Year: 1872

A correspondent .he London Sand,


ard, writing from Hong Kong, describes


one Of the entertainments supplied by


the Maharaiah of Singapore to the Grand
| Duke Alexis, in honor OF the visit OF the


latter TO the island. He says after


luncheon tie party proceeded to wit


ness Il fight between buffalo and a
tiger. Those who have never seen a


combat Of this kind would have been in


clined to bet freely on the latter but


the natives said that the chances were in


favor Of the buffalo, and, indeed, that
/ the tiger was never known to win. The


arena in which the animals were to fight


was OF an oval form, some fifty feet long


bv abont twenty wide. in an inclosure


of bamboo poles, fifteen feet high, firm
| ly driven into the ground and strongly


fastened together. Similar poles, laid


across the top, formed the roof. The


whole structure has the appearance of a
gigantic cage. 4 platform, built out


side, enabled the more distinguished


visitors to have good view of the in
terror, at a safe distance, through the


space between the poles, while the gen
eral public crowded around the clge as
close rs their respect for the claws of


the tiger would allow. The buffalo was
confined to one end OF the cage by
canvas curtain stretched across the
arena; the tiger was inclosed at the
other extremity by poles placed across
from one wall to another. When the
fight was to begin tho curtains were
withdrawn, the poles were removed, and
the animals were for the first time seen
by the spectators. The buffalo stood tor
some moments at his end of the cage,
looking with little apparent interest to-
ward his foe, The tiger was sitting on
his launches, seemingly unconscious of
the presence of his formidable adversary,
his attention being attracted by the
crowd outside. After waiting for some
time, the buffalo seemed to think he
might as well make a closer inspection,
and slowly and deliberately walked TO
the other end. The tiger was now clear
ly aware of his presence, for he turned
his head over his shoulder, and watched
the approach of the buffalo with evident
anxiety. His eye glared, but he did
not moved muscle. The buffalo was
almost near enough to touch him with
his muzzle. But at length, and before
the buffalo made any sign of attacking
him, he jumped up and galloped of rs
fast MS his legs would carry lin round
the cage. The buffalo followed, and
iammed him against the wall with his
horns. The tiger, in return, gave the
buffalo one scratch on the neck and an
other over the eve, just as Il cat might
Dc, and then fell, apparently dead. But
his breathing betrayed him; he was
only shamming No one seemed TO
understand this better than the buffalo,
who stood close by. and kept his eye on
him, but disdained to touch aim whlie
he was down. For some time the
animals maintained their respective po-
sitions. till at length the public began
to he impatient. They stirred up the
tiger with n pole, but that was of no use;
thev then tried crackers, and for some
time they succeeded no better. 1t was
not until a bundle was thrown close to
the tigers nose that he got thoroughly |
aroused. But he had evident 7 no in.
tent,on Of fighting, He again ran round |
the cage, was again pursued by ms re-
lantless enemy, and severely gored, and |
once more sank to the ground. This
process was repeated several times,
always with the same result-the tiger
would not fight the buffalo, and the
buffalo could not kill the tiger. AT
length the men on the roof lowered a
a rope with a moose in the end. in which
they caught up the tiger by one OF his
hind legs, and while he was hanging,
the buffalo completely finished him.
But the Grand Duke was spared the pain
of witnessing the latter part OF the spec
tacle, as he left when the tiger counter
feited death for the second time. The
natives were right-the tiger fights un-
willingly when he cannot surprise his
enemy. But the Rajah had taken un-
usual pains tc. make the combat as
equal as possible, for the tiger was
very savage one while the buffalo, but
two days before, had been quietly draw
ing cart along the road"