The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-10

the brute's unprotected position and
either stabs him resolutely with his
spear or rips up his stomach with his
hunting sword, either of which attacks
results in almost immediate death.
In the early days of the present CEN
tury, N sometimes. but rarely, in our
own days. the hazardous method OF
netting and sDearing the tiger was in
dulged in. The procedure seems simple
enough, but strong nerves and sure
hands would be needful for those who
participated therein. The animal is
first "ringed"-tracked down to a por-s
ton of the jungle which can be easily
surrounded by the number of men pres
ent and the extent of nets available,
and these latter are erected round the
spot, being firmly upheld by stout and
long bamboo driven into the ground.
When all is prepared, rockets. squibs
and cracker are flung into the covert
In quantities and a hideous noise is set
up with hallooing, beating of tom-toms
and firing of blank cartridges. The
tiger, frightened or infuriated, as the
ease may be, rushes out of the jungle
to find his way barred by the apparent
ly fiimsy nets. He hurls himself in
wrath at the impeachment and is met
with repeated thrusts of spears from the
hunters outside. Again and again he
dashes vainly at the barrier. only to
meet the points of the weapons of his
relentless foes, until at last a thrust
more deftly delivered than the others
pierces his vitals n he reels to earth
dead or dying. Sometimes the nets
would be hung so as to give way at the
impetuous rush of the angry brute. who
would then fall to the ground en-
veloped in the yielding but tenacious
folds of the clinging mesh, and, ere he
could extricate himself. a dozen spears
would transfix him and render him pow
erless for harm. Naturally many fatal
accidents occurred at this dangerous
sport, but at the time when 1t was in
vogue human life was held in scant re-
gard by the native princes of the coun-
try. So long as no harm came to them
selves they were careless how many
lives were sacrificed to enable them to
indulge in their perilous pastime.
WITH BIRDLIME. .
1t would seem almost ludicrous to
talk of taking a tiger with birdlime, blu
IT is a fact that it is so captured in some
districts of India-in Dude principally.
tanned the peasants collect a large
quantity of the berries of a certain
bush which is common enough in the
jungles and with the properties of which
they are thoroughly conversant. From
these. by a somewhat similar process
TO that which is adopted in the manu-
facture of birdlime in England, they
compound "a thick and adhesive mixture.
Then, gathering a number of large,
broad leaves, they smear these with
the sticky substance and Strew them
plentifully, doctored side uppermost,
along the track which the tiger fire.
quents or in some gloomy spot whittier
he retires to pass the heat of the day.
Stripes comes leisurely strolling along,
making his way down to a w~ell-known
pool to quench his thirst, and sets his
paw on one of the lined leaves. Not
liking the contact, he shakes his foot
violently, but the annoying article will
not come off; nay. instead of this. in
moving about he steps upon others.
which also adhere where they once
touch. Then, as our readers may ave
noticed in a cat when engaged in wash
ing her face. he rubs his paws over his
face and jaws to get rid of the adj
hesive leaves. but he only succeeds in
transferring them TO his hairy counte-
nance and plaStering them over his nose
and eyes. Now his temper, which is
always very loosely hung, begins to de-
sert him. He rolls himself hither and
thither, making frantic dashes at his
face and eyes with his paws, but only
manages to cover them thicker and
thicker with the annoying things. and
eventually to quite blind. himself. In
this condition he stumbles and falls
about, picking up more and more leaves,
until he resembles a man who has been
tarred and feathered. And now his rage
finds vent in dreadful roarings and fear
full howlings as he reels and falls help
lessly n aimlessly in all directions,
and the natives, hearing and under
standing the uproar, hasten to the spot
and put a speedy end to his misery.
In conclusion we would. cite one in
stance only of a well-known and abso-
lutely authentic case where a tiger was
literally challenged and slain by a man
~. fAAt IN a 49, ~ ~ ybfnE cAApar Of
first sight foolhardy and reckless to a
degree. The hero of the event was a
sportsman, recognized in India under
the title of the "Old Shekarry," and
the victor in scores Of desperate en-
gagements with the cunning and fe-
rocious denizens of the jungle. What
we are about to relate occurred more
than a generation ago A certain dis
trict in India was haunt by a man.
eating tiger. who, from many escape
n much hunting, had developed an
excessive amount OF caution, which,
however. Gid not prevent him from be-
coming an absolute terror and scourge
to~the unfortunate people who dwelt
In the district. In those days, as now,
letters for outlying places beyond reach
of the regular mail were carried by
post runners. and these, besides their
official badge, carried a short stick with
a number of rings or bells strung upon
It. BY jingling these as they ran they
gave notice or thSlr ADVENT. by eX-
perience the maneater had learned to
associate the sound with q man. and he
had taken advantage of his experience.
Thenceforth he wagcd unrelenting wal
against the unfortunate postmen. To-
dag one would be taken here; to-mor-
row another at a place fifty miles dis
tant. A perfect panic seized upon the
unfortunate who could not, by
threats or promises. be induced to car
~ letters across the district infested by
this bloodthirsty brute. At last the
news OF this dilemma reached the ears
OF the Old Shekarry, to whom 1T prom
ised IN adventure such as his soul
loved. He promptly repaired to the dis
trict. But, as If the cunning animal
had become aware of the antagonist
against whom it was to be pitted, it
disappeared. and. search as he might.
the disappointed sportsman could find
no trace of TIE maneater. Suddenly an
idea flashed into his mind; the tiger
was said to be partial to post runners.
whose coming he recognized by the
tinkling of their ~'jingles;.'' he would
himself assume the role, and, carrying
the stick which attracted the brute, ring
a challenge to the cunning animal. No
sooner thought of than adopted. Toward
the cool of evening he sailed forth on
a line of route where the last victim
had disappeared. armed with his trusty
double-barrel and keen. double-edge