iding a much greater distance than that between the two
encampments, and being in a thick jungle infested with tigers, I began
to reflect seriously on my situation, and for a moment I paused to
consider, under such circumstances, what was best to be done. How
short-sighted is mortal man! That brief moment had nearly been my last!
I had laid the reins of my mare over her neck, when in an instant she
gathered herself up, snorted, and wheeled right round. Fortunately for
me, I seized the mane, and, in an instant after, I saw, squatted down
and crouching to the ground, a huge tiger. To have run from him would
have been inevitable destruction. I therefore wheeled my mare round, and
pressed her on towards him, but she would not approach him. I had a pair
of loaded pistols in my holster-pipes. One of these I drew out,
resolving, however, not to throw away my fire. While endeavouring to
spur my mare on, and making all the noise I could, the ferocious animal
slunk off, to the great joy of both my mare and myself, and I was not
long before I reached my own tent.

I had some recollection of the place where this happened, as I always
made a point of making myself acquainted with the localities of the
encampment and its vicinity; so early the following morning I rode
towards the spot, which was not far from the road, and where I found
that the said tiger had feasted on a more delicious morsel--a nice
little ghinee (a small cow).

I would recommend to those who may chance to get into the vicinity of
such bad neighbours, never to run from them, but, if sufficient courage
can possibly be mustered, to run at them, or to stand and stare them
full in the face. A captain in the Company's service once told me, when
speaking of these savage beasts, that he was out shooting in some part
near Loodianah alone, and he had just discharged his last barrel at some
wild ducks, when a large tiger made his appearance. He had not time to
load again, but, for a time, stood his ground. He stared--the tiger
grinned, but did not seem inclined to come to the scratch. This said
captain, being a funny fellow, at last thought of a stratagem that was
likely to put his grinning neighbour to flight, which was by turning his
back to the animal, looking at him through his legs, and thus running
off backwards. He positively declared that, the moment the tiger saw
this strange metamorphosis, he took to his heels, and was out of sight
in an instant. I will not vouch