AN ENCOUNTER WITH A TIGER.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7825, 18 August 1887, Page 3

AN ENCOUNTER WITH A TIGER.

(Cvlvtiii'i and J ml 'in, -Juno '24.) The other day Major Lyons, a hard wiry man getting on for (iO, hearing that some wond-entters in Khandalla were scared from their work by a tiger, went out armed only with a double- barrelled gun to " dispose : " of the brute. After waiting for some time it was found that he had retired to one of the famous Karli cavet and thither the Major determined lo seek him. These eaves are about six miles from Khandalla, the main one being the largest and the most complete hitherto discovered in Fndia. It is hewn iv the face of a precipice about two-thirds up the side of a hill which rises SOOft above the Khandalla plateau, and is approached by a narrow path among trees and brushwood. The interior is spacious and in good repair, containing a shrine which is lighted by a cuttiua like a window from the east, with great ofr'ect. Dark passages lead to smaller caves, for the whole bill is pierced by cavernous recesses altogether artificial, having been worked out into their present shape ami appearance by human labor. The recesses, like others in Elephanta and Kllora, have been the temples for worshippers earlier than the days of Christianity, but are now apparently becoming the haunts of savage animals," Major Lyons, accompanied by a friend and one or two natives, readied the entrance of the piincipal cave late in the evening, and, no doubt, with much interest waited the

turn of events. A bushed silence prevailed, and it was thought the tiger had gone out; for his evening meal. He might ue in some dark corner, and it was necessary to force him out, so volleys of stones were Hung inside, and be was shouted at, but no response. Then torches were lit ; and as the glare Dickered over the place, his highness, who had probably been having a nap, advanced towards the entrance. Major Lyon's gun was at his shoulder, and both barrels were lircd into the tiger, who instantly dasbod at bis assailant in grand style, the latter standing as linn as a rock face to face with a wounded tiger, determined to light it out to the last gasp. For at this critical moment when the tiger pounced on him, be was somehow left alone to tackle the brute, lie struck the tiger twice with the butt end of the gun, with little eitect. All at once matters changed, and the tiger, showing symptoms of distiess, took to his heels, which clearly indicated that

lie had been hard hit wliiie he was opining out of the cave. Major Lyons having reloaded Ms gun, now went in puisuit, and found liim under a bush sitting on his haunches, with Iris tongue out, and looking very sick. He was not quite exhausted, however, for lie jumped up, and charged down nt the .sportsman, roaring loudly. Another and a severer encounter now took place, in the course of which the tiger iixed one of his paws on the calf of Major Lyon's leg, lacerating it most dreadfully, while the latter thrust the muzzle of his rille down the throat of the animal, who, with the weapon in his mouth, slunk away into the adjacent bushes. And this was the end of as strange an adventure as will be found in the anuals of tiger hunting. Hut few men will, perhaps, care to carry on operations against witdanimalsinthisway ; though there is no doubt a fascination in tiger shooting on foot which once tasted must ever after engross the mind of the sportsman, and induce him to despise other methods which require an array of elephants and beaters and other paiapliernalia of shooting parlies. Major Lyons' tiger was found next morning a few yards from the .spot whore the last coinlnU. took place. I'lighteen men brought it tn Khaudalla, and numbers nf people went, to see it two or three days ago at the shop of Messrs. I'hillip.iaml Lo., I'oonnh, where it was sent In be skinned. It is a large tiger, measuring !) feet '2 inches in length and H feet 3 inches round bi> body. It may be mentioned, as k proof of the vitality he

CNliibilu'l, that out of the. suvcral shots levelled al. him nine were liits.