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P L A T E XVI.
CHASING A TIGER ACROSS A RIVER.
I HAVE already remarked, Hial ilioiigli, in most respects, tigers and cats are
p e r l e c l l y similar, yet, that the former have nol, by any means, an aversion lo ihe
water. They nol only freely resort thither -vvlien pursued, swimming in a
nuinner that denotes iheir familiarity with the element, Init may frequently be
seen crojising large rivers, when no object appears to be in view. About Dandpore,
Plassetj, Jitgahdeep, and especially along the banks of the Jeliiughee,
which borders the Cossimbazar ishmd to the eastward, they are known to cross
and rccross duriiig the day, as well as by night; seeming to consider the
s t r e am as no impediment. From Augahdeep, in particular, I h ey pass over to
the e.Ntonsive jnnglc of PutaUij, that has ever been famous for the number
which it contained, i liave, in passing through it, seen four several tigers
w i t h i n tlic space of two hoin-s ; and a gentleman who was proceeding by dawk,
t h a i is, post, in his palankeen, in the year 1782, saw three absolutely lying in
diiferent parts of the road as he went on, PAUL once made an excursion
thither, with a iiumber of elephants uiuler his charge; and, in about a week,
killed twenty-three royal tigers, l)esides several leopards.
As soon as a tiger takes lo the water, the first boat that can be had, of which
abundance are lo be found along the river-side, should be put off with one of
the liunters, who must use every exertion to get parallel with the tiger as soon
as possit>le ; taking care to keep at a moderate distance from his flank, but
witli the animal open to his aim, so as to allow such of the party, as may deem
it eligible, to hre at him, as lie crosses, without danger of wounding any person
in the boat. One or two well directed shots will genendly suflicc al this time;
and, even though they may not altogether stop him, will assuredly curb his
career suiliciently lo enable the liuntors, as they successively land, to follo^v
witii certainty ; even though jungles should cover the bank at wliich ihey
arrive, and render it easy lo bring the tiger to bay : he being at such limes ext
r e m e l y resentful, and more intent on mischief than on his escape. It may,
indeed, he taken as a general rule, from which exceptions will be found very
rare, that a wounded tiger, buiValo, bear, hog, &c. will, unless faijiling with
loss of blood, ralher challenge, than avoid, an attack.
I f ihe person who embarks for the purpose of attacking tlie tiger as he
swims, be tolerably expert, he will probably conquer him completely without
f a r t h e r assistance. Tigers swim very high, and, on being wounded, rear and
p l u n g e desperately; by which means the water rarely fails to ilow into the
orifice, causing additional smart, and consequently impeding the irritated
animal's p rogress. This affords ihe fairest opporlunilies to the deliberate sportsman,
who being supplied with ammunition instantly, or having a fresh piece
ser\'ed to hijn, avails himself of every motion favourable lo his intention, and
p r o b a b l y tows his victim lo the shore. Tlie recourse to a boat, if one be at
Jiand, is particularly eligible ; Ijecause some little time is necessarily lost when
t h e elephants arrive at the water' s edge, in securing the powder, and in prepar
i n g for llie change of position that unavoidably takes place, as the elephants
g e t into deep water. For, although an elephant sometimes floats horizontally,
y e t such is not their common mode of swimming : in general, the hind ([uarters
sink, the same as a horse's; and the rider must cxpecl to experience the cold
b a l h , al least u p lo his waisl. If an attendant be seated behind, his share of
t h e ducking will be encreased iji proportion as the elephant sinks, more or less;
b u t it requires much caution, and indeed some strength, when so situated, to
avoid slipping off. The mohouf, wbo, being on the neck, is the most elevated,
o r d i n a r i l y takes charge of the spare arms aTid ammunition ; even wi t h hini they
a r e not always secure ; for when the water is deep, an elephant will often sink
himself in expectation of finding the bollom ; which, if to be felt wilhin such a
d e p t h as will allow the tip of his trinik to remain above the surface, serving as
a funnel to convey him air for respiration, be will step along with great composure,
regardless of the inohout's elforts to urge him upwards, an<l totally unmindful
of the danger to which those on the pad are exposed. On such occasions
ihe huntsman and his attendant must stand u[) on the pad, holding by a
cord, fastened to the girting ropes; which is at all lijucs useful, especially
when an elephant is cither rising or kneeling down.
E l e p h a n t s are extremely fond of the water ; and when lakcn, as ihey usually
a r e daily, to be batlied in the river, or some neighbouring pond, will lie down
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