On one of her voyages from China, the _Pitt_, East Indiaman, had on
board, among her passengers, a young tiger. He appeared to be as
harmless and playful as a kitten, and allowed the utmost familiarity
from every one. He was especially fond of creeping into the sailors'
hammocks; and while he lay stretched on the deck, he would suffer two or
three of them to place their heads on his back, as upon a pillow. Now
and then, however, he would at dinner-time run off with pieces of their
meat; and though sometimes severely punished for the theft, he bore the
chastisement he received with the patience of a dog. His chief
companion was a terrier, with whom he would play all sorts of tricks--
tumbling and rolling over the animal in the most amusing manner, without
hurting it. He would also frequently run out on the bowsprit, and climb
about the rigging with the agility of a cat.
On his arrival in England, he was sent to the menagerie at the Tower.
While there, another terrier was introduced into his den. Possibly he
may have mistaken it for his old friend, for he immediately became
attached to the dog, and appeared uneasy whenever it was taken away.
Now and then the dangerous experiment was tried of allowing the terrier
to remain while the tiger was fed. Presuming on their friendship, the
dog occasionally ventured to approach him; but the tiger showed his true
nature on such occasions, by snarling in a way which made the little
animal quickly retreat.
He had been in England two years, when one of the seamen of the _Pitt_
came to the Tower. The animal at once recognised his old friend, and
appeared so delighted, that the sailor begged to be allowed to go into
the den. The tiger, on this, rubbed himself against him, licked his
hands, and fawned on him as a eat would have done. The sailor remained
in the den for a couple of hours or more, during which time the tiger
kept so close to him, that it was evident he would have some difficulty
in getting out again, without the animal making his escape at the same
time. The den consisted of two compartments. At last the keeper
contrived to entice the tiger to the inner one, when he closed the
slide, and the seaman was liberated.
Great is the danger of associating with those of bad morals--pleasant
and friendly as they may seem.