27 AUGUST 1927, Page 19

THE TIGER WHO REMEMBERED [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

SIR ,—May I cap your delightful story of the lion cubs with another? My cousin; Commander P. L., was stationed at Zanzibar, when the Sultan sent on board a tiny tiger cub, which at once was made a great pet by the crew. As it grew bigger, it was just as friendly with the white crew, but my cousin thought that it began to watch the natives on board with a more engrossed and puzzled air, and to be on the safe side he sent the tiger home to the Zoo, and soon forgot all about it.

Some years afterwards he was home, and being in London, took a party of young people to the Zoo, where all went well until they came to the lions and tigers, when one of the latter sprang up, and rushing to the front of the cage made great efforts to attract his attention. His first surprise and astonish- ment greatly puzzled him, when he thought of his Zanzibar pet, and finding that it Was indeed his old friend he got leave to enter the cage with the keeper. Nothing could exceed the tiger's delight, it fondled my cousin just as a big dog would ; and when he prepared to leave, the tiger tried to come too, and so eager was it that it was with great difficulty my cousin -got out with the keeper, and great was the distress of the poor animal when it found that it was not to come too, dashing itself against the bars and howling piteously.—I am,