The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-08-10
A TIGER HUNTER.
Gives Little Of His Experience Of
the Great Indian Sport.

The London Spectator. in reviewing
linda and Tiger bunting, ''by Julius
Barras, says: Mr.. Barras has intro
dueed into his recitals a somewhat
new element, the elephant, rather
than the tiger, occupying the most
prominent position. 30 that "Rogah.
ath." "Bahadur." "Ashmut," and
"Muarak Gpi." "Manut Dar."
Bill" and "Fu.teh Alli' become
quite the readers personal acquaint.
ances, investing with special interest
the scenes in which they take part;as.
not content with enjoying sport in
the usual fashion, the author deter
mined TO drive his own elephant. hav-
ing first studied the idiosyncrasies of
some OF these noble animals, as well
as the duties of good mahout, 30
that on his second expedition, and
ever afterward during bis tweniy-eight
years OF Indian services. he would
follow up woun1ed tiger and shoot
him from between the ears of the
great beast. a much more exciting
performance than doing the same
thing from ones place in the how
dab.
Tiger shooting, though an expensive
passine, is thoroughly manly sport.
for it is making war upon danger
Gus enemy. which must be held in
check. Fer one lie sacrificed by il
many more are probably saved, to
say nothing OF the cattle belonging to
the villagers, which the natives are
totally incapable of defending for
themselves. The elephants used for
tiger shooting are generally lent by
the government. an official document
being at the same time handed to the
borrower, in which the height, name
supposed age, and prices of the
animals are duly stated, for the event
of casualty, the loss must be made
good. More than G100 10 rarely
demanded for government elephant
although it is very often worth much
more, the tariff beng based on the
expenses Incurred by its capture and
training. Of course it is very impor-
tant before making selection to OBJ
tain some knowledge of the charscs
tiers and antecedents of the elephants
in the commissariat yard, and if you
intend to be your own driver you
must also contrive TO be on good terms
with the one on choose TO- youc own
personal use.
Elephantine perfection is, it seems,
represented by gentle and steady
female, who will stand quite still
while the tiger is roaring and charg.
ing in all directions; but as females
of this species are by no means more
endowed with physical courage than
other personages of their sex, they
generally become wild with terror
after having experienced one msuling
and far from remaining tranquil
make the best of their way from the
scene OF acIion when they lind them.
selves in danger, go that Mr.. Barras
is perhaps justified in his prediction
for cross old tuskers. Be this az it
may, his first choice fell upon hand
some fellow, nearly ten feet high,
which had only killed NO people dur
ing long career, aud that while in
cautiously approached during an
attack Of fever. and which bore a
high character for gentlen; SO as we'll
as courage. Though ready to obey
orders, "Roghanath" had strong
objection to being made to kneel, so
the author, having but little time to
spare for making friends, thought it
we'll ''to pass vote OF confidence at
once" and after feeding him with
bread and sugar, proceeded to mount
in orthodox style, namely. by stepping
on his tusks, when the elephant low
cred himself By advancing bis front
legs, and then allowing himself to he
transferred by toss OF the head to
bis place behind the ears. This done,
Mr.. Barras, in his character OF al
enlightened European mahout, set
forth for his first ride.
But We must let him describe this
in his own words; ''The native man,
for want of thought, keeps constant
drumming one the beasts heal with
the goad of 'ankus;' therefore hoped
not to use it at all. Such an improve
ment all at once, however, proved
more than even the e!ephantine mind
could grasp. He began really to
enjoy himself, going his own way
more than mine, till at last he march
ed straight into an immense forest
tree OF the banyan species, and som-
menced to browse. He seized the
boughs above his head, and Juggling
violently at them brought them down
on my devoted skull. This was too
much. I raised the aEkus and
brought it down with blow that
brought blood through the skin. This
had the desired effect. and he at onoe
bundled off by the road be knew l
wanted him to go. He merely took
with him q branch about the size OF q
small apple tree, to discuss as he went
along. From this moment we were
friends, and / do not think l ever had
to use the hook again so az to bring
blood generally, it was sufficient to
tap him with my fingers to get him
to do what wanted.
II the mAle elephan. stands one