The following also confirms Williamson’s account of the Tigers which are brought up tame by some of the mendicant Indian priests who inhabit the banks of the Ganges.
A beautiful young male Tiger was brought from China, some twenty years ago in the Pitt East Indiaman: at the age of ten months it was so far domesticated, as to admit every kind of familiarity from the people on board. It seemed to be quite harmless, and was as playful as a kitten. It frequently slept with the sailors in their hammocks, and would suffer two or three of them to repose their heads upon its back, as upon a pillow, whilst it lay stretched out upon the deck. In return for this, it would, however, now and then steal their meat. Having one day taken a piece of beef from the carpenter, he followed the animal, took the meat out of its mouth, and beat it severely for the theft; which punishment it suffered with all the patience of a dog. It would frequently run out on the bowsprit; climb about the ship like a cat; and perform a number of tricks with an agility that was truly astonishing. There was a Dog on board the ship, with which it would often play in the most diverting manner. But it ought to be remembered at the time this Tiger was taken on board the ship, it was only a month or six weeks old; and when arrived in this country, it had not quite completed a year.
[No. XX.]
Three small Lions, on a single Plate; forming a sort of tail-piece, and bringing up the rear of our carnivorous procession.
This plate exhibits three different VARIETIES. The Lion of Senegal, nearly in profile, reclined, but under the influence of some slight degree of irritation; the black-maned Lion of Africa; and the common Lioness of Asia, regaling herself on a dead bird.
The upper and lower subjects, are after Ridinger. The African Lion, in the middle, is originally from Rembrandt, but has passed through the medium of an indifferent Etching by Picart; and, like the rest, has finally been corrected by a reference to Nature.—We believe it was corrected from the specimen that was some few years ago presented to Lady Castlereagh; which was exhibited at Exeter ’Change, and of which Mr. Edwin Landseer and Mr. Thomas Christmas had the post-obit reversion.
G. NORMAN, PRINTER, MAIDEN LANE, COVENT GARDEN.