The state herald., 1889-08-16
HUNTING THE TIGER. !.
A Sportsman In Aindoostan Has
Remarkable Series Of Hair
Rising Advontuora

A Sportsman In Alndoostan Has 4
Remarkable Series Of Hair
Rising Adventures.
While tigers are to be found In al.
most every part Of Hindoostan except
the mountain ranges In tho north,
there Is one particular region which
Is sort Of garden OF Eden for them,
and from which they will not be
driven for the next hundred years. II
Is the Bengalee district, lying between
the GanHes on the north and the head.
waters OF the Walawala on the south.
Here Is an expanse OF country COZ
miles long by us many wide, without
railroad, only three or four towns of
any size, and not over three govern
ment highways. 1t is country Of
hill and valley and creek and Jungle
and extensive forest, full OF fever and
subject to epidemics. and any increase
Of population is prevented by natural
causes. A direct line from Calcutta
across to Bombay would cut this dis
trict In two and open It, but they re-
fused TO run the railroad across 1t.
put In four months In that district
In company with two English natur-
alists and party OF army officers.
says writer In the New York Sun,
and every day brought its adventure
with reptile or wild boast. Getting as
near as we could by the railroad,
which runs from 1ndur to Allahabad,
we struck out on foot and were soon
beyond civilization and in the midst OF
primitive nature. We had not gone
five miles from the rnilrOad when a
panther which had made his lair in n
thicliet was driven out in alarm by the
noise OF our march, and three or four
OF the hunters fired md dropped him.
We had been out q week before !
caught sight OF tiger, and 1t was then
under such circumstances rs to make
me doubt whether I should ever see
another. We had four army tents,
which were packed In sections on the
backs Of the natives when we were on
the move. These were for the use OF
the whites, and 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 ind fever. Quinine would break
1t inside Of two or three days, but in
the meantime must go slow and not
overexert myself. stuck to camp,
and on the third day, about 3 o'clock
In tho afternoon, went sound asleep In
my hammock. This was slung under
the tent. about two feet from the
ground and within three feet OF the
rear wall. IL was warInish day, but
with delightful breeze. and. as the
fever was gone, foil into deep sleep.
Just about the time ] went TO sleep
Capt Williams, who had been out for
n couple Of hours with his gun, came
In and reported tiger in IA dry avinc
about mile away. lie had had two
..sr.'sn shQts ut the beast, but had missed
m. He hGssed carefully marked down
10 location and afrer =; retting n bite TO
Il most Of tho party set out w,...,... him
finish up the beast. Ono naturalist !
mained behind TO overhaul some OF
IS effects. the other took native and ,
ent of after birds, and three OF the
,tives were lett 10 mind the camp.
he party had no sooner gono than the
10 stretched out In the shade and
CIV W bictps hC vi 10
kc the native OF Africa in that re- ,
,ect, aud never loses AN opportunity
catch u nap.
When the party reached tho spot ,
here the tiger was last seen. the
eaters were sent in, but they worked
II half an hour and fniled 10 arouse I
i'm. lic had done what tigers often I
D-boltcd ut the first alarm. They
lrncd out u big hyena. however. and
was concluded that tho officer
nd mistaken this beast for n tiger,
o cOntendcd 10 the contrary and was I
Dt satisfied until the beatcrs had cx-
mined every lurking place In the ra-
Inc. When the tiger b0lted he must
ave made direct for our camp aud he
Iust also have bcen pretty badly
'ightencd. Something broke my
eep and ] opened my eyes. ! WAS
ing on my right side. facing the
pen doorway. and In that doorway.
Of over five feet away and looking
III mt me was tigcc. My heart
oundcd into my throat. the blood
ishcd To my head. and for moment
thought should suilocatc. Then !
cnt TO the other extreme aud was us
old rs lee. had not made the
ightcst movement aside from open
" my eyes. II was not from nerve,
oweycr. but simply because was In
ipable. | was not sure for half n
linute but that my eyes were playing
10 n trick. When ! knew that the
rcaded beast hovcrcd DER me could I
D nothing bui stare at him. Had ]
nf haa,. IN la.lv nn.Af 4 shn,.tI huV.. |
bscryed that he was sulking. lie |
.ood there with his tail down for u
Duple Of minutes, uttered two or ,
irec whlnes OF anxiety. nnd then
oundcd straight over me md
down between my hammock I
nd the tent. Ind my bacls to him
ow. but could hear his every breath
nd movement, and ! grew so weak
mt everything turned dark for few
lOmcnts nnd the tent seemed 10 he
hirling around. Far away j could
ear the row created by tho bcatcrs.
he tiger probably heard more o! IL
inn ] did. for he moved uncnsily and
Dntinued 10 whine.
The storm hnd long been gathering,
nd Its blnckDcss brought night nj
ncc. As soon ms lightning began 10
lay could sec tho interior OF the hut
y the flashes. There was only one
)Om. with the usual mud ilo0r md
10 only article left behind WIS II
nmpcr. such M the natives strap 10
icir backs TO cnrry londs. This stood
! u corner. and / supposed IL contain
l some personal effects 90 be carried
way nj the owners convioncc. Hnd !
OF seen this hnmper. and thereby got
10 idea that the hut bnd Just been IA
nicd. ] should no, bnvc dared cross II
nd sit down on the floor with my back
, the wall 10 walt for the storm To
cnsc, M every hut l. taken possession
by sorDonls rs soon n- nhnndond.
he roof was In pretty good rcpnir.
lind nothing Ia worry about Tho
under and lightning were soon over,
a. + I'LL Il