Satan's Snares

Williamson, in his "Oriental Sports," says: " When the track of a tiger has been ascertained—which, though not invariably the same, may yet be known sufficiently for the purpose—the peasants collect a quantity of the leaves of the prauas, which are like those of the sycamore, and are common in most underwoods, as they form the larger portion of most jungles in the north of India. These leaves are then smeared with a species of birdlime, made by bruising the berries of an indigenous tree by no means scarce; they are then strewed, with the gluten uppermost, near to that shaded spot to which it is understood the tiger usually resorts during the noontide heats. If by chance the animal should tread on one of these smeared leaves, his fate is considered as decided. He commences by shaking his paw to remove the encumbrance; but, finding no relief from that expedient, he rubs the nuisance against his face, by which means his eyes and ears become smeared over with the gummy matter, which occasions such uneasiness as causes him to roll, perhaps among many more of the smeared leaves, till at length he becomes completely enveloped, and is deprived of sight. In this situation he may be compared to a man who has been tarred and feathered. The anxiety produced by this strange and novel predicament soon discovers itself in dreadful howlings, which serve to call the peasants, who in this state find no difficulty in shooting the mottled object of detestation." So doth Satan lay in the path of men numerous temptations. If but one is succumbed to, others will follow, and with them, it is to be feared, the sinner's destruction.