Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-07-08


~ MoxkaA ConaAmas
Ia all India there was M tionk ~.
Kagra. he was 4 monster. ara be.s.ti
fully streaked was His glossy coaf - s
easily muved to and fro over his 1s.,se.'.sles
linpa and long back Connoinscurs ii
tiger lighting despaired u ever finding
2 match il the arena for this elegant
beast. Yet when il was rumored that 4
tiger q enormous size and lrodigious
strength had been captured safe and
sound ~ the Teni, which Is long strip
Of jungle land between Dude and
Nepaul, e the foot 0f the cloud kissing
Himalayas, then the eagerness Of the
populace TO witness the contest was un-
paEalleled. The commander OF the Anglo
Indian army was going to visit the king
Of Dude, and the great event OF this re-
ception It was resolved should be the
spectacle Of q contest between these two
animals. Preparations 81 the most
lavish description were made The court
yard was deliberately decorated with
flowers and leaves whose briIliancy Of
c0loring alone furnished q scene Of
Oriental magniEicence. The umbrella
shaped royal canopy Of crimson and gold
tissue was raised above the state chair.
while similar seats Of honor were fixed
on either side for the commandcr-in-
chief and his retinue.
The cages Of Kagra and Terai- WaIlah,
Tor that was the name OF the stranger
tiger, were placed on the opposite sides
OF the court yard. Their long shining
backs were visible as they roamed
around their cages restless and greatly
excited. It was the intention that the
animals should be aware of each others
presence, for it Is well-known pcculi-
arity OF the tiger that, ferocious as as he
il, yet when sometimes suddenly brought
into the presence Of unsupported danger
be covers aud retreats.
II was soon evident, from the snarls
and growls Of Kagra and Terai- Wallah,
that each tiger knew Of each others
presence, for they growled and snapped
their teeth in a manner peculiar to the
king Of felines.
At last the signal was given; the bam-
boo railing in front of the cages arose.
Ferai- Wallah sprang nimbly as a cat out
Of his cage, opening his jaws and shak-
ing his tail from side with slow, yet
powerful motion. Kagra advanced
slowly until both animals were, perhaps.
fifty feet apart shaking their tails, mean
while, as they steathily eyed each other.
Then Kagra advanced few PAGES.
His adversary lay himself down In the
courtyard, his feet we'll under him, as IL
ready for a spring. Kagra watched his
foe intently and began approaching. not
in straight line, but coming up il the
hrc of circle, as If to catch his oppo.
nent unawares. Terai- Wallah rose to
his feet and described q similar arc,
though on the opposite side. The gal
leries were brcathless with suspense. Even
the rustling of fans ceased, for the eyes
Of all the vast audience were intcntly
fixed on the two beautiful beasts circling
toward each other. Step by step each
slowly advanced. Kagra, as II self-de-
faint made q spring. Il was as If he was
impelled to it by some unseen power that
he could not resist, yet ct the same in
slant, Terai Wallah jumped aside. Kag-
"a alightcd foiled, and before he could
recover himself Terai- Wallah was upon
him, his huge claws fixed firmly in his
neck and the horrid jaws grating at his
throat. It was the work Of 3 moment.
Il could scarcely be seen that Terai- Wat
lah had gained any advantage, when
Kagra made another spring, bound in
which was concentrated all his energy.
The Terai- Wallah was dragged with him
for short space. The claws that had
been dug into tho neck had been torn
gratingly through It, the open mouth
snapped fearlessly but harmlessly ct the
advancing shoulder, which bore marks
Of Terai- Wallah's sharp teeth.
For a moment the two tigers stood
gazing at each other with distende1 jaws,
their ample mouths opened to their ut
most limits. their beautifully streaked
skins started from their forms in excite
ment, while their tails moved convul-
sively as If swapping like q whipcord.
Kagra was the first 70 attack again. but
he was too near to try his former trick of
slipping 20 one side. He advanced
boldly. They stood in the center of the
arena, and their sharp claws moved so
rapidly aud their huge mouths trying to
grasp each others neclxs. that it was inn
possible to tell tho attack from the de-
Tense. They drew gradually nearer Is
they thus fought, utterinQ fierce snarls.
Each seemed to have succeeded in grasp
ing the others throat With their
mouths buried in each others flesh and
their claws dug deeply into the neck,
they arose az length 70 the contest on
their hind feet, straining and tugging,
and wrestling as Il were with each other,
each with its utmost force and skin. It
was sublime moment, aud breathless
was the interest Of the assembled multi
tude They stood fully six feet high as
tt.nx4 &1.sse svwa*s..lma Nth each .efhnw
elevated on their hind legs il kind Of
death struggle, theirTound heads and alar-
ing eyes surrounding the muscular pill
lars Of their long bodies. Firmly their
claws were fixed into the neck on both
mdes. There was no shifting Of position.
No further grasping either with claw or
mouth. Il was 8 contest 81 life or death
Both were bleeding freely and il was :
contest Of strength now as to which
would lee thrown under and loose its