A CACHAR TIGER
with blankets. And he wore his in the usual pachim (North-West Provinces) style: one end of the blanket is pleated and tied closely with a piece of string, the short part above the cord forming a tuft. The wearer pulls the pleated end of the blanket over his head, the tuft resting on his crown. The sides of the blanket are drawn round the body, and thus the blanket is made to form both a hood and a cloak, in which the wearer hugs himself against the inclemeny of the weather.
The chowkidar sat on his mat huddled up in his blanket, droning one of the time-honoured bhajans (hymns) of India.
Presently he disappeared and, next, piercing yells rent the mist-laden atmosphere. The four Sahebs were in the verandah in a trice, and soon discovered the chowkidar returning to the verandah, visibly shaken and without his blanket.
"What is the matter, and who shouted?" asked the Manager.
"Saheb," the chowkidar replied in a quavering voice "a tiger sprang on me and caught the knot of my blanket."
"Here!" interrupted the four Englishmen incredulously.
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