cross cultural exchange?

In the Victoria and Albert Museum in London there's a famous tiger. It's eating a British soldier. This is a mystery. Not why the tiger is eating a human - that is in the nature of a tiger. Nor particularly why it should be eating a British soldier. The mystery is in why (and by whom) this nearly lifesize wooden model was made about 200 years ago. Perhaps there's a partial explanation in that it belonged at one time to the Sultan Tipoo who was among the most anti-British of the Indian sultans.

However there is more to all this than carved wood. The tiger makes sounds - a growling sound - and the man makes a shrieking sound while jerking his left arm up and down. And it contains a small organ. You can find a small video file for downloading - plus more explanation.

I mention this as an example of cross cultural exchange. Sometimes one culture devours the other. Or in symbol someone tries to reverse the power of the dominant side.