The historie of foure-footed beastes Describing the true and liuely figure of euery beast, with a discourse of their seuerall names, conditions, kindes, vertues (both naturall and medicinall) countries of their breed, their loue and hate to mankinde, and the wonderfull worke of God in their creation, preseruation, and destruction. Necessary for all diuines and students, because the story of euery beast is amplified with narrations out of Scriptures, fathers, phylosophers, physitians, and poets: wherein are declared diuers hyerogliphicks, emblems, epigrams, and other good histories, collected out of all the volumes of Conradus Gesner, and all other writers to this present day. By Edward Topsell.

OF THE TIGER.

THe worde Tigris is an Armenian worde, which signifieth both a swift Arrow, and a great riuer, and it should seeme that the name of the riuer Tigris was therefore so called, because of the swiftnes thereof, and it seemeth to be deri∣ued from the Haebrew word Gir and Griera, which signifie a dart. Munster also in his Dictionary of three languages [ 30] doth interpret Tigros for a Tiger, and Alai. In the 4. of Iob, the word Laisk by the Septuagints is translated Murmele∣on, and by S. Ierom Tigris. The Iewes call the same beast Phoradei, which the Graecians call Tigris; and al the people of Europe to whom this beast is a stranger, call it after the Greeke name, as the Italians Tigre and Tigra, the French Vn Tigre, and the Germaines Tigerthier.

Now, concerning the name of the riuer Tigris, which because it ioyneth in affinity with this beast, it is necessary that I should say something in this place, because that wee [ 40] finde in holy scripture that it is one of the foure riuers which runneth through Paradice, which according to Iosephus, maketh many compasses and windings in the world, and at last fauleth into the redde sea, and they further say that there is no riuer of the world that runneth so swiftly as this: And therefore Tigris vocatur, id est Sagitta, quod iaculum vel Sa∣gittam velocitate aequet: That is, It is called a Tiger, a Dart, or Arrow, because it runneth as fast as an Arrow flyeth: and for this cause wee finde in Theocritus, that a riuer in Sicilia was called Asis, thrt is: Spiculum, a dart.

Some of the poets doe deriue the name of the riuer Tigris from this Tiger the wilde beast, whereupon these Histories are told. They say, that when Bacchus was distracted & put out of his wits by Iuno, as he wandered too and fro in the world, he came to the riuer [ 50] ••ylax (which was the first name of this water) and being there desirous to passe ouer, but founde no means to accomplish it, Iupiter in commisseration of his estate did send vnto him a Tiger, who did willingly take him vpon his backe, and carry him ouer; Afterwarde Bacchus called that swift riuer by the name of that swift beast, Tiger. Others do report the tale thus. When Dionisius fell in loue with the Nymph Alphesiboea whom by no means either by promises, intreaties, or rewards he could allure vnto him, at last he turned him∣selfe

[illustration]

[ 10] [ 20] into a Tiger, and so oppressing the Nimph through feare, did carry her ouer that ri∣uer, and there begot vpon her his sonne Medus, who when he came to age, remembring the fact of his father and mother, called the name of the riuer Tigris, because of his Fa∣thers transformation. But to leaue this matter as not woorth the standing vpon, whether [ 30] the riuer was called after the name of the beast, or the beast after the name of the riuer, or rather both of them after the name of the dart or swift Arrow, we wil proceed to the na∣turall story of the Tiger, commending that to the Readers iudgement which is essentiall to this story, contayning in it necessary learning, and garnished with all probabilitie.

First of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••herefore Tigers like Lyons are bred in the East, South, and hot countries, because their generation desireth aboundance of heate, such as are in India and neare the red Sea, and the people called Asangae or Besingi which dwell beyond the riuer Ganges, are much troubled and anoyed with Tigers. Likewise the Prasians, the Hercanians and the Armenians. Apolonius with his companions traueling betwixt Hiphasis and Ganges, saw [ 40] many Tigers. In Barigaza and Dachinabades, which is beyond the Mediteranian region of the East, there are aboundance of Tigers and all other wilde beastes, as Arrianus wri∣teth. In Hispaniola, Ciamba, and Guanassa, Peter Martyr saith, by the relation of a Spani∣ard inhabiting there, that there are many Lyons and Tigers.

The Indians say, that a Tiger is bigger then the greatest horse, and that for strength and swiftnesse they excell all other beastes. There be some which haue taken them for Ti∣gers, which are called Thoes, greater then Lions, and lesser then the Indian Tigers, as it were twice so bigge as Lyons; but I rather agree to the relation of Arrianus, Strabo, Me∣gastines, & Mearcus, for they say that a Tyger feareth not an Elephant, & that one of them hath beene seene to flye vpon the head of an Elephant and deuour it: and that among [ 50] the Prasians when foure men led one of these Tigers tamed, by the way they met with a Mule, and that the Tiger tooke the Mule by the hinder legge, drawing him after him in his teeth, notwithstanding all the force of the Mule and his foure leaders; which is vnto me a sufficient argument not onely of his strength, but of his stature also: and if any haue been seen of lesser stature, they haue been mistaken either for the Linxes, or for the Thoes.

The similitude of the body of this Beast is like to a Lionesses, for so is the face and mouth; the lower part of the foreheade, and gnashing or grinning teeth, and all kinde of creatures which are rauening, are footed like a cat, their necke short, and their skins full of spots, not round like a Panthers, nor yet diuers coloured, but altogether of one colour and square, and sometimes long, and therefore this beast and the Panther are of singu∣lar note among all the foure-footed: yet Solinus and Seneca seeme to bee of opinion that their spottes are sometimes of diuers colours both yellow and blacke, and those long like rods in these sayings:

Tibi dant variae pectora Tigres.

And againe: [ 10]

Vhera viergata faraecaspia.

And Cilius saith:

Corpore virgato Tigris.

It were needlesse to speake of their crooked clawes, their sharpe teeth, and deuided feet, their long taile, agilitye of body, and wildenesse of nature which getteth all their foode by hunting. It hath beene falsely beleeued, that all Tigers be females, and that there are no males among them, and that they engender in copulation with the wind; whereupon Camerarius made this witty riddle in his Rhetorical exercises:

A fluuio dicor, fluuius vel dicitur ex me Iuncta{que} sum vento, vento velotior ipso [ 20] Et mihi dat ventus natos, nec quaero maritos.

The Epithites of this beastes are these: Armenian Tigers, sharpe, Ganietican, Hercanian, fierce, cruell, and wicked, vntamed, spotted, diuers-coloured, straked, bitter, rauenous, Affrican, greedy, Caspian, Carcesian, Caucasean, Indean, Parthean, Marsian, streight-foo∣ted, madde, stiffe, fearefull, strong, foaming, and violent, with many such others, as are easie to be found in euery Author. The voice of this beast is cald Ranking, according to this verse:

Tigrides indomitae rancant, rugiunt{que} leones.

Now because that they are strangers in Europe as we haue saide already, neuer breeding in that part of the world, and as sildome seen, we must be constrained to make but a short [ 30] story of it, because there are not many diuers thinges concerning the nature of it, and in the physicke none at all. For the manner of their foode, they prey vppon all the greatest beasts, and sildome vpon the smaller, as Oxen, Harts, and Sheepe, but Hares and Conies they let alone.

It is reported by Plutarch, of a tame Tiger that was brought vp with a Kid▪ the said kid was killed and laide before him to eat, but he refused it two daies together 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the third day opressed with extremity of hunger, by her ranking and crying voice 〈◊〉〈◊〉 made signes to her keeper for other meate, who cast vnto her a cat, which presently it pulled in peeces and deuoured it. The like story vnto this we haue shewed already in the Panther. Gene∣rally the nature of this beast, is according to the Epithites of it, sharpe, vntamed, cruell, [ 40] and rauenous, neuer so tamed, but sometimes they returne to their former natures, yet the Indians do euery year giue vnto their king tamed Tigers and Panthers, and so it com∣meth to passe, that sometimes the Tiger kisseth his keeper as Seneca writeth.

In the time of their lust they are very raging and furious, according to these verses of Virgill:

Per sylvas tum saeuus aper, tum pessima Tigris Heu male cum libyae, solis erratur in agris.

They ingender as Lyons do, and therefore I maruell how the fable first came, vppe, [ 50] that they were all females and had no males amonge them, and that the females concei∣ued with young by the West wind, we haue shewed already in the story of the Dogs, that the Indian Dogge is engendered of a Tiger and a Dogge, and so also the Hercanian dogs: Whereby it is apparant, that they do not onely conceiue among themselues, but also in a mingled race. The male is sildome taken, because at the sight of a man hee runneth a∣way, & leaueth the female alone with her yong ones, for he hath no care of the Whelps,

and for this occasion I thinke that the fables first came vp that there were no males among the Tigers. The female bringeth forth many at once like a Bitch, which she nourisheth in her den very carefully, louing them, and defending them like a Lionesse from the Hun∣ters, whereby she is many times ensnared and taken. It is reported by Aelianus, that when they heare the sound of Bels and Timbrils, they grow into such a rage and madnesse, that they teare their owne flesh from their backes.

For the taking of Tigers, the Indians neare the Riuer Ganges haue a certaine, Hearb growing like Buglosse, which they take and presse the iuyce out of it, this they pre∣serue beside them, and in still silent calme nights, they poure the same down at the mouth [ 10] of the Tigers den, by vertue whereof it is said the Tigers are continually enclosed, not da∣ring to come out ouer it through some secret opposition in nature, but famish and dye, howling in their caues through intollerable hunger, so great is the swiftnesse of this beast, as we haue shewed already, that some haue dreamed it was conceiued by the wind. For as the swiftest horses and namely the horsses of Dardanus, are likewise fabled to be begot∣ten by the Northern wind, so the Tigers by the West wind.

Therfore they are neuer taken but in defence of their yoūg ones, neither is there any beast that liueth vpon preying so swift as they: Solam Tigrim Indis in superabilem esse dicunt, quo∣niam fugiendi celeritate, quae ventos equare dicitur, è conspectu aufugit. Onely the Tiger, the Indians say can neuer bee conquered, because when he is hunted he runneth away out of [ 20] sight as fast as the wind. For this cause they diligently seeke out the caues and dens of the Tigers where there young ones are lodged, and then vpon some swift Horsses they take them and carry them away: when the female Tiger returneth and findeth her den empty, in rage she followeth after them by the foot, whom she quickly ouertaketh, by reason of her celerity.

The Hunter seeing her at hand, casteth downe one of her Whelpes: the distressed an∣gry beast knowing that shee can carry but one at once, first taketh vp that in her mouth, without setting vpon the Hunter, contented with that one, returneth with it to her lodg∣ing; hauing layd it vp safe, backe againe she returned like the wind to pursue the Hunter for the residue, who must likewise set her downe another if hee haue not got into his ship, for except the Hunter be neare the Water side, and haue a ship ready, she will fetch them [ 30] all from him, one by one, or else it wil cost him his life: therfore that enterprise is vnderta∣ken in vaine vpon the swiftest Horses in the World, except the Waters come betwixt the hunter and the Tiger: And the maner of this beast is, when she seeth that her young ones are shipped away, and shee for euer depriued of seeing or hauing them againe, she ma∣keth so great lamentation vpon the Sea shoare howling, braying, and rancking, that ma∣ny times she dyeth in the same place, but if shee recouer all her young ones againe from the hunters, shee departeth with vnspeakeable ioy, without taking any reuenge for their offered iniury.

For this occasion, the hunters do deuise certaine round spheares of glasse, wherein they picture their young ones very apparant to be seene by the damme, one of these they cast [ 40] downe before her at her approch, she looking vppon it, is deluded, and thinketh that her young ones are enclosed therein, and the rather, because through the roundnesse there∣of it is apt to rowle and stir at euery touch, this she driueth along backewards to her den, and there breaketh it with her feete and nailes, and so seeing that she is deceiued, retur∣neth back againe after the hunters for her true Whelps; whilest they in the meane season are safely harbored in some house, or else gone on shipboard. It is reported by Iohannes Ledesma a Spaniard this excellent story of a male & female Tiger. In the Iland Dariene, standing in the oxidental Ocean of the new found world, some 8. daies saile frō Hispaniola, it fell out (saith he) in the yeare of our Lord 1514. that the said Island was annoyed with two Tigers, a male and a female, for halfe a year together, so that there was no night free, [ 50] but they lost some of their cattell, either a Horsse, or an Oxe, or a Cowe, or a Mare, or a Hog, and swine, and in the time that there young ones did suck, it was not safe for men to go abroad in the day time, much lesse in the night, but they deuoured a Man, if they did not first of al meete with another Beast: At length the countrey thus oppressed, necessity constrained them to deuise a remedy, & to try some meanes to mitigate their calamities,

wherefore they sought out all the waies and pathes of the Tigers to and from their dens, that so they might take vengeance vpon the raueners for the losse of so much bloud: At the last they found a common beaten way, this they cut asunder and digged deep into a large dungeon: hauing made the dungeon, they strewed vpon the top of it litle sticks and leaues so couering it to dissemble that which was vnderneath, then came the heedlesse Tiger that way, and fell downe into the ditch vpon such sharp irons stakes and pointed instruments as they had there set, with his roaring he filled all the places thereabout, and the Moun∣taine sounded with the eccho of his roaring voice.

The people came vpon him, and casting great & huge stones vpon his back killed him, but [ 10] first of all, he broke into a thousand pieces, both the stones, Weapons, and Speares, that were cast again him; and so great was his fury, that when he was halfe dead, and the bloud run out of his body, he terrified the standers by beholding and looking vpon him. The male Tiger being thus killed, they followed the footsteps into the Mountaines where the female was lodged, and there in her absence tooke away two of her young ones, yet after∣wards•• changing their minds, carried them backe againe, putting vpon them two brazen chollers and chaines, and making them fast in the same den that so when they had sucked till they were greater, they might bee with pleasure and safety conuaied into Spain. At last when the time appointed was come that they should be taken forth to be sent away, the people went to the den, wherein they found neither young nor olde, but their chollers [ 20] fastened in the same place that they had left them, whereby it was conceiued that the en∣uious mother had killed and torne her young ones in pieces, rather then they should fall into the handes of the hunters; so that this beastly loue of hers, ended in horrible cru∣elty, and for this occasion is it that Maedea thus speaketh in Ouid;

Hoc ego si patiar tum me de Tigride natam, Tum ferrum & scopulos gestare in corde videbor.

And for this cause it was fained, not without singular wit by the Poets, that such persons as satisfie the fulnesse of their wrath in extremity of reuenge, are transformed into Ty∣gers. The same Poet compareth the wrath of Perseus standing betwixt two aduantages vn∣to a Tiger, betwixt two preies or heards of cattell, being in doubt whether of them to de∣uoure, [ 30] in this manner;

Tigris vt auditis diuersa valle duorum, Extimulata famae mugatbus armentorum, Nescit vtro potius ruat, & ruere ardet vtro{que}, Sic dubius Perseus dextra leuaue feratur.

In ancient time these Tigers were dedicated to Bacchus, as all spotted beastes were, and that the said Tygers did draw his Charriot whilest he did hold the raines; therefore Ouid saith thus;••

Bacchus iu curru quem summum texer at vuis, Tigribus adiunctis aurea lor a dabat. [ 40]

And Horace in this manner;

Hac te merentem Bacchipater tuae, Vexere Tigres in docili iugum collo trahentes.

Tigers, notwithstanding their great minds and vntamable wildnesse haue been taken, and brought in publike spectacle by men, and the first of all that euer brought them to Rome was Augustus, when Quintus Tubero, and Fabius Maximus were Consuls, at the dedicati∣on of the Theater of Marcellus; the which Tigers were sent vnto him out of India, for pre∣sentes (as Dion writeth.) Aftervvards Claudius presented foure to the people; and lastly Heleogabalus caused his chariots to be dravvne vvith Tigers, whereunto Martiall alleuded [ 50] vvhen he saide;

Picto quod inga delicata collo, Pardus sustinet improbe{que} Tigres, Indulgent patientiam flagello.

Ledesma of whom we spake before affirmeth, that he did eate of the Tigers flesh that was taken in the ditch in the Island Dariene, and that the flesh thereof was nothing inferior to the flesh of an Oxe, but the Indeans are forbidden by the lawes of their Countrey, to eat any part of the Tigers flesh, except the haunches. And thus I will conclude this story of the Tiger, with the Epigram that Martiall made of a Tiger, deuouring of a Lyon.

Lambere securi dextram & consueta magistri, Tigris ab Hyrcano glorta rara iugo. Saena ferum rabido lacerauit dente Leonem Res noua non vllis cognita temporibus. Ansa est tale nihil syluis dum vixit in altis. [ 10] Post quam inter nos est, plus feritatis habet.

Notes

• The names of Tigers.
• Of the riuer Tigrys.
• Countries breeding Tigers.
• Quantitie of Tigers.
• The seuerall parts.
• Oppianus.
• The Epithits.
• Their food.
• A history
• Their copu∣lation and generation.
• The taking and killing of Tygers. Plutarch Calistines
• Philostratus
• Eating of Ti∣gers.