The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-09-19

While tigers are to be found in al
most every part Of Hindoostan except
the mountain ranges in the north,
there is one particular region which
Is sort of Garden of Eden for them,
ana from which they will not be driven
for the next hundred years. 1t is the
Bengalee district. lying between the
Ganges on the north and the head
waters of the Walawala on the south.
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. We had four
army tents, which were packed in Sec
tions on the backs OF the natives when
We we're 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
got thoroughly vet and was taken with
chins and fever. Quinine would break
it inside of two or three days, but in
the meantime must go slow and not
over-exert myself. / stuck to camp,
and on the third day about three
o'clock in the 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
raar wall II vror a v-,,~o;nl A. -
with delightful breeze, and, as the
fever had gone, fell into deep sleep.
just about the time I went to sleep
Captain Williams, who had been out for
a couple of hours with his gun, came in
and reported a 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 location, and after getting a bite to
eat most of the party set out with him
to finish up the beast. 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.
When the party reached the spot
where the tiger was last seen, the
beaters went 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. When the
tiger bolted he must have made direct
for our camp, and he must also have
been pretty badly frightened. Some
thing broke my sleep and opened my
eyes. was lying on nay right side
facing the open doorway, and in that
doorway, not over five feet away and
looking full at me was tiger. Ny
heart bounded into my throat, the
blood rushed to my head, and for a mo-
ment l thought / should suffoeate.
Then went to the other extreme and
vas as cold as ices had not made the
slightest movement aside from opening
my eyes. 1t was not from nerve, how
ever, but simply because / was incapa-
ole. was not sure for half q minute
put that my eyes were playing me
Trick. When ] knew that the dreaded
beast lowered Ger me, could
90 nothing but stare at him. Had l
not been SO badly upset | should have
observed that he was skulking. He
stood there with his tail down for q
couple OF minutes. uttered two or three
Wnlnes Of anxiety, and then bounded
straight over me and crouched down
between my hammock and the tent. I
nad my back to him now, but could
near his every breath and movement,
ana grew so weak that every thing
turned dark for few moments, and
me tent seemed TO be whirling around.
rssr away could hear the row created
" the beaters. The tiger probably
Reard more Of it than / did, for he
moved uneasily and continued to
whine.
men tell about how slowly time ticks
away IN moments of peril. The tiger.
g near as could afterward calculate,
was Y hiding about fifteen minutes.
an0 no week ever spun out SO much
ss sule Tor me. When he got up he put
ula nose against my back and smiled
aae snnlied, and just when expected
ssieei his teeth, he walked around
sl.s io0s OF the hammock, stood in the
seVe l0r moment, and then bolted for |