Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-06-17
TIGERS AND COBRAS.
Thirteen villages Destroyed by n
single Tfgress-KRvages OF In
dia's Hooded snake.

Thirteen Villages Destroyed by n
single Tigress-RRvage OF In-
dia's Hooded snake.
Two papers-one the official report OF
Mr.. Grant Duff, and the other, read a
few days ago by Captain Rogers, before
the London Society of Arts-gives hg-
ures touching the loss of life. in India
through the assaults Of wild beasts and
yenomous snakes, that are positively
startling. 1t appears from these au-
thorities that in 1871 the total number OF
deaths caused by these creature was no
less than eighteen thousand and seventy
eight. The record in 1869 was fourteen
thousand five hundred and twenty nine,
so that in spite Of the decrease in the
number of noxious animals that we are
accustomed to observe with the approach
and contact of civilized man, the list OF
victims was heightened during these two
years in terrible manner. In fact, the
mortality from this cause appears to ex-
coed that of all the wars carried on in
or near the East Indies, and the beasts
and snakes seem to kill more men than
the men kill of each other.
Some particular individuals among
the wild animals acquire special fame
for their horrible exploits and long con
tinued impunity Captain Rogers de-
scribes one tigress in the Central Prov
inces as specially prominent in this way
She caused, he says, the destruction oi
thirteen villages, and 25O square miles
of country were thrown, by her, out o.
cultivation. Another tigress, in 1869,
killed l27 people, and actually stopped
a public high road for many weeks, the
inhabitants not daring to travel by 1t,
In 1868, panther in broad daylight
broke into the town of Chicola, and
came within 100 yards of the Jail, at
tacking everybody he saw. He wa!
killed, but he bit the man to death and
desperately wounded three others before
he succumbed. The magistrates oi
the various departments are constantly
reporting the ravages of the tigers
and panthers, who destroy not only
human beings, but immense numbers o
cattle. 1t appears that the increase o
human population only brings increased
mortality from this cause, the wild beasts
losing no whit of their boldness with thu
advance Of man, but rather acquiring
fresh audacity and blood -thirstiness
The serpents, too, apparently dispute the
ground inch by inch, and even invade
houses in the most populous districts
Soldiers are constantly attacked in then
cantonments by the cobra di copella, thu
bite Of which venomous reptile is almos
certain to be fatal, although, according
to DR.. Bueler, who has had wide expe
rience, the poison may be successfully
combated by alcohol if taken in time.
When the ravages of these fearful pest
are considered, as exemplified by tn,
trustworthy accounts of Mr.. Grant Duf
and Captain Rogers, the sportsmen wht
20 out to slaughter them by the hundred
rise above the character of mere pleas
ure.seekers and become real benefactor
of their kind. When 10000 persons arr
thus meeting yearly so terrible death
il becomes important, indeed, to devise
comprehensive means for battling will
this fierce and remorseless enemy sucf
as nriyate individuals, however adrolt
and enterprising, can hardly com
mand. We suppose the whole
Russian expedition to khiva vii
bardIv exceed twenty thousand men
and hence, were the entire force to b
absolutely blotted out, the loss of lit'
would not exceed what is yearly IN
dicted in India by tigers and cobras. L
is n curious fact that the immense I'M
proyement in fire arms does not seem u
eut down the number of catastrophe
from these causes. Even breech leaders
reyolvers and rifles that will kill hun
dred yards, appear to have no specis
destructiveness for these wild despots G
tbe plain and jungle, from whom tn
only ultimate security must obyionsl.
consist in utter eXtermination.