The Forrest City times., 1891-01-30
AFLOAT WITH A TIGER.
THRILLING STORY OF AN IND-
 IAN FLOOD.
All Sorts of Wild Animals Driven From Their Lsirs-Poisonous Reptiles and Insects Destroyed in Countless Mum.
 bers-A Picnic.


 grounds.
 Floods are terrible visitations while they last, and one of them came on SO suddenly that l had to spend day and night in an open canoe in conse- quence, during which time l had good opportunities of seeing the good and bad effects produced by them. lived at the time ip mat house, situated upon hill which l supposed was quite above high-water mark. but an old Mahometan gentleman having told me that when be was little boy he recollected the water once rising ! higher than the hill. took precaution of keeping canoe in a small ditch close at hand.
 l The rainy season began. and daily the river rose higher. One morning we noticed that the mountain tops were covered with heavy banks of dark clouds, though no rain fell on the ! plain where We were; but we noti ced many animals. leopard among oth- CTS, sneak out Of the high grass and make for htlly ground. The most curious thing. however, was the smart manner in which rats and even grass hoppers came scampering away from the threatening danger. These latter came in such crowds toward my bun galow thet not only the fowls about the premises had good feed on them, but kites and crows began to swoop down in such numbers that the air was filed with their cries and noise of their rushing wings.
 While watching the immense de- struetion Of these insects we were startled by the outbreak of the thun- derstorm high up on the mountains; but far above the peals Of thunder rose the terrible sound of rushing water. Animals now came rushing out Of the lowlands too terrified to notice whither they went
 Soon the water burst through the river bank. spreading over the coun- try sweeping down the tall grass jungle and surging and roaring round ouc hill. Packing all that was valuable in small parcels. we gathered them in n aeap, hoping that the flood would sueside ere it reached the building. All round about large trees. uprooted by the terrible force of the deluge, were swept along. several animals vainly trying to keep a footing among | bf.t- hs.ar \ ioe h6a water reached the steps of the house; so. pulling our boat close up, we stepped in with what we could save ani hung to the wooden posts of the building, vainly trusting that the worst had come; but it WIS not so, for we soon had to leave go the post and pass the boats rope round a tree. The water then rushed ir, the house toppled over. and it and it's contents were swept away by the flood.
 In a short time the tree began to shake and bend, so we knew that it was being uprooted; therefore. letting go the rope, we launched forth upon the seething waste of waters and were wtirled away. Onward we rushed through the ma sses Of logs. branches the remains of houses and such like wreck, having to be very careful that our frail vessel did not get upset or crushed. Twice we made for the tops of hills that showed themselves above water, but on approaching them we fo1nd that they had been taken pos session of by wild animals.
 Here tiger crouched on the branch of a tree, seemingly too much alarmed at his perilous position to modest the hslf dozen deer that crowded timidly ly together underneath his perch.
 Up above him the smaller branches were stocked with monkeys. who look cd very disconsolate at their enforced imprisonment As we swept past the tiger raised his head. gave . deep growl and showed his teeth, then crouch down again as if fully aware o' his helplessness. and we had toe much to think ot ourselves to iu fere.
 Gaining the open country. tho scene was one of desolation. but the current was rot so strong. so We turned round, seeing the flood was going down. and Ny nightfall we had got back to where the house had stood. Every vestige Of tho once pretty home had disap- pea~ed. with sheep and cattle. though the fowls had managed to find roost on the topmost branches of some orange trees. which alone remained to mark the spot
 As the moon rose the mounta neers came dowa from their villages, and, embarking on rafts and in canoes, went round the different hills, shoot ing aud spearing the animals that had swam there, and truly the sight of such hunting scene was an exciting one. Here stout stag. defending himself. with his antlers as best he might against the spearmen. kept up a gallant fight till death.
 The tiger we had seen in the morn- ing took to swimming. and on being wounded with a spear turned on the nearest canoe. upsetting the hunters into the water. where a desperate en- counter took place; but he was eventu- ally dispatched by a blow from an ax I--not, however, before he had ella wed