; the bars were again raised
and the crackers ignited. The tiger now
darted in the arena with terrific vel. |
and while the crackers were exploding,
it leaped, turned, and writhed, as if in
state Of frantic excitement. It at length
crouched into corner, gnarling as a cat
does when alarmed. Meanwhile its re-.
treat was cut off by securing the cage
During the explosionso of the crackers, the
Coorg stood watching his enemy, ard at
length advanced towards it with slow,
but firm step. The tiger routed himself,
and retreated, the fur on its back being
erect, and its tail apparently dilated to
twice the usual size. It was not at ALL
to commence hostilities; but its
resolute foe was not to be thus eVaded. -
Fixing his eyes intently upon the deadly
creature, he advanced with the same meas
ared tread, the tiger retreating as before,
but still kept its front to its enemy. The
Coorg now stopped suddenly; then NOV
ing back, the tiger raised himself to his
full height, curved his back to the neces-
sary segament for spring, and lashed its
tail evidently meditating mischief. The
man continued to retire: and as soon as
he was at SO great distance that the
fixed expression Of his eye was no longer
visible, the ferocious brute made sudden
bound forward, crouchsd, and then sprang
with short sharp growl Its adversary
fully prepared for this, leaped actively on
one side, and as the tiger reached the
ground, the Coorg made swing with his
heavy knife, and brought it with irresist-
able force upon the animals hind legs,
Just above the joint. The bone was in.1
stantly severed, and the animal effectual-
" prevented from making another spring.
The wounded beast roared with pain:
but turning suddenly on the Coorg, who +
had by this time retired several yards,@
advanced fercely upon him, its wounded
eg hanging loose In the skin, showing
that it was broken. The tiger now excl
ed to pitch Of reckless rage, rushed up
IN It's three legs towards its adversary.
who stood with his knife appraised, calmly
awaiting the encounter. AS soon as the
savage beast was within his reach, he
Drought his ponderous. weapon upon its
lead with a forceWhich nothing could re-
list, laid his skull open from ear to ear,
ind the vanquished foe fell dead al his
'eet. He then coolly wiped the knife. on
The animals hide, made digni6ed sala-
I'm to the Rajah and retired amid thel
Ioud acclamations of the spectators.
His Highness informed US that this man
had killed several tigers in a similar mani
ner; and that although, on one or two Or