Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1910-02-26
Something About Tigers
And Man-=Eaters

ers, as they are Of rowing disposi-
ton, and on the first approach of
man and his civilizing influences be-
take themselves to the solitudes of
the jungles and confine themselves
exclusively to the killing of game.
During the "cold season." or those
months following the cessation Of the
monsoon, 1t is customary to employ
chowkidars (watchmen), who patrol
the bungalow during the night and
strike the hours upon a large gong.
During these months fires are very
frequent, owing to the dryness of
the grass-covered huts. Savage
tribes from the Himalayas and the
Assam Valley Hills come down in
great numbers to obtain temporary
work and barter goods for those of
, western manufacture. 1t is there
: fore necessary to have somebody on
the look out for fires and to give
notice Of head-hunting expeditions.
One morning early Sam Barry rose
and went on to the varanda to see
what kind of a day 1t was. He cali
ed to his chowkidar, but received no
reply. He went in search OF the
man. At the foot of the veranda
steps he came across blood. human
flesh, hair and pieces of cloth. He
suspected that some savage tribe had
come down during the night and
killed his Waterman. He at once
sounded the gong and summoned his
servants and head men.
Upon their arrival the various ar
ticles were pointed out to them. Upon
search being made, the pug marks
: of tiger were seen on the lawn.
These were followed until they dis
appeared in a patch of jungle few
hundred yards from the bungalow.
Sam Barry wished to summon the
coolies of the estate and have them
beat the tiger out of the patch OF
jungle, so that when 1t broke cover
he could have shot at 1t. The
coolies, however, would hear of no
such proposition, as they dreaded a
man-eater. After some little delay,
u second chowkidar was installed.
For several nights nothing unusual
happened, until the second chowki-
dar was found to have mysteriously
disappeared. AS the coolies again
refused to enter the jungle, Barry
sent an urgent appeal to his nearest
white friends, telling them of the
two deaths and asking them to come
to his assistance as soon as possible.
| India Is noted for its hospitality.
When Barry's friends turned up, hot
and tired, late that same afternoon,
after their long elephant ride, tho
4 kitmutgar factotum) was given eX-
plicit orders to have the very best
dinner placed before the sahibs. A
most sumptuous repast was prepared,
and as India Is thirsty land.
plenty of alcoholic drinks were call
ed into requisition. During the meal
! the plan of campaign was drawn up
! for tho determination Of the man
eater. After dinner, cigars were
=, 'ishto' md the four white men re-
| paired TO the varanda, where they
made themselves comfortable in easy
chairs.
After the servants had sa aamed
and left the bungalow for their
homes, the lights were extinguished
and the four white men armed them
selves with rifles and made them
selves comfortable on the veranda,
fully believing that the tiger would
come out of the patch Of jungle to
seek for third chowkidar.
| Whether 1t was the excellent din
ner or TOO liberal use of liquor, is
not apparent, bat one by one they
gradually dropped off TO sleep. Barry
was in a chair nearest the vera nda
steps. About midnight the tiger
came out, and, finding no third
chowkidar and everything quiet,
made a circuit of the bungalow. In
tultiyely he must have known that
everything was safe, for after hesi-
tating for only Il short time at the
foot of the varanda steps he ascend
ed these and came upon Barry sleep
Ing in one of the easy chairs.
! Barry was reclining with one arm
thrown carelessly over the arm-rest
! of his chair. The tiger seized this
in his jaws and began to drag Barry
FROM the chair. Barry had not lived
/ in India for many years without
knowing something ABOUT tigers and
their habits. lie allowed himself to
be dragged out of the chair and led
towards the yaranda steps. He call