i s a
A TIGER HUNTED BY WILD DOGS.
o|>povliinity oilers, and
iii'igliljoiiriiij^ village.
meal wanting, obtain it aL llie expense of ihe
T h e pcnsaiils likewise slale, lliat llie dholes arc keen in proporlioa lo ihc size
o r powers of llio aiiinnil liiey liunl; preferring elks to other (leer, and partic
u l a r l y seeking the royal liger. 1 liave before suggested the probability that
some ])arlieular enemy exists, which thins the liger species; or else, from the
o r d i n a r y course of propagation, their iinmbers would, inevitably, extend to the
d e s l r u c l i o n of every o l h e r a n ima l . Indeed 1 feel sonic incl inat ion to a t t r ibut e sucli a
check on their nuili¡plication lo the dholv; which, thonghincajiable individually,
o r perhaps in small nundjers, to eilect the destructiou of a royal tiger, may,
f r om their custom of hunling together, Avith great ease overcome any beast lo
b e found in the A\iids of India; not j)erhaps excepting the rhinoceros; which,
however, is not to be foiiiul in any numbers on the south side of the Ganges,
where alone the ¡{holes are as yet known to exist.
T h e dholes run mule; except now and then, they niter a whimpering kind
of note, similar to thai expressed by a dog in the moment of anxiely. This probably
arises from gratiliciition, as they scent the course of the animal which
they pursue ; or it may serve as a guide, and call, to other dholes lojoio iii the
chase. Although I have al several limes seen iheui singly, when not intent on
any particular object, but seeming to be on tlie wander, the sauie as jackalls
g e n e r a l l y arc ; yet, as I never had but one opportunity of observing them on
t h e hunt, it ^ioukl lie impossible for me to form any conjecture as lo the
o r d i n a r y length of their chases, or of the numbers in which they collect. From
t h e i r form, I should suppose them to be too ileet" to admit of a long run; for it
a p p e a r s to me, that no animal, in the catalogue of game, could stand before a
pack of dholes for anv disUince ; their speed being so strongly marked in their
make.
When 1 saw them in chase, I could not judge either of their numbers, or
what animal they pursnetl: about a dozen, or more pas.'^ed, at a smart pace near
mc in a mixed jungle; each ocasionally uttering a whining, plaintive note;
obviously scenting the track of their prey, and so scattered, that it was al least
two minutes before ihey had all passed. In addilion lo those I saw, many were
h e a r d brushing through the cover. On the whole I should suppose there
could not have been less than forty dholes. I followed their course to the
b a n k s oi a small rivulet, whose .«andy bottom did not, however, retain ihe impression
of the footsteps of the animal hunted, snlliciently for me to distinguish
w h e l h c r It was a liger, an elk, or a boar: but, from the size of the marks, I
j u d g e d it lo be some large bca.^t. A loose, soil however, affords little or no
c r i t e r i o n on such a point; as the plunging of even an inferior sized animal
m i g h t , by ripping or shaking the sand, exhibit an appearance far differenl:
f r om the reality.
But, setting apart the celerity of the dholo, we may safely conclude, that a
tiger could not hold out any length of time. liis own tenacious disposition;
his jnifitness for rapidity of evasion ; and perhaps above alt, his treacherous
h a b i t s , would, no doubt, prompt him lo sneak behind patches of cover, and
e n a b l e the dholes, even were they less fleet, to come up with him. Besides, the
t i g e r seems to feel quite diflerently when he has lo cope with animals unaided
b y the human species; and, unless we may suppose instinct to govern on such
a n occasion, b e would, probably, be found more ready to oppose than to shun the
dholes. Leopards are far more active; and being in the habit of gel l ing up inlo
trees, both for their own recrealion, and when in danger, must certainly have a
b e l t e r chance, and in all probability, more generally eilect their escape. There
a r e few siluations where leopards are found, which are not well supplied with
mango, or other trees, adequate lo afibrd an asylum on such occasions.
As to the wild iiog, the elk, &c. there a])pears to be no difliculty in iheir
p u r s u i t : it is obvious liial they cannot avoid their fate, whe n once the dholes
have fairlv got on iheir scent. On the other band, we must supposi^ that great
n u m b e r s oí dholes are destroyed in such contests. The liger, the elk, llie boar,
and even many of the smaller classes of game, possess the means of making a
most obstinale defence; they are very strong; and, though numbers will prevail,
yet it cannot but happen, lhat, in the moment of despair, the hunted
animal will kill and disable many of the assailants. Hence no doubt, the breed
of dholes is much circumscribed : a matter of moment, as we must suppose
theni to be on the same fooling wi t h others of the canine species, and lhat, as
w i t h jackalls, foxes, and dogs in general, from three to live may be considered
a s a fair average for a litter, ihe race would, bul for such casualties, become too
numerous. It is curious to observe the balance thus preserved by Providence.
K n o w i n g the immense powers and activity of a tiger, I should perhaps he
somewhat sceptical in regard lo the reports of the natives who assert, lhat not
even ihe largest and fiercest can hold out against ihe dholes. When I iirsl
l i e a rd the }>foplc of Ramgbur detailing their anecdoles on tliis subject, f was
not disposed lo give any credit to what appeared to me, such palpable absurd
i t i e s ; and, indeed, I was .so illiberal as lo ridicule ibcir attempls, for such I
considered them, lo impose on me with such gross dece|)tion. 1 really could
not recotieile it to myself, lhat dogs of any kind, or however numerous, could cope
w i t h a royal liger. I had witnessed so many circumstances lo the contrary,
t h a t my mind was made up on the subject ; and I trealed the stories, which I
h e a r d from various quarters, with the most sovereign contempt; frequently,
indeed, (¡uoting them as comparisons when i, jeeringly, either astonished the
n a t i v e s with something perfectly true, but to them iticrcdible ; or wlien, as it
o f t e n happened, I gave them to" inuhi rsland that L suspe c t e d ihey we r e drawing
too long a bow.
I should, in al! probability, have remained in .such a way of thinking, and
have committed the subject nearly to oblivion, had not my attention been
f o r c i b l y called lo some facts, which could not fail lo remove prejudice, and give
n
A TJICKB HOTJTIUJ B Y WJILU I JOOA, ^ • ) I
I . E T I G H E FOÜRSIJTWÉ P A R D E S CHIEWS SAUVjl .