St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-20
My First Tiger Hunt.


My First Tiger Hunt.
In the month of January, some few
years ago, was the guest of Il hospita
BILE East Indian coffee-planter, whose
estate lay in the bamboo country of
COOrg, some distance from the village
of Veerjenderpett, and thirty miles ii ON
the pretty hill station of Mercara. He
had again and again pressed me to visit
him and at last had accepted his i'll
vitation, in the vague hope that l might
perhaps, find myself, for the first time
in my life, taking part in Il tiger hunt
Do not suppose for a moment that |
was over anxious to indulge in that
perilOus sport. Had | been invited for
the express purpose of taking part in
it, | should in all probability have
promptly declined the prOffered honor !;
for added to a wholesome dread of
every kind of savage beast, | have a
peculiar horror of the tiger tribe. AT
the same time | considered it to be the
thing to have had experience in tiger
shooting; and | think | had floating
notion, that, if could by any possibil-
ity be drawn into the sport unawares,
| should be relieved of all responsibility
as to consequences, and rather enjoy it
than otherwise. As it SO fell, our fate
favored the half-formed wish. One of
the estate dogs had disappeared the
week before, leaving Il trail of blood,
and bullock had been killed on the
road to Buttlawaddy. Our friend Fair
fields opinion that there was "big
gamen in the neighborhoOd seemed to
be well founded. Upon the strength of
that opinion, he despatched Il messen-
ger to ask Il neighbor seven miles off to
join us with any hands he could spare,
and such shikarees or hunters as were
in his locality, to assist i'll beating the
Jungle.
In two days, Mr.. Blank, of Kuttlako-
da, arrived with II dozen beaters and
three shikarees. The latter had seen
footprints near Buttawaddy, but were
uncertain how far the beast had ad-
vanced in the jungle. Directing them
to take up the trail, and to report
progress early, Mr.. Blank joined us fol
the rest of the day in discussing the
best mode of warfare to be pursued
should the shikarees he lucky enough
to spot tigers lair. He, like Mr.
Fairfield. was strong able man, good
shot, and experienced III hunting. Three
rifles charged with ball, and three
smoothbores with slugs, were laid aside
ready for use, with spare charges and
belts, to which were attached long Coorg
knives-curved, broad bladed weapon,
of the most formidable description
and the minor requirements of the
chase. As far as weapons went, we fel
equal to any occasion, if not separated
or surprised, and hoped for the best
whatever might take place.
1t was not until the afternoon of tn,
next day that the scouts returned
bringing the intelligence that Il tigres
had been seen by a party of estat,
coolies entering Il gap below the sum
NIT of hill about five miles on, and
on examination of the locality, wer,
certain that the brute with her yeun.
lay concealed where the coolies ha,
pointed out. No time was lost in get
ting the beaters together, and startin!
for the spot.
The jungle was very thick, and fo
the greater part of the way we had t.
walk in Indian file. The low groun,
was swampy, and covered with bamboo
leaves, and the ground higher, rock,
and uncertain. But spite of an occa
siOnal tumble, to say nothing of tear
and scratches, we got on in moderated,
good spirits, the shikarees leading, an,
Fairfield in the rear. 1t was Il relief Il
last to come to the open, although som
distance had yet to be traversed. At
quickened pace we trudged along i
the direction of hillside, where
was supposed the game lay, and afte
again enduring IL tussle with branche
and vegetation generally, reached til
spot just us the moon had risen, us
favoring our movements ut the wished
for hour.
A little way above where We were
the ground was very rocky, and locke
dangerous. The gap pointed out b
the coolies below the summit of the hi
seemed covered with stones, tall grass
thick bushes, and stumpy trees; an
on inspecting close, we could see Il cav
mouth, in front of which huge boulde
from above had apparently fallen, an
breaking in twain, formed an admirabl
defence against attack from withou
SO narrow was the passage, indeed, tha
; before one could have wound himSe
into it, stroke of the inmates paw
: had she been there, would have lai
him silent forever. A few yards o
was another mass of rock, piled hig
up on the right, and in front lay tn
, Jungle. The ground was not to sa
steep, but stony and uneven, sufficient
ly so to make our footing uncertain.
: To face our prey in the narrow limit
of the den was not to be thought o
Setting the beaters to watch below, W
l warily ascended the hillside until will
: in twenty PAGES from the cave, whe
J crouching behind huge boulder tn;
1 lay near the entrance, we waited wit
| pieces pointing in its direction, Will
one of the shikarees initiated the cry
5 a kid-faintly at first, but gradual
1 louder, as though the little animal W;
straying close at hand, and innocent
e danger, offering itself as temptiu
mOuthful to whatever savage bea'
might pass that way. 1t was to L
purpose the tiger was either away,
lay asleep, gorged with food, i'll son
: dry recess in the cave.
: We must have spent an hour in tr,
s ing to frighten or coax her out, with L
), success. At last, Fairfield declared
d would go toward, if a lookout was kel
: to prevent surprise from behind. Blau
t engaged to see to this, and | elected
d join Fairfield. Advancing cautiOusl
t and in readiness to fire, we crept b
o hind the plants over the rocks at tt
o entrance at the cave, and for momel
l. listened, to detect if possible i'll whio
= direction the inmates lay, but nothil
b could be heard. In stepping forwar
n Fairfield slipped, and caused a few loo
y stones to roll inside the den, the soul
: of which was followed by Il low whil