PLAGUE OF TIGERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4542, 18 May 1889, Page 4

PLAGUE OF TIGERS.

♦ According to the administration report of Java recently laid before the Dutch Chambers, portions of that island are being depopulated through tigerß. In 1882 the population of a village m the South-west of the Bantam Province, was renit) r ed and transferred to an island off the coast, m consequence of the trouble caußed to the people by tigers. These animals have now become an intolerable peat m parts of the same province. The total population is about 600,000 and m 1887, 61 were killed by tigers, and m consequence of the dread existing among tho people, it has been proposed to deport the inhabitants of the villages most threatened to other parts of the country where tigers are not so common and where they can pursue their agricultural occupations with a greater degree of safety. At present they fear to go anywhere near the borders of the forest. The people at present seem disinclined, or they lack the means and courage to attack and destroy their enemy, although considerable rewards are offered by 'Jovernment for the destruction of beasts of prey. In 18-JH the reward for killing a royal tiger was raised to 200 florins. It appears also that the immunity of the tiger is m part due to superstition, for it is considered wrong to kill one unless he attacks first or otherwise does injury. Moreover, guns were always very rare m this particular district, and, since a rising a few years ago, have been taken away by the authorities altogether.