Page:Omniana 2.djvu/252

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242
OMNIANA.

leaves, till at length he becomes completely enveloped, and is deprived of sight. In this situation he may be compared to a man who has been tarred and feathered. The anxiety produced by this strange and novel predicament soon discovers itself in dreadful howlings, which serve to call the watchful peasants, who in this state find no difficulty in shooting the mottled object of detestation[1].".. It would have been a pity to have altered this "well-cull'd, choice, sweet, and apt" term for a tyger!

A good method of destroying tygers is said to be common in Persia, and towards the north of Hindostan. "This device consists of a large semispherical cage, made of strong bamboos, or other efficient materials, woven together, but leaving intervals throughout, of about three or four inches broad. Under this cover, which is fastened to the ground by means of pickets, in some place where tygers abound, a man, provided

  1. Oriental Sports, Vol. I, p. 204.