Page:Omniana 2.djvu/253

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OMNIANA.
243

with two or three short strong spears, takes post at night. Being accompanied by a dog, which gives the alarm, or by a goat, which by its agitation answers the same purpose, the adventurer wraps himself up in his quilt, and very composedly goes to sleep, in full confidence of his safety. When a tyger comes, and perhaps after smelling all around, begins to rear against the cage, the man stabs him with one of the spears through the interstices of the wicker work, and rarely fails of destroying the tyger, which is ordinarily found dead at no great distance in the morning[1]."

Herrera (4, 10, 13,) says of the Indians of Verapaz, that when they meet a tyger they fall down and beseech him not to kill them. This was from superstition; they worshipped their deity, or their devil, in that shape. They who were converted found bows and arrows more effectual than supplications.

  1. Oriental Sports, Vol. I, p. 203.

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