The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-10-10


ent times. For instance, Capt. Baldwin re-
ports a ease in which tiger eaped the stock
ade of a cattle pen with large, full grown
OK in his mouth" aud DR.. Fayres repeats the
only story which has ever been authenticated,
OF man having been taken out of howdlh
by tiger Further, Maj. Dawson describes
the injury of Gen. Morgan by wounded tiger,
who bounded across n ravine % feet wide and
struck him down; while Capt. Rice measured
the leap of tigress he shot, and found it to be
lover seven yards" There is plenty more
evidence, pro aud con, on this particular point,
but space is limited, aud we will turn TO the
cognate subject of climbing. Briefly, Blyth
and Jerdon have concluded from the anatomy
of the animal that he cannot climb; Sanderson
asserts that he can il he wishes to, and lngls
and SHAKESPEARE both knew of instances of tigers
having been shot in trees. Now, what is
the probability Of unexpectedly encountering
stripes" as certain "intimate enemies" of
his are in the habit of calling him? If ono had
never read any but the works of Messrs. For
syth and Sanderson he would, knowing tho
high standing of these authors naturally con-
clude that there was little more danger of
casual encounter with tiger in the Animalai
forests, or those of the Terai, than there would
be in the woods along Rock Creek Hornaday,
however, who understood the circumstances,
and who is by no means nervous, felt un-
easy" in Central India, while
CONCEAL CRoTCHING TIGER"
who would not run away" as Baldwin says
they always do in such cases. boverson, Bar
ras, Morgan, MacMaster and Moray Brown
happened upon tigers who showed no DISPOSE
tion to turn tail, and from the official returns
Of India it appears that 500 persons are eaten
every year in the most unexpected manner
possible.
1t may seem to be n matter of small impor-
tance to a man TO know the particular manner
in which he would be devoured in case of one
of these Unforeseen meetings, but there no
limits TO human curiosity; men strapped 10
the plank have twisted their necks to see the
knife of the guilotine fall upon them. and our
hypothetical inquirer into the manners and
customs OF tigers might wish 20 know this also.
He would be muck disappointed at the result
of any researches directed TO that end. He
could by no means discover in the authorities
who treat as many of them do, of this point
especially, how he would be eaten, and. indeed,
might rise from his studies with considerable
doubt whether the chances against his being
swallowed at all did not balance those in favor
of the contrary event In short, the writers
differ, and differ as decidedly and dogmatically
upon this subject as they do upon every other.
Finally, IN matters concerning the tigers
temper and courage, his disposition towards
unprovOked attack, and his reputed fear of
man, are these likewise obscnred by conflicting
in any attempt TO discover the truth2
Several authors of good repute represent the
tiger as a timid creature, of an unaggressive
nature, not disposed TO violence aud with
wholesome dread of human beings. Sanderson
goes SO far as To call him AN abect coward"
Facts are. however, stubborn things, and fire.
quently traverse the most carefully constructed
theories. Ii does not admit of doubt that the
TIMID AND ISoFFESsIvE ANIMAL IN CUES
occasionally closes lines Of travel, depopulates
villages ravages whole districts, and as was
said, annually eats 500 people. Col Campbell,
Gen. Hamilton, Capt. Dawson. and Maj. Rogers
are, as usual, at variance with regard 10 the
circumstances accompanying those tragedies;
but probably no one who is acquainted with
the events which marked them will deny the
desperate hardihood displayed by the chief ac-
tor in these scenes.
Although Buttons extravagancics need not
be seriously considered-such statements as
So ierocite nest comparable rien being pal
pabiy oyerdrawn, and no creature being, for
physiological reasons capable OF perpetual
rage yet enough evidence exists TO make the
tigers claim 10 modifying characteristics ques-
tionable. Hornaday supposes that the hill tigers
OF Central India would undoubtedly deyour the
native tribes If game failed. Col. Barras, in
treating or the popular fallacies concerning the
Cat naInmalia, specifics the opinion that an
provoked assaults are unusual as particularly
untrue. Baldwin states that tigers have been
known TO charge elephants Immediately on be-
ing found, and without shot having been fred
10 irritate or provoke them" Sanderson thinks
they are often brought up TO man eating from
infancy, and Shcrweii entertains this opinion
Of the celebrated tigers Of the Sundcrbuns.
With regard TO the tigers instructive fear of
man something viii be offered presently; but
from the testimony already adduced II would
that I'm fiOH'H assertion that bs
fears man nor his arms is as unwarrantable
as the accusation Of cOwardice
Ii may have been surInised by the reader that
all this matter was not exhnmed from note
books without some purpose having been held
In view. Space permits a sketch Of what this
was 10 the merest outline, but it 10 possible
that something OF value may be conveyed even
IN this way.
ia the commencement ii was said that the
authors whose clashing opinions have been
quoted were the best Of their class-men Of
high standing, who had seen what they de-
scrlbed, and who in many instances were good
practical nBtnralists. How does il happen.
then, that they differ 50 greatly among them
selves upon subjects which present, apparently,
but snail opportunities for divergent judg-
mentsr The reason was this, misled by pro-
pensity seemingly universal. and which has
originated more error than all the intentional
faisehoods that have been told on earth, they
feSoThea not what they saw, but their infer
ences from the events which occurred.
EIGHT Is NATURAL FACULTY,
accurate observation a TaTe--very rare-and
exceptional acquisition Of the human intellect.
1t may be disputed whether ii 10 better 10 be.
lleYe nothing than 10 believe what is false
but 10 might be inferred from what has gone
before that Of the mutitudes who in menage-
ries have looked into the tigers deadly
eye, few comprehend the character which fixes
It's expression. So far as the facts 20 all tho
accounts given are presumably true, and the
rational recourse, with respect To the evidence
ID 10 interpret IL generally. All Of the writer's
referred to must have known enough Of the
theory OF reasoning 70 realize the fact that COM
prehensiye conclusions drawn from insufficient
data are infallibly false; but they failed 10
appreciate this because Of the misleading pro-
Pensity spoken Of, and because they were un-
der the influence Of prcconception. This
was In eject, and In plain terms, that all ami
mails lower than man are. 50 to speak, organic
machines, Get In motion by something that is
called instinct Unhappily with the mass Of
mankind, words are everything moth
ing. Everybody admits that words are but
the counters Of thought" few realize this
truth practically. 1t is with the sound far
more than with It's sense that men arc occupied,
and IT has been for names, almost apart from
their significance, that they have shown their
willingness 10 endure and sniIer-t0 fight and
die. The ordinary doctrine of instinct has
been strengthened by this tendency, until IL
Is nearly tantam0unt 10 impicLy 10 doubt it,
EYeryOne's experience assures them that ami