A PLAGUE OF TIGERS IN JAVA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2602, 16 March 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

A PLAGUE OF TIGERS IN JAVA.

According to the administration report of Java, recently laid before the Dutch Chambers, portions of that island are being depopulated through tigers. Iu 18S2 the population of a village in the South-west of the Bantam province was removed and transferred to an island off" the coast, iu consequence of the trouble caused to the people by tigers. These animals have now become an intolerable pest in parts of the same province. The total population is about 000,000, and, in 1557, til were kilied by tigers, and in consequence of tho dread existing among tho people, it lias been proposed to deport the inhabitants of tlm villages most threatened to other parts of the country where tigers arc not so common, aud where they can pursue their agricultural occupations with a greater amount of security, At present they fear to go anywhere near tho borders of tho forest. The people at present seem disinclined, or they lack the means and courage, to attack and destroy their enemy, although considerable rewards are offered by the Government for the destruction of beasts of prey. Iu 138S the reward for killing a royal tiger was raised to 200 florins. It appears that the immunity of the tiger is in part due to superstition, for it is considered wrong to kill one unless he attacks first or otherwise does injury. Moreover, guns were always very rare in this particular district, and, siuce a rising a few years ago, have been taken away by the authorities altogether.