INDIRA AND OTHER STORIES
obvious duty to do all that lies in our power to educate and improve the race of men. I humbly believe that it has pleased Providence to send us to this beautiful land of the Sunderbans for no other purpose. Moreover it is not unlikely that the higher men mount in the scale of civilisation, the more tender and delicious will be their flesh, and the more easily we shall be able to capture them. For, the better their education, the more clearly will they understand that the principal object of their existence is to furnish food for tigers. This is the kind of civilisation which it befits us to impart to them. I commit this view of the matter to your attentive consideration. It is the high destiny of the race of tigers, firstly, to educate men, and, secondly, to devour them."
This genial summary of the discussion was received with loud applause, and with a cordial vote of thanks to the president, the meeting dispersed, each departing as his experience or whim led him in search of his own 'business.'
It happened that the place of meeting was surrounded by lofty trees, screened by whose
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