Hunting Tigers with Katars: Fact or fiction?

ORDOVICES · 25th January 2011, 06:47 PM

Dear all

Travelling in northern India many years ago, in one of the major forts, perhaps Jaipur or Jodphur, we were told by the curator of the museum how the Rajput princes would hunt tigers for sport. Firstly they would corral the tiger. This would involve beaters using noise and thousands of metres of cloth to create a “wall” the tiger would turn away from, to bring it to bay. When finally the tiger was cornered, the prince would dismount, and engage the tiger in one-to-one combat.
It seems to our modern sensibilities a foolhardy pursuit but perhaps not as improbable as it first appears. What has not been mentioned is that the prince would be wearing armour. Yes, the cat might be extremely dangerous but the prince would not be in immediate danger of being gutted or de-limbed. (Crushed, broken, face bitten off still an exciting possibility however!) He would also have many armed helpers.
This was also my first introduction to the Katara. It seems to me the perfect weapon of choice to fight a biting animal because of the wrist guards; present a protected limb and then stab underneath. Pure conjecture on my part of course.
With regards to the mind-set of these martial and marital glory-seeking princes, please consider the following story recorded on a plaque on wall on one of these forts. This particular fort gatehouse had a thick block of glass set in it, presumably as a view point. During a conflict, a prince, encamped outside the fort, on being taunted that he would never be able to take said gatehouse, wrapped an extra turban round his head, charged the gate and attacked it with a flying head-butt. He successfully cracked the block of glass along with his head. I am sorry to say that I cannot remember the full details of what happened after apart from his demise. Not the actions of someone concerned with their long term political future methinks.
So did they fight tigers? I believe so. I am only writing this because so many seemed to think it so highly unlikely.
With regards to the original question I would guess the odds were stacked against the tiger. Chased for days, hungry, thirsty, disorientated, cornered then finally confronted by a armoured rajput nutter intent on stabbing it to death, no doubt backed up by an array of spear wielding helpers if it did get the upper hand. Poor thing.

25th January 2011, 06:47 PM	#36
ORDOVICES Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1	Dear all Travelling in northern India many years ago, in one of the major forts, perhaps Jaipur or Jodphur, we were told by the curator of the museum how the Rajput princes would hunt tigers for sport. Firstly they would corral the tiger. This would involve beaters using noise and thousands of metres of cloth to create a “wall” the tiger would turn away from, to bring it to bay. When finally the tiger was cornered, the prince would dismount, and engage the tiger in one-to-one combat. It seems to our modern sensibilities a foolhardy pursuit but perhaps not as improbable as it first appears. What has not been mentioned is that the prince would be wearing armour. Yes, the cat might be extremely dangerous but the prince would not be in immediate danger of being gutted or de-limbed. (Crushed, broken, face bitten off still an exciting possibility however!) He would also have many armed helpers. This was also my first introduction to the Katara. It seems to me the perfect weapon of choice to fight a biting animal because of the wrist guards; present a protected limb and then stab underneath. Pure conjecture on my part of course. With regards to the mind-set of these martial and marital glory-seeking princes, please consider the following story recorded on a plaque on wall on one of these forts. This particular fort gatehouse had a thick block of glass set in it, presumably as a view point. During a conflict, a prince, encamped outside the fort, on being taunted that he would never be able to take said gatehouse, wrapped an extra turban round his head, charged the gate and attacked it with a flying head-butt. He successfully cracked the block of glass along with his head. I am sorry to say that I cannot remember the full details of what happened after apart from his demise. Not the actions of someone concerned with their long term political future methinks. So did they fight tigers? I believe so. I am only writing this because so many seemed to think it so highly unlikely. With regards to the original question I would guess the odds were stacked against the tiger. Chased for days, hungry, thirsty, disorientated, cornered then finally confronted by a armoured rajput nutter intent on stabbing it to death, no doubt backed up by an array of spear wielding helpers if it did get the upper hand. Poor thing.