The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-01-06
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When a lion contemplates new enter
prises he prepares himself beforehand.
Drummond watched one pracuclng a
lump, and Lloyd saw scandinavian foX
dong the same thing. The latter observer
was outlying on the skirts OF SWedISh
forest when his attention became attracted
by certain performances upon the part OF a
large fox. lie came along the path near by,
and taking chunk OF wood In his mouth
tried 10 leap on top OF a stump. SeYeldi
unsuccessful attempts were MADE before
this feat was accomplished; but then,
being satisfied, Reynard, who mad been
going through these gymnastics with an
eye 10 the future, curied himself up on the
stump and became invisible.
Presently, however, an old SOW appeared
with her farrow trailing behind, and as the
last straggler passed. down came the fox,
and was back again in an instant with a
young porker Squealng for aid in vain.
Its mother could not get at the kidnaper,
and no doubt he made his dinner sweet"
A gifted lion proceeds upon like prln-
ciples. Nobody finds him leaping at kraal
feEceS Intellectually; or, if His Majesty
fancies some Hottentot whose occasions
daily bring him by certain way, be sure
the man-eater has studied all those points
for lying in wait that the route affords, and
in selecting one fully satisfies himself
with regard TO any difficulties this spot may
present.
Yet the best of us are imperfect in some
point of view, and SO with lions also. As
has been said, they show tendency to be
over bold, and lean towards an Overween-
ing self-confideilce. Pride goeth before a
fall; thus many a black named marau-
der has sailed over the picketS OF an Arab
douar, only 10 find himself at the bottom OF
some treacherously-d dug trench, where he
persisted amidst the Civilizations and IN
suits OF his enemies
a - far
with pantherS, or those so-called American
tigers known as laguarS-anImalS whose
habits may be inferred from their native
name, which is derived from an Indian
verb meaning, according TO Burtons in
depreciation, 10 deyour, or, as Las holds, to
crush.
When Stripes" the mighty thinks it
would be well for him to take some Bur
mese peasant out of his hut-a place he
has narrowly observed and found TO be
quite convenient-but unexpectedly comes
across a piece of packthread that the
householder having seen his tracks, puts
up as defense; then, almost always, he
turns back.
THAT kind of thing" this wise one
argues, docs not grow in iungleS, and 1T
never got here of itself. Some man IS try
ing to play me a trick. These two-legged
creatures are full OF strategems. had
better be off"
The elephant is not nearly so well en-
doWed an animal as most people suppose,
yet ii is almost certain that he re aSonS IN
the same way about tlimsy straw fence.
One puff through his trunk would blow it
away, but unless they can step over the
barrier most elephants VIII stay outside
and let the farmers melons alone.
Nevertheless, my lord the elephant" is
destructive beyond measure and as mis-
chievous as a monkey. There is no sort OF
Enthusiastically malicious injury he omits
when the occupants of forest bungalow
are found to be away; and wherever ele-
plants feed ruin follows, for they always
destroy far more than it is possible to eat.
If we take sufficient number Of personal
narratives and official reports, there is no
difficulty in getting a clear view OF the
average proceedings of man eating tiger.
This particular kind OF brute is selected
because 1T must necessarily know more
and have a higher development than any
mere cattle-lifter or denizen of solitudes
that lives by hunting.
Sometimes one OF these dreadful crea-
lures is brought up to murder by its mother,
herself in that way of life. But suppose
not; assume the varied knowledge ard
complex adjustments essential to estab-
fishing what are unhappily very close re-
lations between a wild beast and human
beings, 10 have been acquired. Nothing
less than facts which are unquestionable
will accredit the internal skill and cum
ming displayed by such scourge. No
wonder the horror-stricken Hindus call the
destroyer purrut bagh-a witch or demon
tiger, one possessed by the soul of some
accused man.
An entire district seems to be pervaded
at once. SO marvellous are such beasts
changes Of pace, that veteran sportsmen,
while really in pursuit of a single animal
have frequently been certain there were at
least two tigers committing those murders
GaIlV raDorteI And - oSSiIla IN
tell when a man eater may make his ap-