Sport and Work on the Nepaul Frontier eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 378 pages of information about Sport and Work on the Nepaul Frontier.

Sport and Work on the Nepaul Frontier eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 378 pages of information about Sport and Work on the Nepaul Frontier.

The strength of the tiger is amazing.  The fore paw is the most formidable weapon of attack.  With one stroke delivered with full effect he can completely disable a large buffalo.  On one occasion, on the Koosee derahs, that is, the plains bordering the river, an enraged tiger, passing through a herd of buffaloes, broke the backs of two of the herd, giving each a stroke right and left as he went along.  One blow is generally sufficient to kill the largest bullock or buffalo.  Our captain, Joe, had once received khubber, that is, news or information, of a kill by a tiger.  He went straight to the baithan, the herd’s head-quarters, and on making enquiries, was told that the tiger was a veritable monster.

‘Did you see it?’ asked Joe.

‘I did not,’ responded the goala or cowherd.

‘Then how do you know it was so large?’

‘Because,’ said the man, ’it killed the biggest buffalo in my herd, and the poor brute only gave one groan.’

George once tracked a tiger, following up the drag of a bullock that he had carried off.  At one place the brute came to a ditch, which was measured and found to be five feet in width.  Through this there was no drag, but the traces continued on the further side.  The inference is, that the powerful thief had cleared the ditch, taking the bullock bodily with him at a bound.  Others have been known to jump clear out of a cattle pen, over a fence some six feet high, taking on one occasion a large-sized calf, and another time a sheep.

Another wounded tiger, with two bullets in his flanks, the wound being near the root of the tail, cleared a nullah, or dry watercourse, at one bound.  The nullah was stepped by George, and found to be twenty-three paces wide.  It is fortunate, with such tremendous powers for attack, that the tiger will try as a rule to slink out of the way if he can.  He almost always avoids an encounter with man.  His first instinct is flight.  Only the exciting incidents of the chase are as a rule put upon record.  A narrative of tiger shooting therefore is apt in this respect to be a little misleading.  The victims who meet their death tamely and quietly (and they form the majority in every hunt),—­those that are shot as they are tamely trying to escape—­are simply enumerated, but the charging tiger, the old vixen that breaks the line, and scatters the beaters to right and left, that rouses the blood of the sportsmen to a fierce excitement, these are made the most of.  Every incident is detailed and dwelt upon, and thus the idea has gained ground, that ALL tigers are courageous, and wait not for attack, but in most instances take the initiative.  It is not the case.  Most of the tigers I have seen killed would have escaped if they could.  It is only when brought to bay, or very hard pressed, or in defence of its young, that a tiger or tigress displays its native ferocity.  At such a moment indeed, nothing gives a better idea

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Sport and Work on the Nepaul Frontier from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.