The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-06-12
Hunting n Tiger with Cows.

The villagers In India, whose nerus auu
lives are constantly in danger from the
savage beast, know that each n has
some p~eculiarities of temperament. Such
a one, they will say, is daring and rash;
another is SO cunning that no artifce
can deceive him. One is savage and
morose, but another is comparatively
mild and harmless. Some tigers destroy
much cattle, but never touch a man. In
fact, but q small percentage OF tigers are
man eaters, otherwise many villages
would be depopulated. But when a
tiger has once tasted human flesh, be
seems to acquire such an appetite for it
as to prefer it to all other food.
An Englishman, from whose "Tale OF
Indian Adventure" we have learned
these facts, tells an incident which
exhibits the sagacity Of a native hunter
in outwitting a cunning tiger who had
long been the terror Of several villages.
An English officer, encamped with his
troop in the district, was anxious to rid
the neighborhood of their terrible foe;
put the tiger was so cunning that all
lures had failed to entraphim. he would
come up and walk around the bait, and
then walk of.
"Wen, Sheykha, what do you pro-
poser" asked the officer Of the best
hunter in the district, whose aid he had
sought.
eff the sahib will listen to his slaves
advice" replied the old hunter, she
will try a shikaree's way of killing tigers.
For 8 few rupees the herdsmen will take
their cattle into the tigers hsunts, and
then if he is hungry and takes one, the
sahib may get a shot"
The officer had as his guest a young
English sportsman, whom he wished to
put in the way of killing a tiger. So,
turning to his friend, he said:
"I cannot 60 with you, but you go
with Sheykha, and let him carry out his
proposal. A herd of cows-not buffaloes
they spoil sport, for they fight the
tiger and often drive him of-will be
driven through the jungle until the tiger
SEXES one. The rest will bolt, and while
he is struggling with his victim, you
may creep up within easy shooting dis
lance and kill him."
Late in the afternoon the tyro in tiger
hunting set of, piloted by old Sheykha,
to q small village. The head men we're
assembled for a p~alaver, and it was pro-
posed to them to drive a herd OF cattle
up the glen of the Jungle in which the
tiger lived. When it was made clear that
the full value of the COW killed would be
paid, and q present given to the herds
man besides, half the village rushed to
collect the herd and drive it mp the glen.
After they had entered the glen, the
cattle were allowed to spread and Craze
about. The young Englishman and
Sheykha rested under the shade of q
tree.
I'VE must not hurry" said the cum
ming old hunter, but take time and
saunter about as on ordinary occasions;
otherwise the tiger will suspect some
thing. Allah knows he may be watching
us nowl But even if he is not there, the
lowing of the COWS and the sound of
their wooden clappers will attract him.
When the herd move higher up, We will
follow"
While waiting under the tree, the old
man told several anecdotes of hunting
tigers, but his eye wandered around,
and his ear caught every rustic in the
bushes.
"Sahib !" he suddenly said, stopping
in the midst of a story, "be ready
hush !"
His ear had caught the angry chirrup
of q small bird. The cattle were quietly
grazing, and the young Englishman won
dered what could have attracted the old
mans notice.
eyes" said Sheykha, listening and
nodding his head, cit is, I think. Allah
knows it may be a snake, or a mungoose,
but something is disturbing that bird.
It is the tiger, I think"
The E~nglishman rose to his feet. He
looked up and down, but nothing DIS
turbed the stiffness save the clapper-
clapper of the wooden clappers banging
from the c~attle's necks. He was disap-
pointed, and doubted if old Sheykha was
right, when, suddenly, a little distance
up the glen, a yellow mass dashed out
of the thicket on the back of q white
heifer, and bore it to the ground.
"Bagh! baghl !" (tiger) shouted the
herdsmen, as the cattle dashed wildly
down the glen. q
"Nsw, sahib, keep yon big bush be-
tween you and the tiger, and run up"
whispered Sheykha.
Running in a crouching position, they
got behind the bush. Separating the
branches, the Englishman looked
through. The poor heifer was kicking
vigorously as it lay on its side, pressed
down under the weight of the tiger,
whose fangs were buried in its throat.
Reckoning to his companion, the old
hunter ran, crouching, to another big
bush much nearer to the struggling ami
mails. The Englishman looked through.
and started at the sight, so zeal did the
tiger appear. he raised his rife, but the
cautious old hunter quietly laid a hand
Upon the Englishman's arm, and shak-
ing his head, drummed with his fingers
upon his heart. Touching the muzzle
of the rifle, he TREMENDOUSLY shook them
in the air, thus signifying in pantomime
they were too near to speak-that the
Young mans nerves were not steady
enough for a shot. The Englishman,
obeylng the more experienced hunter,
lowered his rife and waited. At last the
tiger, shifting his position, stretched
himself on top, and exposed the most
vital part of his body. Sheykha, turning
to the young man, patted his heart, thus
inquiring if he was steady in nerve. The
Euglishman nodded. Pointing to the
tiger, the old hunter placed his hand on
his side. just under the arm. as a hint
where to aim. The young hunter levelled
his rifle with steadiness and fired. With
m angry roar the tiger sprang from his
victim, turning round and round, snap
ping at his side in a rage. The English
man glowed with excitement, and would
have fredagain, but Sheykha, pressing 6
firm hand on his arm, restrained him,
The tiger was badly hit, for the BLOOD
flowed from his mouth. He stopped
turning round, and seemed undecided
where to spring. The Sheykha removed
his hand from the young mans arm, who
taking q steady aim, fred again. AS thu
rifle flashed, the tiger sprang towards
the bush, and fell fiat on the ground
with all four paws spread out. He wa
shot through the spine. There he lay
unable to rise, his hind legs being para
lyzed. He roared horribly, bit through
and through one of his paws, and tor,
up the turf with his claws. The Eng
lishman again fred; the ball entered
just behind the ear, and with q groar
the tiger breathed his last. The elephan'