Rock Island Argus., 1898-08-20

-hy and wary animal. retiring in his hab-
its and avoiding the presence Of man
Far different X the known cattle killer,
which il usually al Older and heavier ami
mel, .4y"Tsc - much t.xerrion. In the hot
Ut+sthcr hs usually takes up his residence
nsar6 vilI,.yr in thick covert close to wa
ser, from whence he can easily sally forth
To attack the herds of village cattle as
they como 10 drink. In the cool weather
he follows = herd rs they go To Craze in
the jungle and where the high green grass
affords him ample facilities for stalking
tiicu while they feed. He is careless OF
man from Coming constantly in contact
with him, though to certain extent his
innate oowartlicc prevails. and numerous
instances arc on record Of u cattle killer
having been driven OF his prey and igno-
miniourly put to flight by no more for
Inidablc adversary than q little native
cowhcrd boy armed with a stout stick.
Favorahly situated coverts generally hold
ono or more OF such tigers during the hot
Weather. and, oddly enough, IL one season
all the occupants are killed, the next one
others Will have taken their plarc IL is
for these tigers thar buffalo calves are tied
ont for bait. and. cruel itS it may seem 10
do this. there g. 10 doabt that the death
of q tiger saves much moro suffering than
IL caused 10 the animal sacrificed TO effect
the purpose.
Man caters are happily rare, for
where one exists IL becomes 7 regular
scourgc the population for miles around
being afraid u pursue their regular avoca-
tions or to stir on. unless in large bodies
in ease any should fall victim 70 the
dreaded animal.
What the cause may be of a tiger becom-
ing n man cater can only be u matter of
conjecture but she animal Is often an old
ono and tigress. Various theories have
become an habitual cater of human flesh.
but the most probable one is that such an
animal having become decrepit either
from old ago or from wounds is unable to
procure its ordinary food, and so, finding
that the killing of a man Is q compara-
lively easy task. takes To this method OF
obtaining its meat.
Man eaters are invariably most cunning
and seldom frequent the same locality fer
any length of time Here today they will
be miles away tomorrow, and though hav-
ing apparently SO far overcome their in
stinctive fear Of man rs to attacklhim un-
provoked. thcy seem TO possess q wonder
ful amount of sagacity in discriminating
between an armed man and a defenceleSs
victim. Why the offenders should 80 fire.
quently be females il is difficult TO ex-
plain. Perhaps when troubled with the
carcs Of family they find il hard 20 OBJ
tain food by ordinary means and so take
IN the more pcrnicious but more easily &C
complishcl method Of killing a man.
ThSre Is popular fallacy that man cat
or has "A NANCY skin, and this has been at
tribUted To its diet, but Mr.. Brown does
not know Of "a single instance nor has he
ever read Of one reliable authority whore
this has bC,n found TO be the case. two
man eaters that he knew uf having beau
tifully bright. glossy skins
Hunting the tiger j. grand sport and
must as long as life lasts rcrnaiH craven
on the memory Of him W no has once taken
part in il. and though 10 read the hunting
OF one tiger il much like another. and
each bears, a certain resemblance, yet a
different set Of incidents mark each days
report IN the hunters nierno-Sr. who vivid
ly pictures 10 himself the circumstances
attending the death of each particular ami
NAL long after the rcneinllrTncc OF many
ether and more Important incidents OF his
life have faded away and become blOtted
ont Yes = is worth going IN for. IL only
for the pleasure OF feasting on the recol-
lcctions OF days that are no morc. and as
sash the author recommends IT, both for
its past and present enjoy1..sslt, TO all who
ever may have an opportunity.