Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-07-18
AFTER A MAN-EATER.
Narrow Escape Of an English,
man in Hindoostan.

most every part Of Hindoostan except
the mountain ranges in the north,
there is one particular region which is
a sort of Garden of Eden for them,
and from which they will not be
driven for the next Hundred years.
1t is the Bengalee district, lying be-
tween the Ganges and the north and
the headwaters of the Walawala on
the south. Here is an expanse of
country 600 miles long by as many
wide, without rsilroad, only three or
four towns of any size, and not over
three government highways. 1t is
country of hill and valley and creek
and jungle and extensive forests, full
OF fever and subject to epldemics, and
any increase of population is prevented
by natural causes. A direct line from
Calcutta across to Bombay would cut
this district in two and open it, but
they refused to run the railroad across
it. t....
put in four months in that district
in company with two English natural
lists and party of army officers, and
every day brought its adventure with
reptile or wild beast. Getting as near
as we could by therailroad which runs
from 1ndur to A,lshabad, we struck
out on foot and were soon beyond civ.
ilization, and in the midst OF primitive
nature. We had not gone FIVE miles
from the railroad when o panther,
which had made Its lair IN thicket,
was driven out in alarm by the noise
OF our march, and three or four of the
hunters fired end dropped him. We
had been out week before caught
sight Of tiger, and it was then under
such circumstances as to make me
doubt whether / should ever see an
other. We had four army tents, which
were packed in sections on the backs
of the natives when we we're on the
move. These we're for the use of the
whites, and l was one of three who
occupied one of them in camp.
We had been out four days, when l
got thoroughly wet and was taken
with chills and fever. Quinine would
break it in two or three days, but in
the mean time j must slow and not
over-exert myself. I stuck to camo,
and on the third day, about 8 O'Clock
m the afternoon, went sound asleep in
my hammock. This was slung under
the tent about two teet from the
ground, and within three feet of the
rear wall. 1t was.s warmish day, but
with a delightful breeze, and, as the
fever had gone, ] fell into a deep
sleep. Just about the time l went to
sleep Captain Williams, who had been
out for couple of hours with his gun,
came in and reported tiger in . dry
ravine about mile away. He had
had two snap shots at the beast, but
had missed him. He had carefully
marked down the locstion, and after
getting bite to eat most of the party
set out with him to finish up the beast.
One naturalist remained behind to
overhaul some of his effects, the other
took a native and went off after birds.
and three of the natives were left to
mind the camp. The party had no
sooner gone than The trio stretched out
in the shade and went to sleep. The
native Of India is like the native of
Africa in that respect, and newer loses
an opportunity to catch "a nap.
When the party reached the spot
where the, tiger was last seen the beat
ers were Sent in, but they worked for
half an hour and failed to arouse him.
He had done what tigers often do.
bolted at the first alarm They turned
ont big hyena, however, and it was
concluded that the officer had mistaken
this beast for tiger. He eontended
to the contrary, and was not satisfied
until the bealers had examined every
lurking place in the ravine. When
the tiger bolted he must have made
direct for our camp, and he must also
have been pretty badly frightened.
Something broke my sleep and I open
ed my eyes. was lying on my right
side facing the open doorway, and in
that doorway, not FIVE feet away, and
looking full at me, was tiger. My
heart bounded into my throat, the
blood rushed to my head, and for a
momert 1 thought should suffocate.
Then l went to the other extreme and
was as cold as ice. had not made
the slightest movement aside from
opening my eyes. 1t was not from
nerve, however, but simply because l
was incapable. | was not sure for half
a miaute but that my eyes we're play
ing me trick. When | knew that
the dreaded beast hovered over me
could do nothing but stare at him.
Had | not been SO badly upset should
have observed that he was skulking.
He stood there with his tail down for
couple Of minutes, uttered two or