TIGER-HUNTING. Tiger-limiting probably taxes man's skill and courage in a higher degree than the pursuit of any other sort of game, and may justly be placed at the head of the list of sports of the chase. The enormous strength of the beast. coupled with savage cunning, renders it the most formidable of brute foes. Nothing is more patent in the voluminous history of the sport (see TIGER for outline of pertinent litera ture) than that no two tigers behave in the same way when encountered; and the same animal may act differently at different times. Tigers learn by experience, have no fear whatever of man as man, and rarely make tactical mistakes. In some parts of India hunters in p5rties go after them on foot, but this is justly regarded as an ex treme of foolhardiness: the hunter's handicap is far too great, and few men dare the risks of this kind of sport. One of two methods usually is chosen by the tiger-hunter according to circum stances: (1) lying in wait for the animal at night (when there is moonlight) on an elevated platform, or (2) seeking him upon the back of a trained elephant. The former is the choice in cases where a tiger is known to haunt a particu lar locality. The hunter then chooses a likely spot and builds a platform or •machan' (usually in a small tree), which must be raised not less than 12 feet above the ground, and be large enough to hold two persons. On the ground near by is placed the carcass of a deer or cow; an even better bait is a tethered live goat. An hour before sunset the limiter, with a native as sistant, climbs upon the platform and awaits the coining of the tiger. Sometimes the animal steals out of the shadows and seizes and carries of]' the prey so quickly that no good chance for a shot is offered. Again it will stalk boldly out and stand in full view. Sometimes when fired at, hut not killed, it darts back into the jungle and disappears, but it may also attack and tear down the maehan, or lurk near by to seize the men when they descend.
The most effective method of hunting the tiger is by means of elephants, and with the aid of native shikarics and beaters. Frequently the
preparations are upon a scale of royal magnifi cence, for so kings and princes are accustomed to entertain one another in the East, especially when a native ruler desires to honor or gratify some European guest or ally. On such oc casions the game has been surrounded and watched for days previously by an army of na tives. The costly and splendid tiger-hunting with which King Edward V11. was entertained when visiting India as the Prince of Wales will long remain memorable even in that country of royal pageantry. The method in this master sport is to surround the tiger by a sufficient num ber of 'beaters; who, by beating drums and mak ing a great noise, drive it toward the favorable spot where the sportsmen are awaiting it upon the hacks of elephants, which are furnished with open. box-like howdahs. As the circle narrows the drivers become more cautious, for the animal may be depended upon to know the country per fectly, and to make use of every means of conceal ment and escape, or of attack. Then men are stationed in trees to try to trace his movements and warn others by cries and signs. Aleanwhile the sportsmen press forward on their elephants. depending largely upon the senses and sagacity of these animals for a warning of the terrific and usually unforeseen charge of the animal, which may by a bold leap tear the hunter from the howdah, or stampede the elephant, or get through the barrier alive. It is a moment which calls for the utmost coolness and skill as well as courage, and the sport is never free from peril. The danger is multiplied by the various accidents possible. Even if the tiger is unable to spring upon the elephant, saddle-girths may break or howdahs may fall. Nine out of ten elephants, even if always stanch heretofore, will become panic-stricken and bolt, when the danger of their riders being dashed against a tree and killed is more imminent than any other. Thus unforeseen casualties are numerous. and the total tangible reward is only a bide, which after all may be of inferior beauty and value.