Description
"The number of tigers I have shot cannot be much under three hundred in all." - Digby Davies
"A writer whose experience in the tracking of criminals and tigers in India lends unusual interest to his narrative." -Quarterly Bulletin, 1917
"His accounts of the big game shooting which was part and parcel of his appointment are of sustained interest." Outlook London, 1916
In his intriguing 1901 book "Tiger Slayer by Order," Digby Daivies writes of the big game hunting experiences of Digby Davies in India beginning in 1870.
This work contains Davies' own experiences as a Police Officer, and Bhil Agent—coupled with the unique office of Tiger Slayer to the Government of Bombay.
Mr. Digby Davies served for over thirty years in that Presidency, and during this long period had many and exceptional opportunities of indulging his great taste for sport, especially when carrying out his duties as 'Tiger Slayer.'
Mr. Digby Davies in performing his duties has shot to his own rifle over 260 tigers and has assisted at the destruction of many others.
In describing the huge problem of man-eating tigers that Davies had to combat, he writes:
"In the later sixties, when man-eaters were quite common in, and in districts adjacent to, Seonee. On practically the whole length of this road, but particularly at a long pass or crossing of three miles, called the Korai Ghat, a party of what I may call professional man-eating tigers, had taken up their quarters, who, lying in wait in small hillocks above the road, would pounce suddenly on drivers of bullock carts and carry them off into the jungle below.
"During the three years that Colonel W was stationed at Sconce, this Ghat was often held up for so long as three months at a time by these man-eaters, one of whom was credited with having killed and eaten seven hundred human victims before he was eventually destroyed."
In describing his appointment as agent over a native tribe, Davies felt "very fortunate, as the wandering life amongst the hill men suited me to perfection, and gave me many opportunities of acquiring a knowledge of their feelings and customs which often proved of immense value in my official duties, while as to jungle-lore and wood-craft, the information I derived from them was both in quantity and quality such as it would be impossible to obtain from any other source, for living as these men do in close companionship, so to speak, with the animal denizens of the jungle, the knowledge they possess of wild beasts and their ways, is naturally much greater than that of any other natives I have met."
The book describes a tiger attack of which Digsby barely escaped with his life:
"I was once encamped at Pansunba—also in the Barwanee territory—when my men who had been out as usual looking for tracks, reported the presence of a tigress. Knowing the danger they ran in beating up a tigress, I cautioned the beaters to keep well together and distributed amongst them some spare guns which I had loaded with buck shot.
"I had scarcely taken up my position when I heard loud shouts, followed by a succession of savage roarings from the tigress. Guided by the men on trees, we cautiously approached the spot where she was last seen and were carefully examining the ground, when we were startled by a deafening roar, instantly followed by the tigress who came charging down the bank, and at such speed that her belly almost touched the ground.
"Stepping forward, clear of some bushes, I had barely time to aim . . . the next moment I was on my back with the tigress standing over me growling savagely."