The weekly union record., 1865-10-21
Adventure with a Leopard.

was riding home about six O'Clock
one afternoon, with young F., and when
in the middle Of the cantonments-not
amongst the barracks, but in the native
part of the station-we saw some ami
NAL cross the road, about one hundred
yards in front of us, and disappear in
sort of rough garden on the left hand
side of the road. The natives who
were about the place seemed to be in a
state of great excitement, and some of
them had climbed up into the trees. On
cantering up to ascertain the cause, we
were told that It was tiger OR hyena,
and that he had not come out of the
garden we saw him enter. Thinking 1t
might possibly be a hyena or wolf
driven in from the jungle by terrific
storm We had experienced the previous
day, we determined to try and beat him
out; so, whilst F. went round the road
to the other side of the little covert, |
leaped my horse over the bank and
ditch, and proceeded to beat the bushes
with bamboo l had picked up from
native. l had gone through the garden
without success, and there were only
three bushes left. F. was making
slowly towards these from the road,
whilst was about to beat them-when,
heralding his approach with two savage
roars, out sprang an enormous leopard,
his eyes blazing, and showing all his
teeth. F.'s horse, little gray Arab,
swerved round to the right, and with
one bound the leopard was on him be-
hind the saddle, Selling F.'s left arm
above and below the elbow in his mouth,
and fixing his fore claws on either side
of the rider, and his hind ditto on the
horses quarters. Overbalancing F.,
they both came to the ground together,
and loosening his hold at once, the
brute made off, tail up, ct full canter,
turning round once to look at US. |
went up to F., who was holding his arm,
covered with blood, and looking very
queer 1.-THE whole affair was over in a
few seconds), and found that no bones
were broken. His horse, strange to
say, stood perfectly still, seemingly
more astonished than frightened, and
gazed after the retreating leopard, with
his ears pricked, and puzzled exnres-
sion of countenance that was quite
ludicrous.
Telling the natives to try and mark
the brute down, We galloped off to the
hospital; there l left F. and sent the
doctor to him. 1t was now getting
dusk, so | procured my rife and gal
Hoped back as hard as could to where
the accident had occurred. The natives
were collected in thousands, and told
me the leopard had bowled man over
who had stood in his path, and had gone
into field of tobacco, close by. On
arriving there, | found a Mr.. T.,
veterinary surgeon, half-caste named
g.. and two other men. 1t was now
quite dark, and | proposed waiting for
the moon, but T. said he would try to
walk him up if would accompany him.
Of course l assented, and four of US
t., G., another man and myself-went
slowly through the field, keeping to-
gether, the natives surrounding US at
respectful distance in thousands. We
had gone about two hundred yards, and
I. said to me, Il think he has stole
away, sir" The words were scarcely
out of his mout, when, with suppressed
roar, the brute got up in front and
charged straight in amongst US. G.
was between T. and myself, and he
was knocked over directly and severely
mauled. I. and myself both fired
simultaneously and wounded the brute,
who retreated about ten yards and lay
down, growing savagely. T. and l
now found ourselves alone. We could
not see the animal, but expected him to
charge every minute. This state Of
thinrs continued for a Quarter Of an