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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/8411-8.txt b/8411-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0d6c09f --- /dev/null +++ b/8411-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3910 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Forest and Frontiers, by Roualeyn Gordon-Cumming + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Forest and Frontiers + or, Adventures among the Indians + +Author: Roualeyn Gordon-Cumming + +Posting Date: August 14, 2011 [EBook #8411] +Release Date: July, 2005 +First Posted: July 8, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOREST AND FRONTIERS *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + + +FOREST AND FRONTIERS + +OR, ADVENTURES AMONG THE INDIANS + + +By Roualeyn Gordon-Cumming + + + + +_PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED_ + + + + +Chicago + +M. A. Donohue & Company + + + + +Thrilling stories. + + + + +Mr. Cumming's attack on four lions + + +The most daring and adventurous of all hunters is Mr. Roualeyn Gordon +Cumming. Being an officer in the British service at the Cape of Good +Hope, his love of hunting adventures led him to resign his commission +in the army, and devote himself for five years to exploring the +interior of Africa, and hunting wild beasts. We shall quote his own +account of some of his adventures. + +The first incident of his career, to which we invite the reader's +attention, is one which he calls an attack on four patriarchal lions. +It occurred in the interior of Africa, not far from the junction of +the rivers Mariqua and Limpopo. He thus describes it. + +A few days after this, just as Swint had milked the cows, and was +driving them from the wooded peninsula in which we lay, athwart the +open ground, to graze with my other cattle in the forest beyond, he +beheld four majestic lions walking slowly across the valley, a few +hundred yards below my camp, and disappear over the river's bank, at a +favorite drinking place. These mighty monarchs of the waste had been +holding a prolonged repast over the carcases of some zebras killed by +Present, and had now come down the river to slake their thirst. This +being reported, I instantly saddled two horses, and, directing my boys +to lead after me as quickly as possible my small remaining pack of +sore-footed dogs, I rode forth, accompanied by Carey carrying a spare +gun, to give battle to the four grim lions. As I rode out of the +peninsula, they showed themselves on the banks of the river, and, +guessing that their first move would be a disgraceful retreat, I +determined to ride so as to make them think that I had not observed +them, until I should be able to cut off their retreat from the river, +across the open vley, to the endless forest beyond. That point being +gained, I knew that they, still doubtful of my having observed them, +would hold their ground on the river's bank until my dogs came up, +when I could more advantageously make the attack. + +I cantered along, holding as if I meant to pass the lions at a +distance of a quarter of a mile, until I was opposite to them, when I +altered my course, and inclined a little nearer. The lions showed +symptoms of uneasiness; they rose to their feet, and, overhauling us +for half a minute, disappeared over the bank. They reappeared, +however, directly, a little farther down; and finding that their +present position was bare, they walked majestically along the top of +the bank to a spot a few hundred yards lower, where the bank was well +wooded. Here they seemed half inclined to await my attack; two +stretched out their massive arms, and lay down in the grass, and the +other two sat up like dogs upon their haunches. Deeming it probable +that when my dogs came up and I approached they would still retreat +and make a bolt across the vley, I directed Carey to canter forward +and take up the ground in the centre of the vley about four hundred +yards in advance; whereby the lions would be compelled either to give +us battle or swim the river, which, although narrow, I knew they would +be very reluctant to do. + +I now sat in my saddle, anxiously waiting the arrival of my dogs; and +whilst thus momentarily disengaged, I was much struck with the +majestic and truly appalling appearance which these four noble lions +exhibited. They were all full-grown immense males; and I felt, I must +confess, a little nervous, and very uncertain as to what might be the +issue of the attack. When the dogs came up I rode right in towards the +lions. They sprang to their feet, and trotted slowly down along the +bank of the river, once or twice halting and facing about for half a +minute. Immediately below them their was a small determined bend in +the stream, forming a sort of peninsula. Into this bend they +disappeared, and next moment I was upon them with my dogs. They had +taken shelter in a dense angle of the peninsula, well sheltered by +high trees and reeds. Into this retreat the dogs at once boldly +followed them, making a loud barking, which was instantly followed by +the terrible voices of the lions, which turned about and charged to +the edge of the cover. Next moment, however, I heard them plunge into +the river, when I sprang from my horse, and, running to the top of the +bank, I saw three of them ascending the opposite bank, the dogs +following. One of them bounded away across the open plain at top +speed, but the other two, finding themselves followed by the dogs, +immediately turned to bay. + +It was now my turn, so, taking them coolly right and left with my +little rifle, I made the most glorious double shot that a sportsman's +heart could desire, disabling them both in the shoulder before they +were even aware of my position. Then snatching up my other gun from +Carey, who that moment had ridden up to my assistance, I finished the +first lion with a shot about the heart, and brought the second to a +standstill by disabling him in his hind quarters. He quickly crept +into a dense, wide, dark green bush, in which for a long time it was +impossible to obtain a glimpse of him. At length, a clod of earth +falling near his hiding-place, he made a move which disclosed to me +his position, when I finished him with three more shots, all along the +middle of his back. Carey swam across the river to flog off the dogs; +and when these came through to me, I beat up the peninsula in quest of +the fourth lion, which had, however, made off. We then crossed the +river a little higher up, and proceeded to view the noble prizes I had +won. Both lions were well up in their years; I kept the skin and skull +of the finest specimen, and only the nails and tail of the other, one +of whose canine teeth was worn down to the socket with the caries, +which seemed to have affected his general condition. + + + + +Mr. Cumming Hunting Rhinoceroses. + + +Mr. Cumming thus describes his encounter with some rhinoceroses and an +eland, in the country of the Bechuanas. + +It was on the 4th of June, 1844, that I beheld for the first time the +rhinoceros. Having taken some coffee, I rode out unattended, with my +rifle, and before proceeding far I fell in with a huge white +rhinoceros with a large calf, standing in a thorny grove. Getting my +wind she set off at top speed through thick thorny bushes, the calf, +as is invariably the case, taking the lead, the mother guiding its +course by placing her horn, generally about three feet in length, +against its ribs. + +My horse shied very much at first, alarmed at the strange appearance +of "Chukuroo," but by a sharp application of spur and jambok I +prevailed upon him to follow, and presently, the ground improving, I +got alongside, and, firing at the gallop, sent a bullet through her +shoulder. She continued her pace with blood streaming from the wound, +and very soon reached an impracticable thorny jungle, where I could +not follow, and instantly lost her. In half an hour I fell in with the +second rhinoceros, being an old bull of the white variety. +Dismounting, I crept within twenty yards, and saluted him with both +barrels in the shoulder, upon which he made off, uttering a loud +blowing noise, and upsetting every thing that obstructed his progress. + +Shortly after this I found myself on the banks of the stream, beside +which my wagons were outspanned. Following along its margin, I +presently beheld a bull of the borele, or black rhinoceros, standing +within a hundred yards of me. Dismounting from my horse, I secured him +to a tree, and then stalked within twenty yards of the huge beast +under cover of a large strong bush. Borele, hearing me advance, came +on to see what it was, and suddenly protruded his horny nose within a +few yards of me. Knowing well that a front shot would not prove +deadly, I sprang to my feet and ran behind the bush. Upon this the +villain charged, blowing loudly, and chased me round the bush. Had his +activity been equal to his ugliness, my wanderings would have +terminated here, but by my superior agility I had the advantage in the +turn. + +After standing a short time eyeing me through the bush, he got a whiff +of my wind, which at once alarmed him. Uttering a blowing noise, and +erecting his insignificant yet saucy-looking tail, he wheeled about, +leaving me master of the field, when I sent a bullet through his ribs +to teach him manners. Of the rhinoceros there are four varieties in +South Africa, distinguished by the Bechuanas by the names of the +borele or black rhinoceros, the keitloa or two-horned rhinoceros, the +muchocho or common white rhinoceros, and the kobaoba or long-horned +white rhinoceros. Both varieties of the black rhinoceros are extremely +fierce and dangerous, and rush headlong and unprovoked at any object +which attracts their attention. They never attain much fat, and their +flesh is tough, and not much esteemed by the Bechuanas. Their food +consists almost entirely of the thorny branches of the wait-a-bit +thorns. + +Finding that rhinoceros were abundant in the vicinity, I resolved to +halt a day for the purpose of hunting, and after an early breakfast, +on the 6th, I rode south-east with the two Baquaines. They led me +along the bases of the mountains, through woody dells and open glades, +and we eventually reached a grand forest grey with age. Here we found +abundance of spoor of a variety of game, and started several herds of +the more common varieties. At length I observed an old bull eland +standing under a tree. He was the first that I had seen, and was a +noble specimen, standing about six feet high at the shoulder. +Observing us, he made off at a gallop, springing over the trunks of +decayed trees which lay across his path; but very soon he reduced his +pace to a trot. Spurring my horse, another moment saw me riding hard +behind him. Twice in the thickets I lost sight of him, and he very +nearly escaped me; but at length, the ground improving, I came up with +him, and rode within a few yards behind him. Long streaks of foam now +streamed from his mouth, and a profuse perspiration had changed his +sleek grey coat to an ashy blue. Tears trickled from his large dark +eye, and it was plain that the eland's hours were numbered. Pitching +my rifle to my shoulder, I let fly at the gallop, and mortally wounded +him behind; then spurring my horse, I shot past him on his right side, +and discharged my other barrel behind his shoulder, when the eland +staggered for a moment and subsided in the dust. The two Baquaines +soon made their appearance, and seemed delighted at my success. Having +kindled a fire, they cut out steaks, which they roasted on the embers; +I also cooked a steak for myself, spitting it upon a forked branch, +the other end of which I sharpened with my knife and stuck into the +ground. + +The eland is a magnificent animal, by far the largest of all the +antelope tribe, exceeding a large ox in size. It also attains an +extraordinary condition, being often burdened with a very large amount +of fat. Its flesh is most excellent, and is justly esteemed above all +others. It has a peculiar sweetness, and is tender and fit for use the +moment the animal is killed. Like the gemsbok, the eland is +independent of water, and frequents the borders of the great Kalahari +desert in herds varying from ten to a hundred. It is also generally +diffused throughout all the wooded districts of the interior where I +have hunted. Like other varieties of deer and and antelope, the old +males may often be found consorting together apart from the females, +and a troop of these, when in full condition, may be likened to a herd +of stall-fed oxen. + +The eland has less speed than any other variety of antelope; and, by +judicious riding, they may be driven to camp from a great distance. In +this manner I have often ridden the best bull out of the herd, and +brought him within gunshot of my wagons, where I could more +conveniently cut up and preserve the flesh, without the trouble of +sending men and packoxen to fetch it. I have repeatedly seen an eland +drop down dead at the end of a severe chase, owing to his plethoric +habit. The skin of the eland I had just shot emitted, like most other +antelopes, the most delicious perfume of trees and grass. + +Having eaten my steak, I rode to my wagon, where I partook of coffee, +and having mounted a fresh horse, I again set forth accompanied by +Carollus leading a packhorse, to bring home the head of the eland and +a supply of the flesh; I took all my dogs along with me to share in +the banquet. We had not proceeded far when the dogs went ahead on some +scent. Spurring my horse, I followed through some thorny bushes as +best I might, and emerging on an open glade, I beheld two huge white +rhinoceroses trotting along before me. The dogs attacked them with +fury, and a scene of intense excitement ensued. The Old Gray, on +observing them, pricked up his ears, and seemed only half inclined to +follow, but a sharp application of the spur reminded him of his duty, +and I was presently riding within ten yards of the stem of the +largest, and sent a bullet through her back. The Old Grey shied +considerably and became very unmanageable, and on one occasion, in +consequence, the rhinoceros, finding herself hemmed in by a bend in a +watercourse, turned round to charge, I had a very narrow escape. + +Presently, galloping up on one side, I gave her a bad wound in the +shoulder, soon after which she came to bay in the dry bed of a river. +Dismounting from my horse, I commenced loading, but before this was +accomplished she was off once more. I followed her, putting on my caps +as I rode, and coming up alongside, I made a fine shot from the +saddle, firing at the gallop. The ball entered somewhere near her +heart. On receiving this shot she reeled about, while torrents of +blood flowed from her mouth and wounds, and presently she rolled over +and expired, uttering a shrill screaming sound as she died, which +rhinoceroses invariably do while in the agonies of death. + +The chase had led me close in along the northern base of a lofty +detached mountain, the highest in all that country. The mountain is +called, by the Bechuanas, the Mountain of the Eagles. The eland which +I had shot in the morning lay somewhere to the southward of this +mountain, but far in the level forest. Having rounded the mountain, I +began to recognise the ground. + +I had the satisfaction to behold a few vultures soaring over the +forest in advance, and, on proceeding a short distance farther, large +groups of these birds were seated on the grey and weather-beaten +branches of the loftiest old trees of the forest. This was a certain +sign that the eland was not far distant; and on raising my voice and +loudly calling on the name of Carollus, I was instantly answered by +that individual, who, heedless of his master's fate, was actively +employed in cooking for himself a choice steak from the dainty rump of +the eland. That night I slept beneath the blue and starry canopy of +heaven. My sleep was light and sweet, and no rude dreams or hankering +cares disturbed the equanimity of my repose. + +One of Mr. Cumming's most perilous adventures was with a black +Rhinoceros, which gave chase to him, and nearly run turn down. He thus +describes this affair. + +On the 22d, ordering my men to move on to the fountain of Bootlonamy, +I rode forth with Ruyter, [Footnote: This is the name of a favorite +servant of Mr. Cumming.] and held east through a grove of lofty and +wide-spreading mimosas, most of which were more or less damaged by the +gigantic strength of a troop of elephants, which had passed there +about twelve months before. + +Having proceeded about two miles with large herds of game on every +side, I observed a crusty looking old bull borele, or black +rhinoceros, cocking his ears one hundred yards in advance. He had not +observed us; and soon after he walked slowly toward us, and stood +broadside to, eating some wait-a-bit thorns within fifty yards of me. +I fired from my saddle, and sent a bullet in behind his shoulder, upon +which he rushed forward about one hundred yards in tremendous +consternation, blowing like a grampus, and then stood looking about +him. Presently he made off. I followed, but found it hard to come up +with him. When I overtook him I found the blood running freely from +his wound. + +The chase led through a large herd of blue wildebeests, zebras, and +springboks, which gazed at us in utter amazement. At length I fired my +second barrel, but my horse was fidgety, and I missed. I continued +riding alongside of him, expecting in my ignorance that at length he +would come to bay, which rhinoceroses never do; when suddenly he fell +flat on his broadside on the ground, but, recovering his feet, resumed +his course as if nothing had happened. Becoming at last annoyed at the +length of the chase, as I wished to keep my horses fresh for the +elephants, and being indifferent whether I got the rhinoceros or not, +as I observed that his horn was completely worn down by age, and the +violence of his disposition, I determined to bring matters to a +crisis; so, spurring my horse, I dashed ahead, and rode right in his +path. + +Upon this the hideous monster instantly charged me in the most +resolute manner, blowing loudly through his nostrils; and although I +quickly wheeled about to my left, he followed me at such a furious +pace for several hundred yards, with his horrid horny snout within a +few yards of my horse's tail, that my little Bushman, who was looking +on in great alarm, thought his master's destruction inevitable. It was +certainly a very near thing; my horse was extremely afraid, and +exerted his utmost energies on the occasion. The rhinoceros, however, +wheeled about and continued his former course; and I being perfectly +satisfied with the interview which I had already enjoyed with him, had +no desire to cultivate his acquaintance any further, and accordingly +made for camp. + +We left the fountain of Bootlonamy the same day, and marched about six +miles through an old grey forest of mimosas, when we halted for the +night. Large flocks of guinea-fowls roosted in the trees around our +encampment, several of which I shot for my supper. + +On the 23d we inspanned by moonlight, and continued our march through +a thinly wooded level country. It was a lovely morning; the sun rose +in great splendor, and the sky was beautifully overcast with clouds. +Having proceeded about ten miles, the country became thickly covered +with detached forest trees and groves of wait-a-bit thorns. The guides +now informed us that the water, which is called by the Bechuanas, +"Lepeby," was only a short distance in advance; upon which I saddled +steeds, and rode ahead with the Bushman, intending to hunt for an hour +before breakfast. Presently we reached an open glade in the forest, +where I observed a herd of zebras in advance; and on my left stood a +troop of springboks, with two leopards watching them from behind a +bush. I rode on, and soon fell in with a troop of hartebeests, and, a +little after, with a large herd of blue wildebeests and pallahs. I +followed for some distance, when they were reinforced by two other +herds of pallahs and wildebeests. Three black rhinoceroses now trotted +across my path. + +Presently I sprang from my horse, and fired right and left at a +princely bull blue wildebeest. He got both balls, but did not fall, +and I immediately lost sight of him in the dense ranks of his shaggy +companions. The game increased as we proceeded, until the whole forest +seemed alive with a variety of beautifully colored animals. On this +occasion I was very unfortunate; I might have killed any quantity of +game if venison had been my object; but I was trying to get a few very +superior heads of some of the master bucks of the pallahs. Of these I +wounded four select old bucks, but in the dust and confusion caused by +the innumerable quantity of the game I managed to lose them all. + + + + +Encounter with a Lioness. + + +When Mr. Cumming was in that part of the interior of South Africa +inhabited by the tribe called the Griquas, he had a remarkable and +fearful encounter with a lioness. He had been shooting some of the +various kinds of antelopes which abound in that country, under various +names, such as wildebeests, springboks, blesboks, and pallahs, when +the adventure occurred, which he thus describes. + +Suddenly I observed a number of vultures seated on the plain about a +quarter of a mile ahead of us, and close beside them stood a huge +lioness, consuming a blesbok which she had killed. She was assisted in +her repast by about a dozen jackals, which were feasting along with +her in the most friendly manner. + +Directing my followers' attention to the spot, I remarked, "I see the +lion;" to which they replied, "Whar? whar? Yah! Almagtig! dat is he;" +and instantly reining in their steeds and wheeling about they pressed +their heels to their horses' sides, and were preparing to betake +themselves to flight. I asked them what they were going to do. To +which they answered, "We have not yet placed caps on our rifles." This +was true; but while this short conversation was passing, the lioness +had observed us. Raising her full, round face, she overhauled us for a +few seconds, and then set off at a smart canter toward a range of +mountains some miles to the northward; the whole troop of jackals also +started off in another direction; there was, therefore, no time to +think of caps. + +The first move was to bring her to bay, and not a second was to be +lost. Spurring my good and lively steed, and shouting to my men to +follow, I flew across the plain, and, being fortunately mounted on +Colesberg, the flower of my stud, I gained upon her at every stride. +This was to me a joyful moment, and I at once made up my mind that she +or I must die. + +The lioness having had a long start of me, we went over a considerable +extent of ground before I came up with her. She was a large, +full-grown beast, and the bare and level nature of the plain added to +her imposing appearance. Finding that I gained upon her, she reduced her +pace from a canter to a trot, carrying her tail stuck out behind her, +and slewed a little to one side. I shouted loudly to her to halt, as I +wished to speak with her, upon which she suddenly pulled up, and sat +on her haunches like a dog, with her back toward me, not even deigning +to look round. She then appeared to say to herself, "Does this fellow +know who he is after?" + +Having thus sat for half a minute, as if involved in thought, she +sprang to her feet, and, facing about, stood looking at me for a few +seconds, moving her tail slowly from side to side, showing her teeth, +and growling fiercely. She next made a short run forward, making a +loud, rumbling noise like thunder. This she did to intimidate me; but +finding that I did not flinch an inch nor seem to heed her hostile +demonstrations, she quietly stretched out her massive arms, and lay +down on the grass. My Hottentots now coming up, we all three +dismounted, and, drawing our rifles from their holsters, we looked to +see if the powder was up in the nipples, and put on our caps, While +this was doing the lioness sat up, and showed evident symptoms of +uneasiness. She looked first at us, and then behind her, as if to see +if the coast were clear; after which she made a short run toward us, +uttering her deep-drawn, murderous growls. + +Having secured the three horses to one another by their reins, we led +them on as if we intended to pass her, in the hope of obtaining a +broadside. But this she carefully avoided to expose, presenting only +her full front. I had given Stofolus my rifle, with orders to shoot +her if she should spring upon me, but on no account to fire before me. +Kleinboy was to stand ready to hand me my Purdey rifle, in case the +two-grooved Dixon should not prove sufficient. My men as yet had been +steady, but they were in a precious stew, their faces having assumed a +ghastly paleness, and I had a painful feeling that I could place no +reliance on them. + +Now then for it, neck or nothing! She is within sixty yards of us, and +she keeps advancing. We turned the horses' tails to her. I knelt on +one side, and, taking aim at her breast, let fly. The ball cracked +loudly on her tawny hide, and crippled her in the shoulder, upon which +she charged with an appalling roar, and in the twinkling of an eye she +was in the midst of us, At this moment Stofolus's rifle exploded in +his hand, and Kleinboy, whom I had ordered to stand ready by me, +danced about like a duck in a gale of wind. + +The lioness sprang upon Colesberg, and fearfully lacerated his ribs +and haunches with her horrid teeth and claws; the worst wound was on +his haunch, which exhibited a sickening, yawning gash, more than +twelve inches long, almost laying bare the very bone. I was very cool +and steady, and did not feel in the least degree nervous, having +fortunately great confidence in my own shooting; but I must confess, +when the whole affair was over, I felt that it was a very awful +situation, and attended with extreme peril, as I had no friend with me +on whom I could rely. + +When the lioness sprang on Colesberg, I stood out from the horses, +ready with my second barrel for the first chance she should give of a +clear shot. This she quickly did; for, seemingly satisfied with the +revenge She had now taken, she quitted Colesberg, and slewing her tail +to one side, trotted sulkily past within a few paces of me, taking one +step to the left. I pitched my rifle to my shoulder, and in another +second the lioness was stretched on the plain a lifeless corpse. + +In the struggles of death she half turned on her back, and stretched +her neck and fore arms convulsively, when she fell back to her former +position; her mighty arms hung powerless by her side, her lower jaw +fell, blood streamed from her mouth, and she expired. At the moment I +fired my second shot, Stofolus, who hardly knew whether he was alive +or dead, allowed the three horses to escape. These galloped +frantically across the plain, on which he and Kleinboy instantly +started after them, leaving me standing alone, and unarmed, within a +few feet of the lioness, which they from their anxiety to be out of +the way, evidently considered quite capable of doing further mischief. + + + + +Hunting the Blauwbok and Buffalo. + + +Among the various kinds of antelopes which inhabit South Africa, the +blauwbok, or blue buck, called by Mr. Cumming, the blue antelope, is +one of the most remarkable. It is six feet in length, three feet and a +half high to the back, and very compactly made. The horns are more +than two feet in length, round, closely annulated to within six inches +of the tips, bent back in a uniform but moderate curve, and very sharp +at the points. The general color of the hair is gray, with the insides +of the ears, a streak before each eye, the insides of the legs, and a +few hairs along the ridge of the neck, white. The hair on the body +divides on the line of the back, and is rather coarse and open. + +The skin under it on the upper part of the living animal is a black, +which shining through the grey, produces a sort of raven-blue tint. It +is the epidermis only and not the mucous tissue which has this black +color, otherwise the hair would have it; and it fades when the animal +is dead, as is the case with a highly-colored epidermis in almost all +animals. + +This animal was frequently pursued and shot by Mr. Cumming, in his +African hunts, and his flesh was found to be excellent. + +The Cape buffalo, or African buffalo, was a more troublesome object of +chase. This animal, has a most formidable front, and its general +aspect is shaggy and formidable. The horns are the most compact, and +in their substance the heaviest of all the ruminating animals, +excepting only some of those of the antelopes. This animal is +considerably lower than the Indian buffalo; but it is firmer, though +shorter in the legs, rounder in the body; and the beard and short mane +give it a rugged appearance. This is by far the most formidable animal +of the genus. It has never been tamed, and the males are dangerous to +come near. + +Mr. Cumming thus describes one of his encounters with this animal, by +himself and Ruyter, a Bushman, a favorite servant. + +On the forenoon of the 26th, I rode to hunt, accompanied by Ruyter; we +held west, skirting the wooded stony mountains. The natives had here +many years before waged successful war with elephants, four of whose +skulls I found. Presently I came across two sassaybies, one of which I +knocked over; but while I was loading he regained his legs and made +off. We crossed a level stretch of forest, holding a northerly course +for an opposite range of green, well wooded hills and valleys. Here I +came upon a troop of six fine old bull buffaloes, into which I +stalked, and wounded one princely fellow behind the shoulder, bringing +blood from nis mouth; he, however made off with his comrades, and the +ground being very rough we failed to overtake him. They held for the +Ngotwani. After following the spoor for a couple of miles, we dropped +it, as it led right away from camp. + +Returning from this chase, we had an adventure with another old bull +buffalo, which shows the extreme danger of hunting buffaloes without +dogs. We started him in a green hollow among the hills, and his course +inclining for camp, I gave him chase. He crossed the level broad +strath and made for the opposite densely wooded range of mountains. +Along the base of these we followed him, sometimes in view, sometimes +on the spoor, keeping the old fellow at a pace which made him pant. At +length, finding himself much distressed, he had recourse to a singular +stratagem. Doubling round some thick bushes which obscured him from +our view, he found himself beside a small pool of rain water, just +deep enough to cover his body; into this he walked, and facing about, +lay gently down and awaited our on-coming, with nothing but his old +grey face and massive horns above the water, and these concealed from +our view by rank overhanging herbage. + +Our attention was entirely engrossed with the spoor, and thus we rode +boldly on until within a few feet of him, when springing to his feet, +he made a desperate charge after Ruyter, uttering a low, stifling +roar, peculiar to buffaloes, (somewhat similar to the growl of a lion) +and hurled horse and rider to the ground with fearful violence. His +horns laid the poor horse's haunches open to the bone, making the most +fearful ragged wound. + +In an instant Ruyter regained his feet and ran for his life, which the +buffalo observing, gave chase, but most fortunately came down with a +tremendous somersault in the mud, his feet slipping from under him; +thus the Bushman escaped certain destruction. The buffalo rose much +discomfited, and, the wounded horse first catching his eye, he went a +second time at him, but he got out of the way. At this moment I +managed to send one of my patent pacificating pills into his shoulder, +when he instantly quitted the scene of action, and sought shelter in a +dense cover on the mountain side, whither I deemed it imprudent to +follow him. + + + + +Adventures with snakes. + + +The following stories of fascination by snakes, is copied from +"Arthur's Home Gazette." It is no fiction; but is contributed by a +gentleman of Tennessee, who is willing to vouch for the truth of what +he relates. + +It has been a thousand times affirmed, and as often denied, that +certain serpents possess the power--independent of the touch--of +paralyzing their proposed victims. And it seems to be generally +admitted that this is done, if done at all, by the eye; for those +theorists who ascribe it to poison inhaled through the nostrils of the +charmed ones, offer us no example to confirm their theory, or to make +it worthy of a second thought. In extended rambles, alone as well as +with society, I have made the study of serpents a matter of amusement, +and familiarized myself--at least I had done so ten years back--to +handle them without any flesh-shrinking. As I got older, and my nerves +become weakened by long exposure to the seasons and to midnight +studies, more debilitating than Texas "northers," I must confess that +I am more timid; but I can yet join a hunt, or project one in good +"snake weather," with considerable gusto. I have never met with a +snake that could charm me, look he never so keenly, although I have +_faced them_ till they got tired, uncoiled, and beat an inglorious +retreat. And I am sure that I never _smell_ anything about a snake, +calculated to excite any other emotions or _motions_ except _holding +the nose_. And finally I never found a snake or snakelet that I would +turn my heel upon to flee, and for the very good reason that the +animal in question always runs first. + +So, ye manufacturers of snake stories horrific, amusive, or +instructive, put that against your tales of blacksnakes, copperheads, +cotton-mouths, horn-tails, water-mocassins, and the whole tribe else. + +But as to the _fascination_, what of that? + +Why, although I have never been fascinated, or seen a person in that +singular situation, yet I am a firm believer in the art, a believer +against my wishes--because evidence indisputable has been furnished +me, and in abundance. Now I leave out of the question, all the +influences of fright, surprise, etc., also all the humbug stories of +novel writers and romancers in private life, and yet there is a +remainder that I cannot cast out. One or two anecdotes, and then I +come to my principal proof. + +A gentleman of my acquaintance, passing along a bridle path, observed +a mouse running backwards and forwards, upon a fallen log, as if in +great terror. Reining in this horse, he paused full ten minutes, and +until the mouse disappeared on the farther side of the log. Drawing +nearer, and peeping over, his suspicions of Lucifer's guile were +verified--for mousey was within three inches of his open jaw, +"irresistibly attracted," said the narrator, "although he was drawing +back with all his might." The latter part of the tale is fishy--for +the gentleman was twenty feet off, and could not nave seen that--but +he saw the mouse finally disappear in that cavernous gullet; and when +he killed the snake-a large black one--the mouse lay in its stomach, +_without a wound_. How will that do? + +Another, well authenticated. A young man, of some twenty years, +passing along the road to school, on foot, was observed by some of his +companions in the rear to pause suddenly and look down. His fellows +intent on their conversation, were several minutes coming up; but when +they did so they witnessed a veritable case of fascination--for the +young man was looking intently into the eyes of a large rattlesnake, +coiled at his feet; nor could the voices of all his friends arouse +him. Being jerked back with some violence, he instantly recovered his +senses, but seemed to be puzzled to recall the circumstances connected +with his first view of the snake. After a mental effort he explained, +while the cold sweat poured from his face, and his limbs were flaccid +as an infant's, that the sound of a rattle had caused him to stop +short--that a pleasant halo danced before his eyes, and sweet sounds +met his ears--and that from that instant until the conclusion of the +trance, "he was as happy as he ever expected to be!" + +But now for the hardest knock of conviction. I will give it in the +language of the original narrator--premising that opponents to the +theory of serpent attraction must knock under, or flatly contradict +my tale. In the latter event, I shall be compelled to settle the +question as Hodginson did his lawsuit, "by exhibiting the skin and +parading the witnesses." + +"In the month of April, a few years back," commences the witness, "I +took my eldest chap, an eight year old boy, but stout and bold enough +for a twelve year old--and sauntered down to Beech river, to spend the +evening [Footnote: Evening, in this place, signifies from noon until +dark; that's the Southern and Western notion always.] fishing. Finding +a large beech, whose spreading roots formed a natural easy chair, with +arms to it, I threw my line into the stream, and myself into the +cavity, to take the thing deliberately as I generally do on such +occasions. There had been a rise in Beech river sufficient to muddy +the water, and I knew the only chance was for cat (_bull-pouts_ the +Yankees call them,) so I chose a big hook and baited with a chunk of +bacon, big enough for an eight-pounder at least. That hook was a +Limerick, for which I had sent all the way to Porter, of 'The +Spirit'--that hook I was never more to behold. + +"The boy chose for himself a steep place about ten yards below me, and +after sticking his pole in the mud, like a lazy fellow, as he is, +amused himself by counting the stamens in some sorrel-flowers that +grew thick thereabouts. I listened to his chatter for a while as he +vacillated in his numbers--eight--nine--ten--twelve--until my own +thoughts took an interesting turn, and I heard to more of him for +several minutes. Then the sound of his voice again struck one, but a +little distance further down stream, as he tailed out--'Oh, Pa, look!' + +"Being well accustomed to his 'mares' nests,' I did not turn until he +had repeated several times the same words, and it was the singularity +of his tones at last that caused me to do it. His voice was +indescribably plaintive, clear, but low, and each vowel sound was +drawn out at great length, thus--'Oh-h-h-h, Pa-a-a-a, +loo-oo-oo-ook,'--with the diminuendo, soft as the ring of a glass vessel, +when struck. I have heard Kyle, the flutist, while executing some of his +thrilling touches, strike his low notes very much like it. Slewing myself +partly round in my seat, I observed the little fellow standing bent +forward, his hands stretched out before him as if shielding his face from +a bush, while his whole body worked to and fro like the subjects in +certain mesmeric experiments that I nave observed when first they are +brought under 'the influence' of the operator. His face was partly +turned from me, but the cheek, which I saw was pale as death, and his +cloth cap was trembling on the back part of his head, as if forced +there by the workings of the scalp. + +"This was as much as I had time to observe in the first hasty glance. +Astonished at his actions, though not at all alarmed--or the first +thought that occurred to me as that he was trying to catch a young +rabbit--I called out in a half-jocular tone, well, bubby boy, what is +it?' He made no reply, but continued that strange murmur of '--Oh-h-h, +Pa-a-a, loo-oo-ook,' and took a couple of paces forward, not as though +he wished to advance, but more in the style of a person who has leaned +too far forward and moves his feet to recover the perpendicular. I +arose, rather slowly, for it was a mere prompting of curiosity, and +walking towards him, called out in a tone of some authority, 'John, +come here!' Now I can say, without boasting, that my domestic +government is thorough, and my children will promptly obey my commands +in every thing, from the taking of a dose of quinine to the springing +out of bed at daylight of a frosty morning. My surprise, therefore, +was great to observe that the lad only answered my order, twice +repeated, by the same melancholy cry, and another stumble forward. + +"I was now thoroughly aroused. I hastened my own steps, for a horror +came over me as though I was in the presence of a demon. I advanced +directly behind the child, and looking over him, observed a thick bush +of the Early Honeysuckle, (_Azalea nudiflora_.) Into and through this +I glanced, but I observed no object to excite my notice. I had got +within a pace of him, and was in the act of putting my hand with some +force upon his shoulder, when following more precisely the direction +of his eyes, I looked at the foot of the bush, then about six feet +from me, and how shall I describe the sequel! + +"Like an electric shock, a sensation pervaded my whole frame, which, +although I can never forget, I must most imperfectly describe. I was +in a trance--the blood overcharged my brain--a murmuring sound, as of +an Aeolian, filled my ears-drops, like rain, oozed from my face--my +hat, first elevated to the very tips of the hairs, worked backwards +and fell to the ground--in brief, I was regularly, and for the first +and last time in my life, in a state of fascination. + +"No sensation of languor troubled me, for although I felt no +inclination to go forward, yet I seemed to myself perfectly able and +willing to stay where I was, so long as the world lasted. I was +perfectly happy in spite of my bodily excitement. A bright halo of +changeable colors, for all the world like the changeable lights I have +seen displayed in front of the American Museum, New York, filled all +my vision, in the very focus of which gleamed two keen points, like +sparks from the blacksmith's anvil, and they were so vivid that they +seemed to pierce me through and through. + +"How long this continued I cannot say, but I suppose only for a +minute. So far as my own perception of time's flight is concerned, +however, it might have been an age. + +"I was awakened by the harsh crackling of some dry sticks upon which +the boy had stepped as he continued to shuffle forward. The recovery +was as sudden as the attack. In an instant I was disenchanted. The +bush looked familiar, and I heard the fall of water in the stream, but +a thought of imminent danger now possessed my mind; so shouting with a +voice that made the woods ring, I seized the lad around the waist, and +heavy as he was, ran with him quite a quarter of a mile without +stopping. I confess it most frankly that I didn't stop until I fell +exhausted in the public road. To tell the cowardly truth, I should +have ran on until now if I had been able. So we fell down together and +lay for a good while panting. + +"Then I got up and propping myself against a poplar, took little John +on my knee. His nervous system was unstrung. He was weeping bitterly, +and sobbing as if his heart would break. His flesh was cold and +clammy, his pulse was almost still, and he hadn't strength to raise +his hands to his mouth. + +"I had some root ginger in my pocket--I always carry a piece with +me--which I chewed and made him swallow. This revived him. Then I rubbed +him briskly, pinched his skin in divers tender spots, and by these +means and cheerful conversation, got him so that he could stand alone +and answer my questions. I never saw such a fool thing as he was! He +was not at all alarmed, very willingly consented to return with me--for +I'd die but what I'd see it but--thought there ought to be a perch +on his hook by this time, thought it was Sunday, thought there was +snow somewhere, 'twas so cold,--and all such notions as that. + +"Every few minutes he would burst into an uncontrollable flood of +tears, but he couldn't tell for what. + +"You will want to know how I felt all this time. Well, when I got a +minute's leisure from attending to him and could notice my own +feelings, I found that I was snivelling too! that my pulse was small, +my nose had been profusely bleeding, and the blood had drenched me to +the very boot tops, and I felt altogether as exhausted as one does who +has had a month's spell of the chills. + +"We were a precious pair, daddy and son, as we sat under that poplar. +I am sure I never felt so foolish in all my life. Well, back we +started, for my spunk was up; and, beside that, I had left my hat, +handkerchief, dinner, and memorandum book, and was bound to have them. +I felt the most burning curiosity to understand the puzzle while my +mental faculties were completely obfuscated by it. + +"Neither of us said a word of the affair itself, for John didn't seem +to know that he had been frightened, and I was afraid to alarm him by +speaking of it. He asked no questions of any sort, although in general +he is a miniature Paul Pry, expressed no surprise that I was +bareheaded and bloody, or that we had come so far from the fishing +place and left our tackle behind. His face expressed confusion, such +as a child will exhibit when he is waked suddenly by falling out of +bed, and commences grasping around the bedpost preparatory to getting +in again. I knew that something frightful was there, and felt that we +had escaped some great peril, but what the object or what the peril I +had no idea whatever. I am sure, however, that the notion of a snake +never entered my mind, but if any thing tangible, if was of a wild +cat, for the recollection of Cooper's panther story in the Pioneers +occurred to me, and I cut a stout hickory sapling to be prepared. We +arrived with slow steps at the haunted spot, for both were exhausted, +and I felt the value of prudence. There lay my basket by the beech +root, more by token that the hogs had found it and were just devouring +the last morsel of bread and meat so carefully deposited therein. + +"There was my fishing line, but the eight-pounder had become weary and +worn, and carried off my Limerick hook. There was my hat near the +honeysuckle bush, but the phantom itself, with its diamond eyes and +mystic powers, was gone. Frightened probably by the hogs, unromantic +objects in every point of view, he had fled; but I found him within +fifty yards in the form of a _rattlesnake_, full six feet from tip to +tip, and glorying in fourteen full rattles. + +"I had my revenge in every possible form. I looked at him for ten +minutes at a time, but the power was gone, and I only saw two keen, +devilish-looking eyes. Then I punched him till he spent all his venom +on my stick. Then I made him drunk on tobacco juice, ingloriously and +brutally drunk. + +"Getting tired at last, I gave him the _coup de grâce_, skinned him, +and returned home. He hangs now in loops over my family bed. Those +eyes that thrilled my heart so strangely are dim with dust. Those +fangs, which in a few minutes more would probably have sent death to +the heart's fountain of my boy, are now in Europe, a part of the +collection admired by countless crowds at the British Museum. The +subject is fast fading from my memory,'mid the cares of life, and had +you not asked me to write it out for you, I should have thought of it +but a little longer. Let it stand as another testimony, and a most +unwilling one, too, of the fascinating powers of serpents on the +human." + +So far my correspondent tells his own tale in language sufficiently +plain and explicit. If any figure him out as a man of feeble frame and +low stature, let them change their fancy at once. + +He is a strong, muscular man, an old bear hunter, one who has fought +Indians in the Florida swamps; a person withal, of unquestionable +veracity, and in all respects the last man to impose on others, or be +imposed upon by anything, fish, flesh, or fowl. + + + + +Contests with Large Snakes + + +The family of snakes called Boidae, including the Boas and Pythons are +huge snakes confined to the hotter regions of the globe, and +formidable from their vast strength and mode of attack. They lurk in +ambush and dart upon their victim, which in an instant is seized and +enveloped in their folds, and crushed to death or strangled. For their +predatory habits they are admirably adapted; their teeth are terrible, +and produce a dreadful wound; the neck is slender, the body increasing +gradually to about the middle in diameter, and then decreasing. The +tail is a grasping instrument, strongly prehensile, and aided by two +hooklike claws, sheathed with horn, externally visible on each side, +beneath, just anterior to the base of the tail. Though externally +nothing beyond these spurs appear, internally is found a series of +bones, representing those of the hinder limbs, but of course +imperfectly developed; yet they are acted upon by powerful muscles, +and can be so used as to form a sort of antagonist to the tail while +grasping any object; they thus become a fulcrum giving additional +force to the grasp, which secured thereby to a fixed point, giving +double power to the animal's energy. + +The emperor boa, or boa constrictor as well as all the others to which +the name boa applies are, according to Cuvier, natives of America. The +engraving represents one of these terrible snakes in the act of +strangling a deer. + +The Aboma (_Boa cenchrea_) has scaly plates on the muzzle, and pits or +dimples upon the plates of the jaws. + +Endowed with powers which in a semicivilized state of society must +operate powerfully on the mind; at ease and freedom alike on the land, +in the water, or among the trees; at once wily, daring, and +irresistible in their attack, graceful in their movements, and +splendid in their coloring--that such creatures, to be both dreaded +and admired, should become the subject of superstitious reverence, is +scarcely to be wondered at. The ancient Mexicans regarded the boa as +sacred; they viewed its actions with religious horror; they crouched +beneath the fiery glances of its eyes; they trembled as they listened +to its long-drawn hiss, and from various signs and movements predicted +the fate of tribes or individuals, or drew conclusions of guilt or +innocence. The supreme idol was represented encircled and guarded by +sculptured serpents, before which were offered human sacrifices. + + + "On a blue throne, with four huge silver snakes, + As if the keepers of the sanctuary, + Circled, with stretching necks and fangs display'd, + Mexitli sate: another graven snake + Belted with scales of gold his monster bulk." + +It is probably of the boa constrictor, the emperor, the devin, that +Hernandez writes, under the name of Temacuilcahuilia, so called from +its powers, the word meaning a fighter with five men. It attacks, he +says, those it meets, and overpowers them with such force, that if it +once coils itself around their necks it strangles and kills them, +unless it bursts itself by the violence of its own efforts; and he +states that the only way of avoiding the attack is for the man to +manage in such a way as to oppose a tree to the animal's constriction, +so that while the serpent supposes itself to be crushing the man, it +may be torn asunder by its own act, and so die. We do not ask our +readers for their implicit faith in this. He adds, that he has himself +seen serpents as thick as a man's thigh, which had been taken young by +the Indians and tamed; they were provided with a cask strewn with +litter in the place of a cavern, where they lived, and were for the +most part quiescent, except at meal-times, when they came forth, and +amicably climbed about the couch or shoulders of their master, who +placidly bore the serpent's embrace. They often coiled tip in folds, +equalling a large sized cartwheel in size, and harmlessly received +their food. + +In most accounts current respecting the mode in which boas and pythons +take their food, the snake, after crushing its prey, is described as +licking the body with its tongue and lubricating it with its saliva, +in order to facilitate the act of deglutition. It has been observed +with justice that few worse instruments for such a purpose than the +slender dark forked tongue of these snakes could have been contrived: +and that, in fact, the saliva does not begin to be poured out +abundantly till required to lubricate the jaws and throat of the +animal straining to engulph the carcass. We have seen these snakes +take their food, but they did not lubricate it, though the vibratory +tongue often touched it; we must, therefore, withhold our credence +from the common assertion. + +The size attained by the boa is often very great, and larger +individuals than any now seen occurred formerly, before their ancient +haunts had been invaded by human colonization. + +The Anaconda, (_Boa Scytale_), called by Linnaeus, Boa Murina, and by +Prince Maximilian, Boa Aquatica, is of an enormous size, from twenty +to thirty feet in length. + +The boa cenchrea has scaly plates on the the muzzle; and dimples upon +the plates at the sides of the jaws. His color is yellowish, with a +row of large brown rings running the whole length of the back, and +variable spots on the sides. These are generally dark, often +containing a whitish semi-lunar mark. This species, according to Seba, +who describes it as Mexican, is the Temacuilcahuilia (or Tamacuilla +Huilia, as Seba writes the word) described by Hernandez. The species +here described, according to Cuvier, grow nearly to the same size, and +haunt the marshy parts of South America. There, adhering by the tail +to some aquatic tree, they suffer the anterior part of the body to +float upon the water, and patiently wait to seize upon the quadrupeds +which come to drink. + +Our engraving represents him in the attitude of watching for a deer +which is seen, in the distance. + +A specimen apparently of the boa scytale called in Venezuela "La +Culebra de Agua," or water serpent, and also "El Traga Venado," or +deer-swallower, which measures nineteen feet and a half in length, was +presented by Sir Robert Ker Porter to the United Service Museum. He +states that "The flesh of this serpent is white and abundant in fat. +The people of the plains never eat it, but make use of the fat as a +remedy for rheumatic pains, ruptures, strains, &c." + +"This serpent," says Sir B. K. Porter, "is not venomous nor known to +injure man (at least not in this part of the New World;) however, the +natives stand in great fear of it, never bathing in waters where it is +known to exist. Its common haunt, or rather domicile, is invariably +near lakes, swamps, and rivers; likewise close wet ravines produced by +inundations of the periodical rains: hence, from its aquatic habits, +its first appellation. Fish and those animals which repair there to +drink, are the objects of its prey. The creature lurks watchfully +under cover of the water, and, whilst the unsuspecting animal is +drinking, suddenly makes a dash at the nose, and with a grip of its +back-raclining double range of teeth never fails to secure the +terrified beast beyond the power of escape." + +It would appear that boas are apt to be carried out to sea by sudden +floods, and are sometimes drifted alive on distant coasts. The Rev. +Lansdown Guilding, writing in the Island of St. Vincent, says, "A +noble specimen of the boa constrictor was lately conveyed to us by the +currents, twisted round the trunk of a large sound cedar tree, which +had probably been washed out of the bank, by the floods of some great +South American river, while its huge folds hang on the branches as it +waited for its prey. The monster was fortunately destroyed after +killing a few sheep, and his skeleton now hangs before me in my study, +putting me in mind how much reason I might have had to fear in my +future rambles through St. Vincent, had this formidable animal been a +pregnant female and escaped to a safe retreat." + +The pythons closely resemble the true boas, but have the subcaudal +plates double; the muzzle is sheathed with plates, and those covering +the mouth of the jaws have pits. These snakes, which equal or exceed +the boas in magnitude, are natives of India, Africa, and Australia. + +Pliny speaks of snakes in India of such a size as to be capable of +swallowing stags and bulls; and Valerius Maximus, quoting a lost +portion of Pliny's work, narrates the alarm into which the troops +under Regulus were thrown by a serpent which had its lair on the banks +of the river Bagradas, between Utica and Carthage, and which +intercepted the passage to the river. It resisted ordinary weapons, +and killed many of the men; till at last it was destroyed by heavy +stones thrown from military engines used in battering walls; its +length is stated as a hundred and twenty feet. Regulus carried its +skin and jaws to Rome, and deposited them in one of the temples, where +they remained till the time of the Numantine war. + +Diodorus Siculus relates the account of the capture of a serpent, not +without loss of life, in Egypt, which measured thirty cubits long; it +was taken to Alexandria. Suetonius speaks of a serpent exhibited at +Rome in front of the Comitium, fifty cubits in length. + +Though we do not refuse credit to these narratives, it must be added +that in modern days we have not seen serpents of such magnitude; yet +they may exist. Bontius observes that some of the Indian pythons +exceed thirty-six feet in length, and says that they swallow wild +boars, adding, "there are those alive who partook with General Peter +Both, of a recently swallowed hog cut out of the belly of a serpent of +this kind." + +These snakes, he observes, are not poisonous, but strangle a man or +other animal by powerful compression. The Ular Sawa, or great Python +of the Sunda Isles, is said to exceed when full-grown, thirty feet in +length; and it is narrated that a "Malay prow being anchored for the +night under the Island of Celebes, one of the crew went ashore, in +search of betel nut, and, as was supposed, fell asleep on the beach, +on his return. In the dead of night, his companions on board were +aroused by dreadful screams; they immediately went ashore, but they +came too late, the cries had ceased--the man had breathed his last in +the folds of an enormous serpent, which they killed. They cut off the +head of the snake and carried it, together with the lifeless body of +their comrade, to the vessel; the right wrists of the corpse bore the +marks of the serpent's teeth, and the disfigured body showed that the +man had been crushed by the constriction of the reptile round the +head, neck, breast, and thigh." + +Mr. McLeod, in his voyage of H.M.S. Alceste, after describing the mode +in which a python on board, sixteen feet in length, crushed and gorged +a goat, the distressing cries of which on being introduced into the +serpent's cage, could not but excite compassion, goes on to say that +during a captivity of some months at Whidah, in the kingdom of +Dahomey, on the coast of Africa, he had opportunities of observing +pythons of more than double that size, and which were capable of +swallowing animals much larger that goats or sheep. "Governor Abson," +he adds, "who had for thirty-seven years resided at Fort William, one +of the African Company's settlements there, describes some desperate +struggles which he had seen, or which had come to his knowledge, +between the snakes and wild beasts as well as the smaller cattle, in +which the former were always victorious. A negro herdsman belonging to +Mr. Abson, and who afterwards limped for many years about the fort, +had been seized by one of these monsters by the thigh; but from his +situation in a wood the serpent in attempting to throw himself around +him got entangled in a tree; and the man being thus preserved from a +state of compression, which would instantly have rendered him quite +powerless, had presence of mind enough to cut with a large knife which +he carried about with him, deep gashes in the neck and throat of his +antagonist, thereby killing him, and disengaging himself from his +frightful situation. He never afterwards, however, recovered the use +of his limb, which had sustained considerable injury from the fangs +and mere force of his jaws." + +Ludolph states that enormous snakes exist in Ethiopia: and Bosman +informs us that entire men have been found in the gullet of serpents +on the Gold coast. In the "Oriental Annual" is the following +narrative, explanatory of a well-known picture by W. Daniell: "A few +years before our visit to Calcutta," says the writer, "the captain of +a country ship while passing the Sunderbunds sent a boat into one of +the creeks to obtain some fresh fruits, which are cultivated by the +few miserable inhabitants of this inhospitable region. Having reached +the shore the crew moored the boat under a bank, and left one of their +party to take care of her." + +During their absence, the lascar who remained in charge of the boat, +overcome by heat, lay down under the seats and fell asleep. While he +was in this happy state of unconsciousness an enormous boa, python, +emerged from the jungle, reached the boat, had already coiled its huge +body round the sleeper, and was in the very act of crushing him to +death, when his companions fortunately returned at this auspicious +moment, and attacking the monster, severed a portion of its tail, +which so disabled it that it no longer retained the power of doing +mischief. The snake was then easily despatched, and was found to +measure, as stated, sixty-two feet and some inches in length. It is +hardly probable that the snake had fairly entwined round the man, for +the sudden compression of the chest, had the snake exerted its +strength, would have been instantly fatal. + +In March, 1841, a singular circumstance occurred at the gardens of the +Zoological Society, which at the time caused no little surprise. A +python, eleven or twelve feet long, and one about nine feet long, were +kept together in a well-secured cage; both had been fed one evening, +the larger one with three guinea pigs and a rabbit; but, as it would +appear, his appetite was unsatiated. The next morning, when the keeper +came to look into the cage, the smaller python was missing--its escape +was impossible--and the question was what had become of it? + +The truth was evident--its larger companion had swallowed it. There it +lay torpid, and bloated to double its ordinary dimensions. How it +accomplished the act is not known, but we may imagine a fearful +struggle to have taken place, as wreathing round each other they +battled for the mastery; unless, indeed, the victim was itself torpid +and incapable of resistance. + +The Tiger Python, (_Python, tigris_), is a native of India and Java, +and is often brought over to England for exhibition. It was, we +believe, from one of these species that Mr. Cops, the keeper of the +lion office was in imminent danger, as narrated by Mr. Broderip. + +The animal was near shedding its skin, and consequently nearly blind, +for the skin of the eye, which is shed with the rest of the slough, +becomes then opaque, when Mr. Cops, wishing it to feed, held a fowl to +its head. The snake darted at the bird, but missed it, seizing the +keeper by the left thumb, and coiled round his arm and neck in a +moment. Mr. Cops, who was alone, did not lose his presence of mind, +and immediately attempted to relieve himself of the powerful +constriction by getting at the snake's head. But the serpent had so +knotted himself on his own head, that Mr. Cops could not reach it, and +had thrown himself on the floor in order to grapple with a better +chance of success, when two other keepers coming in broke the teeth of +the serpent, and with some difficulty relieved Mr. Cops from his +perilous situation. Two broken teeth were extracted from the thumb, +which soon healed, and no material inconvenience was the result of +this frightful adventure. + +Mr. Cumming, to whose exploits we have so frequently referred, gives +the following account of a day's adventures, one of which was an +amusing affair with a large python. + +On the 26th, I rose at earliest dawn to inspect the heads of the three +old buffaloes, they were all enormous old bulls, and one of them +carried a most splendid head. The lions had cleaned out all his +entrails; their spoor [Footnote: Spoor, _i.e.,_ track] was immense. +Having taken some buffalo breast and liver for breakfast, I despatched +Ruyter to the wagons to call the natives to remove the carcasses, +while I and Kleinboy held through the hills to see what game might be +in the next glen which contained water. On my way thither, we started +a fine old buck koodoo, which I shot, putting both barrels into him at +one hundred yards. As I was examining the spoor of the game by the +fountain, I suddenly detected an enormous old rock-snake stealing in +beside a mass of rock beside me. He was truly an enormous snake, and, +having never before dealt with this species of game, I did not exactly +know how to set about capturing him. Being very anxious to preserve +his skin entire, and not wishing to have recourse to my rifle, I cut a +stout and tough stick about eight feet long, and having lightened +myself of my shooting-belt, I commenced the attack. Seizing him by the +tail, I tried to get him out of his place of refuge; but I hauled in +vain; he only drew his large folds firmer together; I could not move +him. At length I got a rheim round one of his folds about the middle +of his body, and Kleinboy and I commenced hauling away in good +earnest. + +The snake, finding the ground too hot for him, relaxed his coils, and, +suddenly bringing round his head to the front, he sprang out at us +like an arrow, with his immense and hideous mouth opened to its +largest dimensions, and before I could get out of the way he was clean +out of his hole, and made a second spring, throwing himself forward +about eight or ten feet, and snapping his horrid fangs within a foot +of my legs. I sprang out of his way, and, getting hold of the green +bough I had cut, returned to the charge. The snake was now gliding +along at top speed: he knew the ground well, and was making for a mass +of broken rocks, where he would have been beyond my reach, but before +he could gain this place of refuge I caught him two or three +tremendous whacks on the head. He, however, held on, and gained a pool +of muddy water, which he was rapidly crossing, when I again belabored +him, and at length reduced his pace to a stand. We then hanged him by +the neck to a bough of a tree, and in about fifteen minutes he seemed +dead, but he again became very troublesome during the operation of +skinning, twisting his body in all manner of ways. This serpent +measured fourteen feet. + + + + +Adventure with Buffalo and Elephant. + + +The Cape Buffalo we have already described, and we now refer to him +again only for the purpose of quoting Mr. Cumming's account of a +spirited fight with one. He thus relates the affair. + +On the evening of the next day I had a glorious row with an old bull +buffalo: he was the only large bull in a fine herd of cows. I found +their spoor while walking ahead of the wagon, and following it up, I +came upon a part of the herd feeding quietly in a dense part of the +forest. I fired my first shot at a cow, which I wounded. The other +half of the herd then came up right in my face, within six yards of +me. They would have trampled on me if I had not sung out in their +faces and turned them. I selected the old bull and sent a bullet into +his shoulder. The herd then crashed along through the jungle to my +right, but he at once broke away from them and took to my left. On +examining his spoor, I found it bloody. I then went to meet my wagons, +which I heard coming on, and, ordering the men to outspan, I took all +my dogs to the spoor. They ran it up in fine style, and in a few +minutes the silence of the forest was disturbed by a tremendous bay. +On running towards the sound I met the old fellow coming on towards +the wagons, with all my dogs after him. I saluted him with a second +ball in the shoulder; he held on and took up a position in the thicket +within forty yards of the wagons, where I finished him. He carried a +most splendid head. + +In another part of his narrative, Mr. Cumming thus describes a +desperate battle with an elephant. + +On the 27th I cast loose my horses at earliest dawn of day, and then I +lay half asleep for two hours, when I arose to consume coffee and +rhinoceros. Having breakfasted, I started with a party of natives to +search for elephants in a southerly direction. We held along the +gravelly bed of a periodical river, in which were abundance of holes +excavated by the elephants in quest of water. Here the spoor of +rhinoceros was extremely plentiful, and in every hole where they had +drunk the print of the horn was visible. We soon found the spoor of an +old bull elephant, which led us into a dense forest, where the ground +was particularly unfavorable for spooring; we, however, threaded it +out for a considerable distance, when it joined the spoor of other +bulls. + +The natives now requested me to halt, while the men went off in +different directions to reconnoitre. In the mean time a tremendous +conflagration was roaring and crackling close to windward of us. It +was caused by the Bakalahari burning the old dry grass to enable the +young to spring up with greater facility, whereby they retained the +game in their dominions. The fire stretched away for many miles on +either side of us, darkening the forest far to leeward with a dense +and impenetrable canopy of smoke. Here we remained for about half an +hour, when one of the men returned, reporting that he had discovered +elephants. This I could scarcely credit, for I fancied that the +extensive fire which raged so fearfully must have driven, not only +elephants, but every living creature out of the district, The native, +however, pointed to his eye, repeating the word "Klow," and signed to +me to follow him. + +My guide led me about a mile through dense forest, when we reached a +little wellwood hill, to whose summit we ascended, whence a view might +have been obtained of the surrounding country, had not volumes of +smoke obscured the scenery far and wide, as though issuing from the +funnels of a thousand steamboats. Here, to my astonishment, my guide +halted, and pointed to the thicket close beneath me, when I instantly +perceived the colossal backs of a herd of bull elephants. There they +stood quietly browsing on the lee side of the hill, while the fire in +its might was raging to windward within two hundred yards of them. + +I directed Johannus to choose an elephant, and promised to reward him +should he prove successful. Galloping furiously down the hill, I +started the elephants with an unearthly yell, and instantly selected +the finest in the herd. Placing myself alongside, I fired both barrels +behind his shoulder, when he instantly turned upon me, and in his +impetuous career charged head foremost against a large bushy tree +which he sent flying before him high in the air with tremendous force, +coming down at the same moment violently on his knees. He then met the +raging fire, when, altering his course, he wheeled to the right-about +As I galloped after him I perceived another noble elephant meeting us +in an opposite direction, and presently the gallant Johannus hove in +sight, following his quarry at a respectful distance. Both elephants +held on together, so I shouted to Johannus, "I will give your elephant +a shot in the shoulder and you must try to finish him." Spurring my +horse, I rode close alongside, and gave the fresh elephant two balls +immediately behind the shoulder, when he parted from mine, Johannus +following; but before many minutes had elapsed that mighty Nimrod +reappeared, having fired one shot and lost his prey. + +In the mean time I was loading and firing as fast as could be, +sometimes at the head, sometimes behind the shoulder, until my +elephant's fore-quarters were a mass of gore, notwithstanding which he +continued to hold stoutly on, leaving the grass and branches of the +forest scarlet in his wake. + +On one occasion he endeavored to escape by charging desperately amid +the thickest of the flames; but this did not avail, and I was soon +once more alongside. I blazed away at this elephant, until I began to +think that he was proof against my weapons. Having fired thirty-five +rounds with my two-grooved rifle, I opened fire upon him with the +Dutch six-pounder; and when forty bullets had perforated his hide, he +began for the first time to evince signs of a dilapidated +constitution. He took up a position in a grove; and as the dogs kept +barking round him, he backed stern foremost amongst the trees, which +yielded before his gigantic strength. Poor old fellow! he had long +braved my deadly shafts, but I plainly saw that it was all over with +him; so I resolved to expend no further ammunition, but hold him in +view until he died. Throughout the chase this elephant repeatedly +cooled his person with large quantities of water, which he ejected +from his trunk over his back and sides; and just as the pangs of death +came over him, he stood trembling violently beside a thorny tree, and +kept pouring water into his bloody mouth until he died, when he +pitched heavily forward, with the whole weight of his fore-quarters +resting on the points of his tusks. + +A most singular occurrence now took place. He lay in this posture for +several seconds, but the amazing pressure of the carcase was more than +the head was able to support. He had fallen with his head so short +under him that the tusks received little assistance from his legs. +Something must give way. The strain on the mighty tusks was fair; they +did not, therefore, yield; but the portion of his head in which his +trunk was imbedded, extending a long way above the eye, yielded and +burst with a muffled crash. The tusk was thus free, and turned right +round in his head, so that a man could draw it out, and the carcase +fell over and rested on its side. This was a very first-rate elephant, +and the tusks he carried were long and perfect. + + + + +Hunting the Orix and the Lion. + + +Mr. Cumming was extremely desirous to fall in with an oryx, and carry +off his fine head with its splendid long horns as a trophy. He thus +describes a long but successful chase for one. + +At at early hour on the morning of the 16th, Paterson and I took the +field, accompanied by our three after-riders, and having ridden +several miles in a northerly direction, we started an oryx, to which +Paterson and his after-rider immediately gave chase. I then rode in an +easterly direction, and shortly fell in with a fine old cow oryx, +which we instantly charged. She stole away at a killing pace, her +black tail streaming in the wind, and her long, sharp horns laid well +back over her shoulders. Aware of her danger, and anxious to gain the +desert, she put forth her utmost speed and strained across the bushy +plain. She led us a tearing chase of upwards of five miles in a +northerly course, Cobus sticking well into her, and I falling far +behind. After a sharp burst of about three miles, Cobus and the grey +disappeared over a ridge about half a mile ahead of me. I mounted a +fresh horse, which had been led by Jacob, and followed. On gaming the +ridge, I perceived the grey disappearing over another ridge, a +fearfully long way ahead. When I reached this point I commanded an +extremely extensive prospect, but no living object was visible on the +desolate plain. + +Whilst deliberating in which direction to ride, I suddenly heard a +pistol-shot, some distance to my left, which I knew to be Cobus's +signal that the oryx was at bay. Having ridden half a mile, I +discovered Cobus dismounted in a hollow, and no oryx in view. He had +succeeded in riding the quarry to a stand, and, I not immediately +appearing, he very injudiciously had at once lost sight of the buck +and left it. + +Having upbraided Cobus in no measured terms for his stupidity, I +sought to retrieve the fortunes of the day by riding in the direction +in which he had left the oryx. The ground here was uneven and +interspersed with low hillocks. We extended our front and rode on up +wind, and, having crossed two or three ridges, I discovered a troop of +bucks a long way ahead. Having made for these, they turned out to be +hartebeests. At this moment I perceived three magnificent oryx a short +distance to my left. On observing us, they cantered along the ridge +towards a fourth oryx, which I at once perceived to be "embossed with +foam and dark with soil," and knew to be the antelope sought for. Once +more we charged her. Our horses had now considerably recovered their +wind, but the poor oryx was much distressed; and after a chase of half +a mile I jumped off my horse and sent a bullet through her ribs, which +brought her to a stand, when I finished her with the other barrel. She +proved a fine old cow with very handsome horns; the spot on which she +fell being so sterile that we could not even obtain the smallest +bushes with which to conceal her from the vultures, we covered her +with my after-rider's saddle-cloth, which consisted of a large +blanket. The head, on which I placed great value, we cut off and bore +along with us. + +On my way home I come across Pater-son's after-rider, "jaging" a troop +of gemsboks, but fearfully to leeward, his illustrious master being +nowhere in sight. An hour after I reached the camp Paterson came in, +in a towering rage, having been unlucky in both his chases. I now +despatched one of my wagons to bring home my oryx. It returned about +twelve o'clock that night, carrying the skin of my gemsbok and also a +magnificent old blue wildebeest (the brindled gnoo,) which the +Hottentots had obtained in an extraordinary manner. He was found with +one of his fore legs caught over his horn, so that he could not run, +and they hamstrung him and cut his throat. He had probably managed to +get himself into this awkward attitude while fighting with some of his +fellows. The vultures had consumed all the flesh of the oryx, and +likewise torn my blanket with which I had covered her. + +Mr. Gumming thus describes an innumerable herd of blesboks which he +encountered in the plains of Africa. + +The game became plentiful in about ten days after we left Colesberg, +but when we came to the Vet River I beheld with astonishment and +delight decidedly one of the most wonderful displays which I had +witnessed during my varied sporting career in Southern Africa. On my +right and left the plain exhibited one purple mass of graceful +blesboks, which extended without a break as far as my eyes could +strain: the depth of their vast legions covered a breadth of about six +hundred yards. On pressing upon them, they cantered along before me, +not exhibiting much alarm, taking care, however, not to allow me to +ride within six hundred yards of them. On, on I rode, intensely +excited with the wondrous scene before me, and hoped at length to get +to windward of at least some portion of the endless living mass which +darkened the plain, but in vain. Like squadrons of dragoons, the +entire breadth of this countless herd held on their forward course as +if aware of my intention, and resolved not to allow one to weather +them. + +At length I determined to play upon their ranks, and, pressing my +horse to his utmost speed, I dashed forward, and, suddenly halting, +sprang from the saddle, and, giving my rifle at least two feet of +elevation, red right and left into one of their darkest masses. A +noble buck dropped to the right barrel, and the second shot told +loudly; no buck however, fell, and, after lying for half a minute the +prostrate blesbok rose, and was quickly lost sight of amongst the +retreating herd. + +In half a minute I was again loaded, and after galloping a few hundred +yards let drive into them, but was still unsuccessful. Excited, and +annoyed at my want of luck, I resolved to follow them up, and blaze +away while a shot remained in the locker, which I did; until, after +riding about eight or ten miles, I found my ammunition expended, and +not a single blesbok bagged, although at least a dozen must have been +wounded. It was now high time to retrace my steps and seek my wagons. +I accordingly took a point, and rode across the trackless country in +the direction for which they were steering. + +I very soon once more fell in with fresh herds of thousands of +blesboks. As it was late in the day, and I being on the right side for +the wind, the blesboks were very tame, and allowed me to ride along +within rifle-shot of them, and those which ran barged resolutely past +me up the wind in long-continued streams. I took a lucky course for +the wagons, and came right upon them, after they had outspanned on the +bank of the Vet River. I could willingly have devoted a month to +blesbok-shooting in this hunter's elysium. + +The following is one of Mr. Cumming's most remarkable lion hunts. + +We trecked up along the banks of the river for the Mariqua, and a +little before sundown fell in with two enormous herds of buffaloes, +one of which, consisting chiefly of bulls, stood under the shady trees +on one side of the bank, whilst the other, composed chiefly of cows +and calves, stood on the opposite side, a little higher up the river. +In all there were at least three hundred. Thinking it probable that if +I hunted them I might kill some old bull with a head perhaps worthy of +my collection, I ordered my men to outspan, and, having saddled +steeds, I gave chase to the herd of bulls, accompanied by Booi and my +dogs. After a short burst they took through the river, whereby I lost +sight of an old bull which carried the finest head in the herd. My +dogs, however, brought a cow to bay as they crossed the river, which I +shot standing in the water, but not before she had killed a +particularly favorite bull-dog, named Pompey. + +I then continued the chase, and again came up with the herd, which was +now considerably scattered: and after a sharp chase, part of which was +through a wait-a-bit thorn cover, I brought eight or nine fine bulls +to bay in lofty reeds at the river's margin, exactly opposite to my +camp; of these I singled out the two best heads, one of which I shot +with five balls, and wounded the other badly, but he made off while I +was engaged with his comrade. + +In the morning I instructed four of my people to cross the river, and +bring over a supply of buffalo meat. These men were very reluctant to +go, fearing a lion might have taken possession of the carcase. On +proceeding to reconnoitre from our side, they beheld the majestic +beast they dreaded walk slowly up the opposite bank from the dead +buffalo, and take up a position on the top of the bank under some +shady thorn-trees. I resolved to give him battle, and rode forth with +my double-barrelled Westly Richards rifle, followed by men leading the +dogs. Present, who was one of the party, carried his _roer_, no doubt +to perform wonders. The wind blew up the river; I accordingly held up +to seek a drift, and crossed a short distance above where the buffalo +lay. As we drew near the spot, I observed the lion sitting on the top +of the bank, exactly where he had been seen last by my people. + +On my right and within two hundred yards of me, was a very extensive +troop of pallahs, which antelope invariably manage to be in the way +when it is not wanted. On this occasion, however, I succeeded in +preventing my dogs from observing them. When the lion saw us coming, +he overhauled us for a moment, and then slunk back for concealment; +being well to leeward of him I ordered the dogs to be slipped, and +galloped forward. On finding that he was attacked, the lion at first +made a most determined bolt for it, followed by all the dogs at a +racing pace; and when they came up with him he would not bay, but +continued his course down the bank of the river, keeping close in +beside the reeds, growling terribly at the dogs, which kept up an +incessant angry barking. + +The bank of the river was intersected by deep watercourses, and the +ground being extremely slippery from the rain which had fallen during +the night, I was unable to overtake him until he came to bay in a +patch of lofty dense reeds which grew on the lower bank, immediately +adjacent to the river's margin. I had brought out eleven of my dogs, +and before I could come up three of them were killed. On reaching the +spot I found it impossible to obtain the slightest glimpse of the +lion, although the ground favored me, I having the upper bank to stand +upon; so, dismounting from my horse, I tried to guess, from his horrid +growling, his exact position, and fired several shots on chance, but +none of these hit him. I then commenced pelting him with lumps of +earth and sticks, there being no stones at hand. This had the effect +of making him change his position, but he still kept in the densest +part of the reeds, where I could do nothing with him. + +Presently my followers came up, who, as a matter of course, at once +established themselves safely in the tops of thorn trees. After about +ten minutes' bullying, the lion seemed to consider his quarters too +hot for him, and suddenly made a rush to escape from his persecutors, +continuing his course down along the edge of the river. The dogs, +however, again gave him chase, and soon brought him to bay in another +dense patch of reeds, just as bad as the last. + +Out of this in a few minutes I managed to start him, when he bolted up +the river, and came to bay in a narrow strip of reeds. Here he lay so +close that for a long time I could not ascertain his whereabouts; at +length, however, he made a charge among the dogs, and, coming forward, +took up a position near the outside of the reeds, where for the first +time I was enabled to give him a shot. My ball entered his body a +little behind the shoulder. On receiving it he charged growling after +the dogs, but not farther than the edge of the reeds, out of which he +was extremely reluctant to move I gave him a second shot, firing for +his head; my ball entered at the edge of his eye, and passed through +the back of the roof of his mouth. + +The lion then sprang up, and, facing about, dashed through the reeds, +and plunged into the river, across he swam, dyeing the waters with his +blood; one black dog, named "Schwart," alone pursued him. A huge +crocodile, attracted by the blood, followed in their wake, but +fortunately did not take my dog, which I much feared he would do. +Present fired at the lion as he swam, and missed him; both my barrels +were empty. Before, however, the lion could reach the opposite bank, I +had one loaded without patch, and just as his feet gained the ground I +made a fine shot at him neck, and turned him over dead on the spot. +Present, Carollus, and Adonis then swam in and brought him through. We +landed him by an old hippopotamus footpath, and the day being damp and +cold, we kindled a fire, beside which we skinned him. + +While this was going forward I had a painful duty to perform, viz. to +load one barrel, and blow out Rascality's brains, whom the lion had +utterly disabled in his after-quarters. Thus ended this protracted and +all but unsuccessful hunt; for when I at length managed to shoot him, +the dogs were quite tired of it, and, the reeds being green, I could +not have set them on fire to force him out. + +The lion proved to be a first-rate one; he was in the prime of life, +and had an exquisitely beautiful coat of hair. His mane was not very +rank; his awful teeth were quite perfect, a thing which in lions of +his age is rather unusual; and he had the finest tuft of hair on the +end of his tail that I had ever seen in a lion. + +In the chase, my after-rider, who fortunately did not carry my rifle, +got a tremendous capsize from bad riding, a common occurrence with +most after-riders who have been employed in my service. The afternoon +was spent in drying the mane of the wet lion, skinning out the feet, +and preserving the skin with alum and arsenical soap. + + + + +Hunting the Giraffe. + + +Mr. Cumming thus describes the giraffe. These gigantic and exquisitely +beautiful animals, which are admirably formed by nature to adorn the +fair forests that clothe the boundless plains of the interior, are +widely distributed throughout the interior of Southern Africa, but are +nowhere to be met with in great numbers. In countries unmolested by +the intrusive foot of man, the giraffe is found generally in herds +varying from twelve to sixteen; but I have not unfrequently met with +herds containing thirty individuals, and on one occasion I counted +forty together; this, however, was owing to chance, and about sixteen +may be reckoned as the average number of a herd. These herds are +composed of giraffes of various sizes, from the young giraffe of nine +or ten feet in height, to the dark chestnut-colored old bull of the +herd, whose exalted head towers above his companions, generally +attaining a height of upwards of eighteen feet. The females are of +lower stature and more delicately formed than the males, their height +averaging from sixteen to seventeen feet. + +Some writers have discovered ugliness and a want of grace in the +giraffe, but I consider that he is one of the most strikingly +beautiful animals in the creation; and when a herd of them is seen +scattered through a grove of the picturesque parasol-topped acacias +which adorn their native plains, and on whose uppermost shoots they +are enabled to browse by the colossal height with which nature has so +admirably endowed them, he must indeed be slow of conception who fails +to discover both grace and dignity in all their movements. + +On the 24th, at the dawn of day, we inspanned, and trekked about five +hours in a northeasterly course, through a boundless open country, +sparingly adorned with dwarfish old tree. In the distance the +long-sought mountains of Bamangwato at length loomed blue before me. We +halted beside a glorious fountain, which at once made me forget all +the cares and difficulties I had encountered in reaching it. + +The name of this fountain was Massouey, but I at once christened it +"the Elephant's own Fountain." This was a very remarkable spot on the +southern borders of endless elephant forests, at which I had at length +arrived. The fountain was deep and strong, situated in a hollow at the +eastern extremity of an extensive vley, and its margin was surrounded +by a level stratum of solid old red sandstone. Here and there lay a +thick layer of soil upon a rock, and this was packed flat with the +fresh spoors of elephants. Around the water's edge the very rock was +worn down by the gigantic feet which for ages had trodden there. + +The soil of the surrounding country was white and yellow sand, but +grass, trees, and bushes were abundant. From the borders of the +fountain a hundred well-trodden elephant foot-paths led away in every +direction, like the radii of a circle. The breadth of the paths was +about three feet; those leading to the northward and east was most +frequented, the country in those directions being well wooded. + +We drew up the wagons on a hillock on the eastern side of the water. +This position commanded a good view of any game that might approach to +drink. I had just cooked my breakfast, and commenced to feed when I +heard my men exclaim, "Almatig keek de ghroote clomp cameel;" and +raising my eyes from my sassayby stew, I beheld a truly beautiful and +very unusual scene. From the margin of the fountain there extended an +open level vley, without tree or bush, that stretched away about a +mile to the northward, where it was bounded by extensive grooves of +wide-spreading mimosas. Up the middle of this vley stalked a troop of +ten colossal giraffes, flanked by two large herds of blue wildebeests +and zebras, with an advance guard of pallahs. They were all coming to +the fountain to drink, and would be within rifle-shot of the wagons +before I could finish my breakfast. I, however, continued to swallow +my food with the utmost expedition, having directed my men to catch +and saddle Colesberg. + +In a few minutes the giraffes were slowly advancing within two hundred +yards, stretching their graceful necks, and gazing in wonder at the +unwonted wagons. Grasping my rifle, I now mounted Colesberg, and rode +slowly toward them. They continued gazing at the wagons until I was +within one hundred yards of them, when, whisking their long tails over +their rumps, they made off at an easy canter. As I pressed upon them +they increased their pace; but Colesberg had much the speed of them, +and before we had proceeded half a mile I was riding by the shoulder +of the dark chestnut old bull, whose head towered above the rest. +Letting fly at the gallop, I wounded him behind the shoulder; soon +after which I broke him from the herd, and presently going ahead of +him, he came to a stand. I then gave him a second bullet, somewhere +near the first. These two shots had taken effect, and he was now in my +power, but I would not lay him low so far from camp; so having waited +until he had regained his breath I drove him half way back toward the +wagons. Here he became obstreperous; so loading one barrel, and +pointing my rifle toward the clouds, I shot him in the throat, when, +rearing high, he fell backward and expired. + +This was a magnificent specimen of the giraffe, measuring upwards of +eighteen feet in height. I stood for nearly half an hour engrossed in +the contemplation of his extreme beauty and gigantic proportions; and +if there had been no elephants, I could have exclaimed, like Duke +Alexander of Gordon, when he killed the famous old stag with seventeen +tine, "Now I can die happy." But I longed for an encounter with the +noble elephants, and I thought little more of the giraffe than if I +had killed a gemsbok or an eland. + +There are various modes of capturing giraffes. The Americans, who seek +them for their menageries, have the Mexican lasso, a long cord which +is thrown over the animal's head; and by casting him to the ground and +surrounding him by a large force of hunters, he is then captured +without difficulty. + +Mr. Cumming thus notices the pitfalls used by the natives of Africa +for taking the giraffe and other animals:--Starvation was written in +the faces of these inhabitants of the forest. In their miserable +villages were a few small gardens, containing watermelons and a little +corn. Occasionally they have the luck to capture some large animal in +a pitfall, when for a season they live in plenty. But as they do not +possess salt, the flesh soon spoils, when they are compelled once more +to roam the forests in quest of fruits and roots, on which, along with +locusts, they in a great measure subsist. In districts where game is +abundant, they often construct their pits on a large scale, and erect +hedges in the form of a crescent, extending to nearly a mile on either +side of the pit. By this means, the game may easily be driven into the +pitfalls which are easily covered over with thin sticks and dry grass; +and thus whole herds of zebras and wildebeests are massacred at once, +which capture is followed by the most disgusting banquets, the poor +starving savages gorging and surfeiting in a manner worthy only of the +vulture or hyæna. They possess no cattle, and, if they did, the +nearest chief would immediately rob them. All parts of the country +abounded with pitfalls made by these and others of the Bakalahari. +Many of these had been dug expressly for the giraffe, and were +generally three feet wide, and ten long; their depth was from nine to +ten feet. They were placed in the path of the giraffe, and in the +vicinity of several of these we detected the bones of giraffes, +indicating the success that had attended their formation. + + + + +M'Dougal and the Indian + + +Several years previous to the Revolution a Scotchman and his wife, +named M'Dougal, emigrated to America. Having but very little money, he +purchased land where it was then sold for almost nothing, in a country +thinly peopled, and on the extreme verge of civilization. + +His first care was to construct a house and clear away some of the +trees around it This done, he spent his whole time, early and late, in +making a garden and cultivating a few fields. By unwearied industry +and with the occasional help of older settlers, he by degrees acquired +a stock of cattle, sheep, and pigs, and was in a rough way, possessed +of a comfortable independence. His greatest discomforts were, distance +from his neighbors, the church, market, and even the mill; but, above +all, the complete separation from his friends; and this he would have +felt still more had he been an idle man. + +One day, Farmer M'Dougal, having a quantity of corn to grind, knowing +that the distance was considerable, and the road none of the +smoothest, set out in the morning at sunrise, hoping he should reach +home again before dark. + +When the farmer was at home he always drove up the cows for his wife +to milk, morning and evening; but now this care devolved on her, and +the careful woman went out in quest of them. Not accustomed to go far +from the house, she found herself in an unknown country, and, with +neither pocket compass nor notched trees to guide, it is not to be +wondered that she wandered long and wearily to very little purpose. +Tall trees seemed to encompass her on every side, or where the view +was more open, she beheld the distant blue hills rising one behind +another; but no village spire or cottage chimney was there to cheer +her on her way, and fatigued with the search, and despairing of +finding the cattle, she resolved while it was yet light, to retrace +her steps homeward. + +But this resolution was more easily formed than executed; she became +completely bewildered; she knew not in which direction to turn, and, +at length, with tears in her eyes, and her mind agitated almost to +distraction, she sunk on the ground. But she had not rested there many +minutes before she was startled by the sound of approaching footsteps, +and, on looking up, she beheld before her an Indian hunter. + +Although Mrs. M'Dougal knew that there were Indians living in the +neighborhood, she had never yet seen one, and her terror was very +great. The Indian, however, knew her; he had seen her before, he knew +where she lived, and he instantly guessed the cause of her distress. +He could speak but a few words of English; but he made signs for her +to follow him. She did so, and after a few minutes' walk, they arrived +at the door of an Indian wigwam. He invited her to enter, but not +being able to persuade her to do so, he darted into the wigwam, and +spoke a few words to his wife, who instantly appeared, and by the +kindness of her manner induced the stranger to enter their humble +abode. Venison was prepared for supper, and Mrs. M'Dougal, though +still alarmed at the novelty of her situation, could not refuse to +partake of the savory meal. + +Seeing that their guest was weary, the Indians removed from their +place two beautiful deer skins, and, by stretching and fixing them +across, divided the wigwam into two apartments. Mats were then spread +in both, and the stranger was made to understand that one division was +for her accommodation. But here again her courage failed her, and to +the most pressing entreaties she replied that she would sit and sleep +by the fire. This determination seemed to puzzle the Indian and his +squaw sadly. They looked at one another, and conversed softly in their +own language; and at length, the squaw taking her guest by the hand, +led her to her couch and became her bedfellow. + +In the morning she awoke greatly refreshed, and anxious to depart +without further delay; but this her new friends would not permit, +until she had eaten of their corn cakes and venison. Then the Indian +accompanied his guest, and soon conducted her to the spot where the +cattle were grazing. These he drove from the wood, on the edge of +which Mrs. M'Dougal descried her husband, who was equally delighted at +seeing her, as her absence from home all night had caused him great +uneasiness. They invited their Indian benefactor to their house, and, +on his departure, presented him with a suit of clothes. + +Three days after, he returned and endeavored, partly by signs, and +partly by broken English, to induce Farmer M'Dougal to follow him into +the forest; but he refused. Time was precious to him, who had to work +hard for every thing he possessed, and the Indian repeated his +entreaties in vain. The poor fellow looked grieved and disappointed; +but a moment after, a sudden thought struck him. He hit on an +expedient which none but an Indian hunter would have thought of. + +Mrs. M'Dougal had a young child, which the Indian's quick eye had not +failed to notice; and, finding that his eloquence was completely +thrown away upon the parents, he approached the cradle, seized the +child, and darted out of the house with the speed of an antelope. The +father and mother instantly followed, calling loudly on him to return; +but he had no such intention. He led them on, now slower, now faster, +and occasionally turning towards them, laughing, and holding up the +child to their view. + +It is needless to go into all the details of this singular journey, +further than to say that the Indian, instead of enticing them to his +own wigwam, as they expected, halted on the margin of a most beautiful +prairie, covered with the richest vegetation, and extending over +several thousand acres. In a moment the child was restored to its +parents, who, wondering what so strange a proceeding could mean, stood +awhile panting for breath, and looking at one another with silent +astonishment. + +The Indian, on the other hand, seemed overjoyed at the success of his +manoeuvre, and never did a human being frisk about and gesticulate +with greater animation. We have heard of a professor of signs, and if +such a person were wanted, the selection would not be a matter of +difficulty, so long as any remnant exists in the aborigines of North +America. All travellers agree in describing their gestures as highly +dignified, and their countenances intelligent; and we have Mr. +M'Dougal's authority for stating that the hero of this tale proved +himself a perfect master of the art of eloquence his broken English +was nearly in these words: + +"You think Indian treacherous; you think him wish steal the child. No, +no; Indian has child of his own. Indian knew you long ago; saw you +when you not see him; saw you hard working man. Some white men bad, +and hurt poor Indian. You not bad; you work hard for your wife and +child; but you choose bad place; you never make rich there. Indian see +your cattle go in forest; think you come and catch them; you not come; +your wife come. Indian find her faint and weary; take her home; wife +fear go in; think Indian kill her! No, no; Indian lead her back; meet +you very sad; then very glad to see her. You kind to Indian; give him +meat and drink, and better clothes than your own. Indian grateful; +wish you come here; not come; Indian very sorry; take the child; know +you follow child. If Indian farm, Indian farm here. Good ground; not +many trees; make road in less than half a moon; Indians help you; +Indians your friends; come, live here." + +M'Dougal immediately saw the advantage that such a change would be to +him, and, taking the Indian's advice, the day was soon fixed for the +removal of the log-house, along with the rest of his goods and +chattels; and the Indian, true to his word, brought a party of his red +brethren to assist in one of the most romantic removals that ever took +place, either in the Old World, or the New. + +In a few days a roomy log-house was raised, and garden marked out in +the most fertile and beautiful part of the prairie. The Indians +continued friendly and faithful, and the good understanding; between +them and the white settlers was a source of great comfort to both +parties. + + + + +Contests with Jaguars + + +Nature, ever provident, has scattered with a bounteous hand her gifts +in the country of the Orinoco, where the jaguar especially abounds. +The savannahs, which are covered with grasses and slender plants, +present a surprising luxuriance and diversity of vegetation; piles of +granite blocks lie here and there, and, at the margins of the plains, +occur deep valleys and ravines, the humid soil of which is covered +with arums, heliconias, llianas. The shelves of primitive rocks, +scarcely elevated above the plain, are partially covered with lichens +and mosses, together with succulent plants and tufts of evergreen +shrubs with shining leaves. The horizon is bounded with mountains +overgrown with forests of laurels, among which clusters of palms rise +to the height of more than a hundred feet, their slender stems +supporting tufts of feathery foliage. To the east of Atures other +mountains appear, the ridge of which is composed of pointed cliffs, +rising like huge pillars above the trees. + +When these columnar masses are situated near the Orinoco, flamingoes, +herons, and other wading birds perch on their summits, and look like +sentinels. In the vicinity of cataracts, the moisture which is +diffused in the air, produces a perpetual verdure, and wherever soil +has accumulated on the plains, it is adorned by the beautiful shrubs +of the mountains. + +Such is one view of the picture, but it has its dark side also; those +flowing waters, which fertilize the soil, abound with alligators: +those charming shrubs and flourishing plants, are the hiding places of +deadly serpents; those laurel forests, the favorite lurking spot of +the fierce jaguar; while the atmosphere, so clear and lovely, abounds +with musquitoes and zancudoes, to such a degree that in the missions +of Orinoco, the first questions in the morning when two people meet, +are, "How did you find the zancudoes during the night? How are we +to-day for the musquitoes?" + +It is in the solitude of this wilderness, that the jaguar, stretched +out motionless and silent, upon one of the lower branches of the +ancient trees, watches for its passing prey; a deer, urged by thirst, +is making its way to the river, and approaches the tree where this +enemy lies in wait. The jaguar's eyes dilate, the ears are thrown +down, and the whole frame becomes flattened against the branch. The +deer, all unconscious of danger, draws near, every limb of the jaguar +quivers with excitement every fibre is stiffened for the spring; then, +with the force of a bow unbent, he darts with a terrific yell upon his +prey, seizes it by the back of the neck, a blow is given by his +powerful paw, and with broken spine the deer falls lifeless to the +earth. The blood is then sucked, and the prey dragged to some favorite +haunt, where it is devoured at leisure. + +Humboldt surprised a jaguar in his retreat. It was near the Joval, +below the mouth of the Cano de la Tigrera, that in the midst of wild +and awful scenery, he saw an enormous jaguar stretched beneath the +shade of a large mimosa. He had just killed a chiguire, an animal +about the size of a pig, which he held with one of his paws, while the +vultures were assembled in flocks around. It was curious to observe +the mixture of boldness and timidity which these birds exhibited; for +although they advanced within two feet of the jaguar, they instantly +shrunk back at the least motion he made. In order to observe more +clearly their proceedings, the travellers went into their little boat, +when the tyrant of the forest withdrew behind the bushes, leaving his +victim, upon which the vultures attempted to devour it, but were soon +put to flight by the jaguar rushing into the midst of them. + +The following night, Humboldt and his party were entertained by a +jaguar hunter, half-naked, and as brown as a Zambo, who prided himself +on being of the European race; and called his wife and daughter, who +were as slightly clothed as himself, Donna Isabella and Donna Manuela. +As this aspiring personage had neither home nor hut, he invited the +strangers to swing their hammocks near his own between two trees, but, +as ill-luck would have it, a thunder storm came on, which wetted them +to the skin; but their troubles did not end here, for Donna Isabella's +cat had perched on one of the trees, and frightened by the +thunderstorm, jumped down upon one of the travellers in his cot; he +naturally supposed that he was attacked by a wild beast, and as smart +a battle took place between the two, as that celebrated feline +engagement of Don Quixotte; the cat, who, perhaps had most reason to +consider himself an ill-used personage, at length bolted, but the +fears of the gentleman had been excited to such degree, that he could +hardly be quieted. The following night was not more propitious to +slumber. The party finding no tree convenient, had stuck their oars in +the sand, and suspended their hammocks upon them. About eleven, there +arose in the immediately adjoining wood, so terrific a noise, that it +was impossible to sleep. The Indians distinguished the cries of +sapagous, alouates, jaguars, cougars, peccaris, sloths, curassows, +paraquas, and other birds, so that there must have been as full a +forest chorus as Mr. Hullah himself could desire. + +When the jaguars approached the edge of the forest, which they +frequently did, a dog belonging to the party began to howl, and seek +refuge under their cots. Sometimes, after a long silence, the cry of +the jaguars came from the tops of the trees, when it was followed by +an outcry among the monkeys. Humboldt supposes the noise thus made by +the inhabitants of the forest during the night, to be the effect of +some contest that had arisen among them. + +On the pampas of Paraguay, great havoc is committed among the herds of +horses by the jaguars, whose strength is quite sufficient to enable +them to drag off one of these animals. Azara caused the body of a +horse, which had been recently killed by a jaguar, to be drawn within +musket-shot of a tree, in which he intended to pass the night, +anticipating that the jaguar would return in the course of it, to its +victim; but while he was gone to prepare for his adventure, behold the +animal swam across a large and deep river, and having seized the horse +with his teeth, dragged it full sixty paces to the river, swam across +again with his prey, and then dragged the carcass into a into a +neighboring wood: and all this in sight of a person, whom Azara had +placed to keep watch. But the jaguars have also an aldermanic gout for +turtles, which they gratify in a very systematic manner, as related by +Humboldt, who was shown large shells of turtles emptied by them. + +They follow the turtles toward the beach, where the laying of eggs is +to take place, surprise them on the sand, and in order to devour them +at their ease, adroitly turn them on their backs; and as they turn +many more than they can devour in one night, the Indians often profit +by their cunning. The jaguar pursues the turtle quite into the water, +and when not very deep, digs up the eggs; they, with the alligator, +the heron, and the gallinago vulture ore the most formidable enemies +the little turtles have. Humboldt justly remarks, When we reflect on +the difficulty that the naturalist finds in getting out the body of +the turtle, without separating the upper and the under shell, we +cannot enough admire the suppleness of the jaguar's paw, which empties +the double armor of the _arraus_, as if the adhering parts of the +muscles had been cut by a surgical instrument. + +The rivers of South America swarm with alligators, and these wage +perpetual war with the jaguars. It is said, that when the jaguar +surprises the alligator asleep on the hot sandbank, he attacks him in +a vulnerable part under the tail, and often kills him, but let the +alligator only get his antagonist into the water, and the tables are +turned, for the jaguar is held under the water until he is drowned. + +The onset of the jaguar is always made from behind, partaking of the +stealthy treacherous character of his tribe; if a herd of animals, or +a party of men be passing, it is the last that is always the object of +his attack. When he has made choice of his victim, he springs upon the +neck, and placing one paw upon the back of the head, while he seizes +the muzzle with the other twists the head round with a sudden jerk +which dislocates the spine, and deprives it instantaneously of life: +sometimes, especially when satiated with food, he is indolent and +cowardly, skulking in the gloomiest depths of the forest, and scared +by the most trifling causes, but when urged by the cravings of hunger, +the largest quadrupeds, and man himself, are attacked with fury and +success. + +Mr. Darwin has given an interesting account of the habits of the +jaguar: the wooded banks of the great South American rivers appear to +be their favorite haunt, but south of the Plata they frequent the +reeds bordering the lakes; wherever they are they seem to require +water. They are particularly abundant on the isles of the Payana, +their common prey being the carpincho, so that it is generally said, +that where carpinchos are plentiful, there is little fear of the +jaguar; possibly, however, a jaguar which has tasted human flesh, may +afterwards become dainty, and like the lions of South Africa, and the +tigers of India, acquire the dreadful character of maneaters, from +preferring that food to all others. + +It is not many years ago since a very large jaguar found his way into +a church in Santa Fe; soon afterward a very corpulent padre entering, +was at once killed by him: His equally stout coadjutor, wondering what +had detained the padre, went to look after him, and also fell a victim +to the jaguar; a third priest, marveling greatly at the unaccountable +absence of the others, sought them, and the jaguar having by this time +acquired a strong clerical taste, made at him also, but he, being +fortunately of the slender order, dodged the animal from pillar to +post, and happily made his escape; the beast was destroyed by being +shot from a corner of the building, which was unroofed, and thus paid +the penalty of his sacrilegious propensities. + +On the Parana, they have even entered vessels by night. One dark +evening the mate of a vessel, hearing a heavy but peculiar footstep on +deck, went up to see what it was, and was immediately met by a jaguar, +who had come on board, seeking what he could devour; a severe struggle +ensued, assistance arrived, and the brute was killed, but the man lost +the use of the arm which had been ground between his teeth. + +The Gauchos say that the jaguar, when wandering about at night, is +much tormented by the foxes yelping as they follow him: this may +perhaps serve to alarm his prey, but must be as teasing to him as the +attentions of swallows are to an owl, who happens to be taking a +daylight promenade; and if owls ever swear, it is under these +circumstances. + +Mr. Darwin, when hunting on the banks of the Uruguay, was shown three +well-known trees to which the jaguars constantly resort, for the +purpose, it is said, of sharpening their claws. Every one must be +familiar with the manner in which cats, with out-stretched legs and +extended claws, will card the legs of chairs and of men; so with the +jaguar; and of these trees the bark was worn quite smooth in front; on +each side there were deep grooves, extending in an oblique line nearly +a yard in length. The scars were of different ages, arid the +inhabitants could always tell when a jaguar was in the neighborhood, +by his recent autograph on one of these trees. + + + + +The Indian Parents. + + +Captain William Wells was a noted hunter and ranger in the western +country. He was captured by the Indians when but a child, and raised +among them. When the Indians defeated the United States troops, who +were under the command of Generals Harmer and St. Clair, Captain Wells +fought among the red men, and distinguished himself by his courage and +skill. But when General Wayne was placed at the head of the United +States forces in the west. + +Captain Wells came over to the side of the whites, and received the +command of a company of rangers, or woodmen, who acted as spies and +scouts for General Wayne. The captain performed many daring exploits, +and caused the Indians to feel that in losing him they had gained a +terrible enemy. + +Captain Wells was desperate in battle, but he often displayed much +kindness and generosity. On one of his excursions with a party of +rangers, through the Indian country, he came to the bank of the river +St. Mary, and discovered some Indians in canoes coming across the +stream. The captain dismounted, and concealed his men near the bank of +the river, while he went to the bank in open view, and called to the +Indians to come over. As he was dressed nearly in the Indian style, +and spoke to them in their own language, the Indians, without +suspicion of danger came across the river. The moment the first canoe +struck the shore, Wells heard the clicking of the locks of his +comrades' rifles, as they prepared to shoot the Indians. But who +should be in the canoe, but his Indian father, mother, and their +children! As his comrades were coming forward with their rifles +cocked, ready to pour in the deadly storm, Wells called upon them to +hold their hands. He then informed them who the Indians were, and +solemnly declared, that the man who would attempt to injure one of +them should receive a ball in his head. He continued, "That family fed +me when I was hungry, clothed me when I was naked, and kindly nursed +me when I was sick. In every respect they were as kind and +affectionate to me as they were to their own children. No one +belonging to them shall be hurt." But four men were with the Indian +party, and they did not attempt hostility. The short, pathetic speech +of Captain Wells found its way to the hearts of his comrades. They +entered into his feelings, threw down their rifles and tomahawks, went +to the canoe, and shook hands with the trembling Indians in the most +friendly manner. + +Captain Wells assured the red men that they had nothing to fear from +him, and after talking with them to dispel their dread, he said, that +General Wayne was approaching with an overwhelming force; that the +best thing that the Indians could do was to make peace; that the white +men did not wish to continue the war. He urged his Indian father to +keep out of danger for the future. The Indians appeared very grateful +for his clemency. After the captain bade them farewell, they pushed +off their canoe, and went down the river as fast as they could paddle. + +Wells's conduct on this occasion proved him to be as generous as he +was brave. This famous ranger was killed near Chicago, at the +commencement of the war of 1812, in an attempt to save an American +garrison. At that time sixty-four whites were attacked by four hundred +red men, and all killed or captured. The Indians were very glad to get +the scalp of Captain Wells. He was as wild a spirit as ever shouldered +a rifle or wielded a tomahawk. + + + + +Attack on Captain Ward's Boat + + +About 1784 and '85, boats ascending the Ohio river were often fired +upon by the Indians, and sometimes the crew were all killed or made +prisoners. A t that time, the whites had no settlements on either side +of the Ohio. But Kentucky contained several very important stations. +In 1785, Captain James Ward descended the river, under circumstances, +which rendered a meeting with the Indians peculiarly to be dreaded. + +The captain with half a dozen others, one of them his nephew, embarked +in a crazy boat, about forty-five long, and eight feet wide, with no +other bulwark than a single pine plank, above each gunnel. The boat +was much encumbered with baggage, and seven horses were on board. +Having seen no enemy for several days, they had become secure and +careless, and permitted the boat to drift within fifty yards of the +Ohio shore. Suddenly several Indians showed themselves on the bank, +and opened heavy fire upon the boat. The astonishment of the crew may +be conceived. Captain Ward and his nephew were at the oars when the +enemy appeared, and the captain knowing that their safety depended +upon their ability to regain the middle of the river, kept his seat +firmly, and exerted his utmost powers at the oar, but his nephew +started up at the sight of the enemy, seized his rifle and was in the +act of levelling it, when he received a ball in the breast, and fell +dead in the bottom of the boat. Unfortunately, his oar fell into the +river, and the Captain having no one to pull against him, rather urged +the boat nearer to the hostile shore than otherwise. He quickly seized +a plank, however, and giving his own oar to another of the crew, he +took the station which his nephew had held, and unhurt by the bullets +which flew around him, continued to exert himself, until the boat had +reached a more respectable distance. He then, for the first time, +looked around him in order to observe the condition of the crew. His +nephew lay in his blood, perfectly lifeless,--the horses had been all +killed or mortally wounded. Some had fallen overboard--others were +struggling violently, and causing their frail bark to dip water so as +to excite the most serious apprehensions. + +But the crew presented the most singular spectacle. A captain, who had +served with reputation in the continental army, seemed now totally +bereft of his faculties. He lay upon his back in the bottom of the +boat, with hands uplifted, and a countenance in which terror was +personified, exclaiming in a tone of despair, "Oh, Lord! Oh, Lord!" A +Dutchman, whose weight might amount at about three hundred pounds, was +busily engaged in endeavoring to find shelter for his bulky person, +which, from the lowness of the gunnels, was a very difficult +undertaking. In spite of his utmost efforts, a portion of his +posterial luxuriance, appeared above the gunnel, and afforded a mark +to the enemy, which brought a constant shower of balls around it. In +vain he shifted his position. The lump still appeared, and the balls +still flew around it, until the Dutchman, losing all patience, raised +his head above the gunnel, and in a tone of querulous remonstrance, +called out, "Oh, now I git tat nonsense, tere,--will you!" Not a shot +was fired from the boat. + +At one time, after they had partly reined the current, Captain Ward +attempted to bring his rifle to bear upon them, but so violent was the +agitation of the boat, from the furious struggles of the horses, that +he could not steady his piece within twenty yards of the enemy, and +quickly laying it aside returned to the oar. The Indians followed them +down the river for more than an hour, but having no canoes, they did +not attempt to board; and as the boat was at length transferred to the +opposite side of the river, they finally abandoned the pursuit and +disappeared. None of the crew, save the young man already mentioned, +were hurt, although the Dutchman's seat of honor served as a target +for the space of an hour, and the continental captain was deeply +mortified at the sudden, and, as he said, "unaccountable" panic which +had seized him. Captain Ward himself was protected by a post, which +had been fastened to the gunnel, and behind which he sat while rowing. + + + + +Massy Herbeson and her Family + + +During the settlement of the interior of Pennsylvania, the Indians +were almost constantly hostile. Houses were burned, fields desolated, +and the poor, hard-working settlers were killed, or carried into a +dreadful captivity. The sufferings of some of these captives can +scarcely be described. The following narrative will give some idea of +savage nature. + +On the 22nd of May, 1792, Massy Herbeson and her children were taken +from their house, within two hundred yards of Reed's blockhouse, and +about twenty-five miles from Pittsburg. Mr. Herbeson, being one of the +spies, was from home; two of the scouts lodged with her that night, +but had left her house about sunrise, in order to go to the +blockhouse, and had left the door standing wide open. Shortly after +the two scouts went away, a number of Indians came into the house, and +drew her out of bed by the feet; the two eldest children, who also lay +in another bed were drawn out in the same manner; a younger child, +about one year old slept with Mrs. Herbeson. The Indians then +scattered the articles about in the house. + +Whilst they were at this work, Mrs. Herbeson went out of the house, +and hallooed to the people in the blockhouse; one of the Indians then +ran up and stopped her mouth, another ran up with his tomahawk drawn, +and a third ran and seized the tomahawk and called her his squaw; this +last Indian claimed her as his, and continued by her. About fifteen of +the Indians then ran down towards the blockhouse and fired their guns +at the block and store-house, in consequence of which one soldier was +killed and another wounded, one having been at the spring, and the +other in coming or looking out of the store-house. Mrs. Herbeson told +the Indians there were about forty men in the blockhouse, and each man +had two guns, the Indians then went to those that were firing at the +blockhouse, and brought them back. + +They then began to drive Mrs. Herbeson and her children away; but a +boy, about three years old, being unwilling to leave the house, they +took it by the heels, and dashed it against the house, then stabbed +and scalped it. They then took Mrs. Herbeson and the two other +children to the top of the hill, where they stopped until they tied up +the plunder they had got. While they were busy about this, Mrs. +Herbeson counted them, and the number amounted to thirty-two, +including two white men, that were with them, painted like the +Indians. Several of the Indians could speak English, and she knew +several of them very well, having often seen them go up and down the +Alleghany river; two of them she knew to be Senecas, and two Munsees, +who had got their guns mended by her husband about two years ago. + +They sent two Indians with her, and the others took their course +towards Puckty. She, the children, and the two Indians had not gone +above two hundred yards, when the Indians caught two of her uncle's +horses, put her and the youngest child on one, and one of the Indians +and the other child on the other. The two Indians then took her and +the children to the Alleghany river, and took them over in bark +canoes, as they could not get the horses to swim the river. After they +had crossed the river, the oldest child, a boy about five years of +age, began to mourn for his brother, when one of the Indians +tomahawked and scalped him. They travelled all day very hard, and that +night arrived at a large camp, covered with bark, which, by +appearance, might hold fifty men. That night they took her about three +hundred yards from the camp, into a large dark bottom, bound her arms, +gave her some bed clothes, and lay down one on each side of her. + +The next morning they took her into a thicket, on the hill side, and +one remained with her till the middle of the day, while the other went +to watch the path, lest some white people should follow them. They +then exchanged places during the remainder of the day. She got a piece +of dry venison, about the size of an egg, that day, and a piece about +the same size the day they were marching; that evening, (Wednesday, +23d) they moved her to a new place, and secured her as the night +before. During the day of the 23'd, she made several attempts to get +the Indian's gun or tomahawk, that was guarding her, and, had she +succeeded, she would have put him to death. She was nearly detected in +trying to get the tomahawk from his belt. + +The next morning one of the Indians went out, as on the day before, to +watch the path. The other lay down and fell asleep. When she found he +was sleeping, she stole her short gown, handkerchief, a child's frock, +and then made her escape; the sun was then about half an hour +high--she took her course from the Alleghany, in order to deceive the +Indians, as they would naturally pursue her that way; that day she +travelled along Conequenessing creek. The next day she altered her +course, and, as she believes, fell upon the waters of Pine Creek, +which empties into the Alleghany. Thinking this not her best course, +she took over some dividing ridges,--lay on a dividing ridge on Friday +night, and on Saturday came to Squaw run--continued down the run until +an Indian, or some other person, shot a deer; she saw the person about +one hundred and fifty yards from her--the deer running and the dog +pursuing it, which, from the appearance, she supposed to be an Indian +dog. + +She then altered her course, but again came to the same run, and +continued down until she got so tired that she was obliged to lie +down, it having rained on her all that day and the night before; she +lay there that night; it rained constantly. On Sunday morning, she +proceeded down the run until she came to the Alleghany river, and +continued down the river till she came opposite to Carter's house, on +the inhabited side, where she made a noise, and James Closier brought +her over the river to Carter's house. + +Such outrages were frequent upon the frontier, in time of war with the +Indians. Many instances of the generosity and hospitality of the red +men are recorded. But when we remember that they made war and the +chase the business of their lives, and that they never would be +content to till the ground, as the neighbors of the whites we cannot +regret that they have disappeared from our vicinity. + + + + +A Nocturnal Adventure with Six Lions + + +Mr. Cumming, whose adventures we have already found so entertaining, +had a method of hunting for wild beasts, and especially lions, which +was quite curious. He dug holes near the fountains or streams, where +the animals were accustomed to resort at night for water, and +concealed himself and his companions in them, to wait for their +approach. The following is a specimen of this kind of adventure. + +On the afternoon of the 4th I deepened my hole and watched the water. +As the sun went down two graceful springboks and a herd of pallah came +and drank, when I shot the best pallah in the troop. At night I +watched the water with Kleinboy: very soon a cow black rhinoceros came +and drank, and got off for the present with two balls in her. A little +afterwards two black rhinoceroses and two white ones came to the +waterside. We both fired together at the finest of the two black +rhinoceroses; she ran three hundred yards, and fell dead. Soon after +this the other black rhinoceros came up again and stood at the +waterside; I gave her one ball after the shoulder; she ran a hundred +yards and fell dead. In half an hour a third old borele appeared, and, +having inspected the two dead ones, he came up to the waterside. We +fired together; he ran two hundred yards and fell dead. I felt +satisfied with our success, and gave it up for the night. + +By the following evening the natives had cleared away the greater part +of the two rhinoceroses which lay right in the way of the game +approaching the water; I, however, enforced their leaving the third +rhinoceros, which had fallen on the bare rising ground, almost +opposite to my hiding-place, in the hope of attracting a lion, as I +intended to watch the water at night. Soon after the twilight had died +away, I went down to my hole with Kleinboy and two natives, who lay +concealed in another hole, with Wolf and Boxer ready to slip, in the +event of wounding a lion. + +On reaching the water I looked towards the carcase of the rhinoceros, +and, to my astonishment, I beheld the ground alive with large +creatures, as though a troop of zebras were approaching the fountain +to drink. Kleinboy remarked to me that a troop of zebras were standing +on the height. I answered, "Yes," but I knew very well that zebras +would not be capering around the carcase of a rhinoceros. I quickly +arranged my blankets, pillow, and guns, in the hole, and then lay down +to feast my eyes on the interesting sight before me. It was bright +moonlight, as clear as I need wish, and within one night of being full +moon. There were six large lions, about twelve or fifteen hyaenas, and +from twenty to thirty jackals, feasting on and around the carcases of +the three rhinoceroses. The lions feasted peacefully, but the hyenas +and jackals fought over every mouthful, and chased one another round +and round the carcases, growling, laughing, screeching, chattering, +and howling without any intermission. The hyaenas did not seem afraid +of the lions, although they always gave way before them; for I +observed that they followed them in the most disrespectful manner, and +stood laughing, one or two on either side, when any lions came after +their comrades to examine pieces of skin or bones which they were +dragging away. I had lain watching this banquet for about four hours, +in the strong hope that, when the lions had feasted, they would come +and drink. Two black and two white rhinoceroses had made their +appearance, but, scared by the smell of the blood, they soon made off. + +At length the lions seemed satisfied. They all walked about with their +heads up, and seemed to be thinking about the water, and in two +minutes one of them turned his face towards me, and came on; he was +immediately followed by the second lion, and in half a minute by the +other four. It was a decided and general move, they were all coming to +drink right bang in my face, within fifteen yards of me. + +I charged the unfortunate, pale, and panting Kleinboy to convert +himself into a stone, and knowing, from old spoor, exactly where they +would drink, I cocked my left barrel, and placed myself and gun in +position. The six lions came steadily on along the ridge, until within +sixty yards of me, when they halted for a minute to reconnoitre. One +of them stretched out his massive arms on the rock and lay down; the +others then came on, and he rose and brought up the rear. They walked, +as I had anticipated, to the old drinking place, and three of them had +put down their heads and were lapping the water loudly, when Kleinboy +thought it necessary to show his ugly head. I turned my head slowly to +rebuke him, and again taming to the lions I found myself discovered. + +An old lioness, who seemed to take the lead, had detected me, and, +with her head high and her eyes fixed full upon me, she was coming +slowly round the corner of the little vley to cultivate further my +acquaintance! This unfortunate proceeding put a stop at once to all +further contemplation. I thought, in my haste, that it was perhaps +most prudent to shoot this lioness, especially as none of the others +had noticed me. I accordingly moved my arm and covered her: she saw me +move and halted, exposing a full broadside, I fired; the ball entered +one shoulder and passed out behind the other. She bounded forward with +repeated growls, and was followed by her five comrades all enveloped +in a cloud of dust; nor did they stop until they had reached the cover +behind me, except one old gentleman, who halted and looked back for a +few seconds, when I fired, but the ball went high. I listened +anxiously for some sound to denote the approaching end of the lioness; +nor listened in vain. I heard her growling and stationary, as if +dying. In one minute her comrades crossed the vley a little below me, +and made towards the rhinoceros. I then slipped Wolf and Boxer on her +scent, and, following them into the river, I found her lying dead +within twenty yards of where the old lion had lain two nights before. +This was a fine old lioness, with perfect teeth, and was certainly a +noble prize; but I felt dissatisfied at not having rather shot a lion, +which I had most certainly done if my Hottentot had not destroyed my +contemplation. + + + + +Attacks on Brookfield and Deerfield. + + +The early settlers of New England did not suffer much from the +hostility of the Indians, until the breaking out of King Philip's war, +in 1675. Philip was the son of Massasoit, who was the friend of the +English from the time of the landing of the pilgrims until the day of +his death. Offended at the manner in which the English behaved towards +his brother, Alexander, Philip resolved upon a war of extermination, +and, for this purpose, he united nearly all the New England tribes. +The war was very destructive to the whites, though it ended in the +total overthrow of the Indian power. + +One of the first places attacked was the town of Brookfield, +Massachusetts. Upon receiving intelligence that Philip had begun +hostilities, the inhabitants all collected in one large house. +Captains Wheeler and Hutchinson went into the country of the Nipmucks, +to treat with them, but they, instigated by Philip, fired upon the +party of whites, killed eight men and mortally wounded Captain +Hutchinson. The rest fled to Brookfield, pursued by the Indians. The +inhabitants were now surrounded by a host of foes, who burned every +house in the place, except the one in which the people and soldiers +were collected. Here they directed their whole force. Upon this house +they poured a storm of musket balls for about two days. Countless +numbers pierced through the walls, yet only one person was killed. +Brands and rags dipped in brimstone were thrust against the house with +long poles. The Indians shot arrows, tipped with fire, upon the roof. +They loaded a cart with flax and tow, and with long poles fastened +together, pushed it against the house. Destruction seemed inevitable, +the house was kindling. The bold and resolute settlers were beginning +to give up all hope, when a sudden and providential fall of rain +quenched the flames. + +The savages yelled with the fury of disappointment, and resorted to +other schemes for the destruction of the house and its inmates. In all +probability, they would have succeeded in effecting their object; but +on the 4th of August, Major Willard, with a party of troops, appeared, +and attacked the besiegers. The conflict was soon decided. The Indians +never could withstand an equal number of whites in a fair field. They +now gave way, after suffering a great loss. The people of Brookfield +were thus happily delivered from their savage foe. But their houses +were burned, and stock destroyed. + +The next place attacked was Deerfield, upon the Connecticut river, +which experienced the horror of Indian atrocity several times during +the course of the war. The town was first attacked in September, 1675, +when most of the houses were burned, and some of the inhabitants +killed. At Deerfield, there were three thousand bushels of wheat in +stock, which it was resolved to bring to the general magazine at +Hadley. Captain Lathrop, with ninety men, guarded the teams employed +in this service. On the way, they were assaulted by about seven +hundred Indians. Few of the whites escaped. They fought bravely, and +killed a great many of the Indians, but were nearly all slain. Captain +Mosely marched from Deerfield to reinforce Captain Lathrop. Arriving +too late, he was compelled to sustain the onset of the whole force of +the enemy, until Major Treat came to his relief, and put the Indians +to flight. + +In the early part of February, a large body of Indians attempted to +surprise Deerfield by night. But the inhabitants were alarmed and +prepared, and after a short conflict succeeded in driving off the +savages. Soon after a party of whites from Deerfield attacked a party +of Indians in a swamp, near that town, and killed one hundred and +twenty of them. But the whites, on their return, were waylaid, and as +they had expended all their ammunition they fell an easy prey. Fifty +were killed and eighty-four wounded. Such were the horrors of King +Philip's war. + + + + +Attack on Mrs. Scraggs's House. + + +On the night of the 11th of April, 1787, the house of the widow +Scraggs, in Bourbon county, Kentucky, was attacked by the Indians. The +widow occupied what is called double cabin, one room of which was +tenanted by the old lady herself, together with two grown sons and a +widowed daughter, who was at that time suckling an infant, while the +other was occupied by two unmarried daughters, from sixteen to twenty +years of age, together with a little girl, not more than half grown. + +The hour was eleven o'clock at night. One of the unmarried daughters +was still busily engaged at the loom, but the other members of the +family, with the exception of one of the sons, had retired to rest. +Some symptoms of an alarming nature had engaged the attention of the +young man for an hour before any thing of a decided character took +place. The cry of owls was heard in the adjoining wood, answering each +other in rather an unusual manner. The horses which were enclosed as +usual in a pound near the house were more than commonly their excited, +and by repeated snorting and galloping, announced the presence of some +object of terror. The young man was often upon the point of awakening +his brother, but was as often restrained by the fear of incurring +ridicule and their reproach of timidity, at that time an unpardonable +blemish in the character of a Kentuckian. At length, hasty steps were +heard in the yard, and quickly afterwards several knocks at the door, +accompanied by the usual exclamation, "who keeps house?" in very good +English. + +The young man, supposing from the language, that some benighted +settlers were at the door, hastily arose and advancing to withdraw the +bar which secured it, when his mother, who had long lived upon the +frontiers, and had probably detected the Indian tone in the demand for +admission, sprung out of bed, and ordered her son not to admit them, +declaring that they were Indians. She instantly awakened her other +son, and the two young men seizing their guns, which were always +charged, prepared to repel the enemy. + +The Indians finding it impossible to enter under their assumed +characters, began to thunder at the door with great violence, but a +single shot from a loophole, compelled them to shift the attack to +some less exposed point; and, unfortunately, they discovered the door +of the other cabin, which contained the three daughters. The rifles of +the brothers could not be brought to bear upon this point, and by +means of several rails taken from the yard fence, the door was forced +from its hinges and the three girls were at the mercy of the savage. +One was immediately secured, but the eldest defended herself +desperately with a knife which she had been using in the loom, and +stabbed one of the Indians to the heart, before she was tomahawked. + +In the meantime the little girl, who had been overlooked by the enemy +in their eagerness to secure the others, ran out into the yard, and +might have effected her escape had she taken advantage of the darkness +and fled, but instead of that the terrified little creature ran round +the house wringing her hands, and crying out that her sisters were +killed. The brothers, unwilling to hear her cries without risking +every thing for her rescue, rushed to the door and were preparing to +sally out to her assistance, when their mother threw herself before +them and calmly declared that the child must be abandoned to its +fate--that the sally would sacrifice the lives of the rest without the +slightest benefit to the little girl. Just then the child uttered a +loud scream, followed by a faint moan, and all was again silent. +Presently the crackling of flames was heard, accompanied by a +triumphant yell from the Indians, announcing that they had set fire to +that division of the house which had been occupied by the daughters, +and of which they had undisputed possession. + +The fire was quickly communicated to part of the building, it became +necessary to abandon it or perish in the flames. In the one case, +there was a possibility that some might escape; in the other, their +fate would be equally certain and terrible. The rapid approach of the +flames cut short their momentary suspense. The door was thrown open, +just as some of the Indians began to enter the house through a breach +made by the fire. The old lady, supported by her eldest son, attempted +to cross the fence at one point, while the other son carried his +sister and her son in another direction. + +The old lady was permitted to reach the stile unmolested, but in the +act of crossing, received several balls in the breast and fell dead. +Her son, providentially, remained unhurt, and by extraordinary agility +effected his escape. The other party succeeded also in reaching the +fence unhurt, but in the act of crossing, were vigorously assailed by +several Indians, who throwing down their guns, rushed upon them with +their tomahawks. The young man defended his sister gallantly, firing +upon the enemy as they approached, and then wielding the butt of his +rifle with a fury that drew the whole attention upon himself, and gave +his sister an opportunity of effecting her escape. He quickly fell, +however, under the tomahawk of his enemies, and was found at daylight, +scalped and mangled in a shocking manner. Of the whole family, +consisting of eight persons, when the attack commenced, only three +escaped. Four were killed upon the spot, and one, the second daughter, +carried off a prisoner. + +The neighborhood was quickly alarmed, and by daylight about thirty men +were assembled under the command of Colonel Edwards. A slight snow had +fallen during the latter part of the night, and the Indian trail could +be pursued at a gallop. It led directly into the mountainous country +bordering on Licking, and afforded evidences of great hurry and +precipitation on the part of the fugitives. Unfortunately, a hound had +been permitted to accompany the whites, and as the trail became fresh +and the scent warm, she followed it with eagerness, baying loudly and +giving the alarm to the Indians. + +The consequences of this imprudence were soon displayed. The enemy +finding the pursuit keen, and perceiving that the strength of the +prisoner began to fail, sunk their tomahawks in her head and left her, +still warm and bleeding upon the snow. As the whites came up, she +retained strength enough to wave her hand in token of recognition, and +appeared desirous of giving them some information, with regard to the +enemy, but her strength was too far gone. Her brother sprung from his +horse, and knelt by her side, endeavoring to stop the effusion of +blood, but in vain. She gave him her hand, muttering some inarticulate +words, and expired within two minutes after the arrival of the party. + +The pursuit was renewed with additional ardor, and in twenty minutes +the enemy was within view. They had taken possession of a steep narrow +ridge and seemed desirous of magnifying their numbers in the eyes of +the whites, as they ran rapidly from tree to tree, and maintained a +steady yell in their most appalling tones. The pursuers, however, were +too experienced to be deceived by so common an artifice, and being +satisfied that the number of the enemy must be inferior to their own, +they dismounted, tied their horses, and flanking out in such a manner +as to enclose the enemy, ascended the ridge as rapidly as was +consistent with a due regard to the shelter of their persons. The +firing quickly commenced, and now for the first time they discovered +that only two Indians were opposed to them. They had voluntarily +sacrificed themselves for the safety of the main body, and had +succeeded in delaying pursuit until their friends had reached the +mountains. One of them was shot dead, and the other was badly wounded, +as was evident from the blood upon his blanket, as well as that which +filled his tracks in the snow for a considerable distance. The pursuit +was recommenced, and urged keenly until night, when the trail entered +a running stream and was lost. On the following morning the snow had +melted, and every trace of the enemy was obliterated. + + + + +Fearful Adventure with a man-eating lion. + + +The following is Mr. Cumming's account of a fearful adventure, in +which he lost one of his most valuable servants: + +On the 29th we arrived at a small village of Bakalahari. These natives +told me that elephants were abundant on the opposite side of the +river. I accordingly resolved to halt here and hunt, and drew my +wagons up on the river's bank, within thirty yards of the water, and +about one hundred yards from the native village. Having outspanned, we +at once set about making for the cattle a kraal of the worst +description of thorn trees. Of this I had now become very particular, +since my severe loss by lions on the first of this month; and my +cattle were, at night, secured by a strong kraal, which enclosed my +two wagons, the horses being made fast to a trektow, stretched to the +two hind-wheels of the wagons. I had yet, however, a fearful lesson to +learn as to the nature and character of the lion, of which I had at +one time entertained so little fear; and on this night a horrible +tragedy was to be acted in my little lonely camp of so very awful and +appalling a nature as to make the blood curdle in our veins. I worked +till near sun down at one side of the kraal with Hendrick, my first +wagon driver--I cutting down the trees with my axe, and he dragging +them to the kraal. When the kraal for the cattle was finished, I +turned my attention to making a pot of barley broth, and lighted a +fire between the wagons and the water, close on the river's bank, +under a dense grove of shady trees, making a sort of kraal around our +sitting place for the evening. + +The Hottentots, without any reason, made their fire about fifty yards +from mine; they according to their usual custom, being satisfied with +the shelter of a large dense bush. The evening passed away cheerfully. +Soon after it was dark we heard elephants breaking the trees in the +forest across the river; and once or twice I strode away into the +darkness some distance from the fireside, to stand and listen to them. +I little, at that moment, deemed of the imminent peril to which I was +exposing my life, nor thought that a blood-thirsty man-eater lion was +crouching near, and only watching his opportunity to spring into the +midst of us, and consign one of our number to a most horrible death. +About three hours after the sun went down I called to my men to come +and take their coffee and supper which was ready for them at my fire; +and after supper three of them returned before their comrades to their +own fireside, and lay down; these were John Stofolus, Hendrick, and +Ruyter. In a few minutes an ox came out by the gate of the kraal and +walked out by the back of it. Hendrick got up and drove him in again, +and then went back to his fireside and lay down. Hendrick and Ruyter +lay on one side of the fire under one blanket, and John Stofolus lay +on the other. At this moment I was sitting taking some barley-broth; +our fire was very small, and the night was pitch-dark and windy. Owing +to our proximity to the native village the wood was very scarce, the +Bakalahari having burnt it all in their fires. + +Suddenly the appalling and murderous voice of an angry blood-thirsty +lion burst upon my ears within a few yards of us, followed by the +shrieking of the Hottentots. Again and again the murderous roar of +attack was repeated. We heard John and Ruyter shriek, "The lion, the +lion!" still, for a few moments, we thought he was chasing one of the +dogs round the kraal; but, the next instant, John Stofolus rushed into +the midst of us, almost speechless with fear and terror, his eyes +bursting from their sockets, and shrieked out, "The lion, the lion! He +has got Hendrick; he dragged him away from the fire beside me. I +struck him with the burning brands upon his head, but he would not let +go his hold. Hendrick is dead! Oh, God! Hendrick is dead! Let us take +fire and seek him!" + +The rest of my people rushed about shrieking and yelling as if they +were mad. I was at once angry with them for their folly, and told them +if they did not stand still and keep quiet the lion would have another +of us; and that very likely there was a troop of them. I ordered the +dogs, which were nearly all fast, to be made loose, and the fire to be +increased as far as could be. I then shouted Hendrick's name, but all +was still. I told my men that Hendrick was dead, and that a regiment +of soldiers could not now help him, and, hunting my dogs forward, I +had every thing brought within the cattle-kraal, when we lighted our +fire and closed the entrance as well as we could. My terrified people +sat round the fire with guns in their hand till the day broke, still +fancying that every moment the lion would return and spring again into +the midst of us. + +When the dogs were first let go, the stupid brutes, as dogs often +prove when most required, instead of going at the lion, rushed +fiercely on one another, and fought desperately for some minutes. +After this, they got his wind, and going at him, disclosed to us his +position; they kept up a continual barking until the day dawned, the +lion occasionally springing after them and driving them in upon the +kraal. The horrible monster lay all night within forty yards of us, +consuming the wretched man whom he had chosen for his prey. He had +dragged him into a little hollow at the back of a thick bush, beside +which the fire was kindled, and there he remained till the day dawned, +careless of our proximity. + +It appeared that when the unfortunate Hendrick rose to drive in the +ox, the lion had watched him to his fireside, and he had scarcely lain +down when the brute sprang upon him and Ruyter, for both lay under one +blanket, with his appalling murderous roar, and, roaring as he lay, +grappled him with his fearful claws, and kept biting him on his breast +and shoulder, all the while feeling for his neck; having got hold of +which, he dragged him away backwards round the bush into the dense +shade. + +As the lion lay upon the unfortunate man he faintly cried, "Help me, +help me! Oh, God! men, help me!" After which the fearful beast got a +hold of his neck, and then all was still, except that his comrades +heard the bones of his neck cracking between the teeth of the lion. +John Stofolus had lain with his back to the fire on the opposite side, +and on hearing the lion he sprang up, and, seizing a large flaming +brand, he had belabored him on the head with the burning wood; but the +brute did not take any notice of him. The Bushman had a narrow escape; +he was not altogether scatheless, the lion having inflicted two gashes +in his seat with his claws. + +The next morning, just as the day began to dawn, we heard the lion +dragging something up the river-side under cover of the bank. We drove +the cattle out of the kraal, and then proceeded to inspect the scene +of the night's awful tragedy. In the hollow, where the lion had lain +consuming his prey, we found one leg of the unfortunate Hendrick, +bitten off below the knee, the shoe still on his foot; the grass and +bushes were all stained with his blood, and fragments of his pea-coat +lay around. + +Poor Hendrick! I knew the fragments of that old coat, and had often +marked them hanging in the dense covers where the elephant had charged +after my unfortunate after-rider. Hendrick was by far the best man I +had about my wagons, of a most cheerful disposition, first-rate wagon +driver, fearless in the field, ever active, willing, and obliging: his +loss to us all was very serious. I felt confounded and utterly sick in +my heart; I could not remain at the wagons, so I resolved to go after +elephants to divert my mind. I had this morning heard them breaking +the trees on the opposite side of the river. I accordingly told the +natives of the village my intentions; and having ordered my people to +devote the day to fortifying the kraal, I started with Piet and Ruyter +as my after-riders. + +It was a very cold day. We crossed the river, and at once took up the +fresh spoor of a troop of bull elephants. These bulls unfortunately +joined a troop of cows, and the bulls were off in a moment, before we +could even see them. One remarkably fine old cow charged the dogs. I +hunted this cow and finished her with two shots from the saddle. Being +anxious to return to my people before night, I did not attempt to +follow the troop. + +My followers were not a little gratified to see me returning, for +terror had taken hold of their minds, and they expected that the lion +would return, and, emboldened by the success of the preceding night, +would prove still more daring in his attack. The lion would most +certainly have returned, but fate had otherwise ordained. My health +had been better in the last three days: my fever was leaving me, but I +was, of course, still very weak. It would still be two hours before +the sun would set, and feeling refreshed by a little rest, and able +for further work, I ordered the steeds to be saddled, and went in +search of the lion. + +I took John and Carey as after-riders, armed, and a party of the +natives followed up the spoor and led the dogs. The lion had dragged +the remains of poor Hendrick along a native footpath that led up the +river's side. We found fragments of his coat all along the spoor, and +at last the mangled coat itself. About six hundred yards from our camp +a dry river's course joined the Limpopo. At this spot was much cover, +and heaps of dry reeds and trees deposited by the Limpopo in some +great flood. The lion had left the footpath and entered this secluded +spot. I at once felt convinced that we were upon him, and ordered the +natives to make loose the dogs. These walked suspiciously forward on +the spoor, and next minute began to spring about, barking angrily, +with all their hair bristling on their backs: a crash upon the dry +reeds immediately followed--it was the lion bounding away. + +Several of the dogs were extremely afraid of him, and kept rushing +continually backwards springing aloft to obtain a view. I now pressed +forward and urged them on; old Argyll and Bles took up his spoor in +gallant style and led on the other dogs. Then commenced a short but +lively and glorious chase, whose conclusion was the only small +satisfaction that I could obtain to answer for the horrors of the +preceding evening. The lion held up the river's bank for a short +distance and took away through some wait-a-bit thorn cover, the best +he could find, but nevertheless open. Here, in two minutes, the dogs +were up with him, and he turned and stood at bay. As I approached, he +stood, his horrid head right to me, with open jaws growling fiercely, +his tail waving from side to side. + +On beholding him my blood boiled with rage. I wished that I could take +him alive and torture him, and setting my teeth, I dashed my steed +forward within thirty yards of him and shouted, "Your time is up, old +fellow." I halted my horse, and, placing my rifle to my shoulder, I +waited for a broadside. This, the next moment, he exposed, when I sent +a bullet through his shoulder and dropped him on the spot. He rose, +however, again, when I finished him with a second in the breast. The +Bakalahari now came up with wonder and delight. I ordered John to cut +off his head and forepaws and bring them to the wagons, and mounting +my horse I galloped home, having been absent about fifteen minutes. +When the Bakalahari women heard that the man-eater was dead, they all +commenced dancing about with joy, calling me _their father_. + + + + +Thrilling Adventures of Mr. Butler. + + +The early history of Kentucky is one continued series of daring and +romantic adventures. Had the founder of that state lived in the days +of chivalric yore, his exploits would have been sung in connection +with those of Arthur and Orlando; and his followers, in the same +region, would certainly have been knights of the Round Table. + +The hero of our story was one of these. Those who desire to inspect +his adventure, by the light of romance, will not be displeased at +learning that his choice of a hunter's life was determined by a +disappointment in the object of his early love. + +He was then only nineteen, yet he fearlessly left his native state, +and sought, amid the uncultivated wilds of Kentucky, the stirring +enjoyment of a western hunter. After rendering valuable service to the +Virginia colony, as a spy and pioneer, he undertook a voyage of +discovery to the country north of the Ohio. It was while thus engaged +that he was taken prisoner by the Indians. + +He was, no doubt, known to the Indians as an active and dangerous +enemy; and they now prepared to avenge themselves upon him. They +condemned him to the fiery torture, painted his body black, and +marched him toward Chilicothe. By way of amusement on the road, he was +manacled hand and foot, tied to an unbridled and unbroken horse, and +driven off amid the shouts and whoops of the savages; poor Butler thus +played the part of an American Mazeppa. The horse, unable to shake +him off galloped with terrific speed toward the wood, jarring and +bruising the rider at every step; but at length, exhausted and +subdued, it returned to camp with its burden, amid the exulting shouts +of the savages. When within a mile of Chilicothe, they took Butler +from the horse, and tied him to a stake, where, for twenty-four hours, +he remained in one position. He was then untied to run the gauntlet. +Six hundred Indians, men, women, and children, armed with clubs and +switches, arranged themselves in two parallel lines, to strike him as +he passed. It was a mile to the council-house, which if he reached, he +was to be spared. A blow started him on this encouraging race; but he +soon broke through the files and had almost reached the council-house, +when he was brought to the ground by a club. In this position he was +severely beaten and again taken into custody. + +These terrible sufferings, instead of satisfying the Indians, only +stimulated them to invent more ingenious tortures. Their cruelty was +not more astonishing than the fortitude of the victim. He ran the +gauntlet thirteen times; he was exposed to insult, privation, and +injury of every kind: sometimes he was tied, sometimes beaten. At +others, he was pinched, dragged on the ground, or deprived for long +periods of sleep. Then, amid jeers and yells, he was marched from +village to village, so that all might be entertained with his +sufferings. Yet, amid each torture, he never failed to improve an +opportunity favorable for escaping, and in one instance would have +effected it, but for some Indians whom he accidentally met returning +to the village. Finally it was resolved to burn him at Lower Sandusky. +The procession, bearing the victim to the stake, passed by the cabin +of Simon Girty, whose name is a counterpart to that of Brandt, in the +annals of Pennsylvania. This man had just returned from an +unsuccessful expedition to the frontier of that state, burning, of +course, with disappointment, and a thirst for revenge. Hearing that a +white prisoner was being carried to the torture, he rushed out, threw +Butler down, and began to beat him. + +The reader will not be apt to imagine that this was in any way +favorable to Butler's escape; yet it was so. He instantly recognised +in the fierce assailant a companion of early days, and as such made +himself known. The heart of the savage relented. He raised up his old +friend, promised to use his influence for him, summoned a council, and +persuaded the Indians to resign Butler to him. Taking the unfortunate +man home, he fed and nursed him until he began to recover. But five +days had scarcely expired, when the Indians relented, seizing their +victim, and marched him to be burned at Lower Sandusky. By a +surprising coincidence, he here met the Indian agent from Detroit, who +interceded and saved him. He was taken to that town, paroled by the +governor, and subsequently escaped through the woods to Kentucky. + + + + +Robert and Samuel M'Afee. + + +Early in May, 1781, M'Afee's station, in the neighborhood of +Harrodsburg, Kentucky, was alarmed by the approach of Indians. On the +morning of the 9th, Samuel M'Afee, accompanied by another man, left +the fort in order to visit a small plantation in the neighborhood, and +at the distance of three hundred yards from the gate, they were fired +upon by a party of Indians in ambush. The man who, accompanied him +instantly fell. An Indian rushed up, dropped his rifle, scalped the +man, and holding up the bleeding trophy, gave a yell of delight. + +M'Afee attempted to regain the fort. While running for that purpose, +he found himself suddenly intercepted by an Indian, who, springing out +of the canebrake, placed himself directly in his path. Each glared +upon the other for an instant, in silence, and both raising their guns +at the moment, pulled the triggers together. The Indian's rifle +snapped, while M'Afee's ball passed directly through his brain. Having +no time to reload his gun, he sprung over the body of his antagonist, +and continued his flight to the fort. When within one hundred yards of +the gate, he was met by his two brothers, Robert and James, who at the +report of the guns, had hurried out to the assistance of their +brother. Samuel hastily informed them of their danger, and exhorted +them to return. James readily complied, but Robert, declared that he +must have a view of the dead Indian. He ran on for that purpose, and +having enjoyed the spectacle, was returning, when he saw five or six +Indians between him and the fort, evidently bent on taking him alive. +All his activity and presence of mind was put in request. He ran from +tree to tree, endeavoring to turn their flank, and reach one of the +gates, and after a variety of turns and doublings, he found himself +pressed by only one Indian. M'Afee turned upon his pursuer, and +compelled him to take shelter behind a tree. Both stood still for a +moment--M'Afee having his gun cocked, and the sight fixed where he +supposed the Indian would thrust out his head in order to have a view +of his antagonist. After waiting a few seconds, the Indian exposed a +part of his head to take sight, when M'Afee fired, and the Indian +fell. While turning, to continue the flight, he was fired on by a +party of six, which compelled him again to tree. But scarcely had he +done so, when he received the fire of three more enemies which made +the bark and dust fly about him. Finding his post dangerous, he ran +for the fort, which he reached in safety, to the inexpressible joy of +his brothers, who had despaired of his return. + + + + +A few days' Sport in Chinese Tartary. + + +Much may have been said, but little has been written, of the yet but +very partially explored part of the world between China and the +Himayla chain. Moorcroft and Gerard, some thirty years ago, visited +some parts bordering on the extreme north-west of the British +possessions in India. Fraser, a few years later, penetrated probably +those parts of it adjoining the central hill sanatoriums of Simla and +Almorah, and he, like his predecessors, was stopped by the jealous +government and its inhabitants. Previous to entering Chinese Tartary +from British India, the traveller has to cross certain of the passes +in the great snowy range, some of them varying in height from sixteen +to eighteen thousand feet above the level of the sea. + +The Barinda, one of the most frequented and best known of these +passes, is variously estimated at from seventeen to eighteen thousand +feet. The months of June, July, and August are generally considered +the best months for crossing. + +The scenery in and around these passes is of the most sublime +description. As I should assuredly fail, however, in describing it, I +must content myself with a narration of some personal adventures which +befel me in an attempt to carry into effect a long cherished +determination to make the acquaintance of the seeta bhaloo (white +bear) and the burul, (white sheep,) found only in these regions. By +the route I took, seventeen marches brought me to the snow. Here our +"roughing" commenced, the Peharrees, or hill men, of our side of the +snow, having a most religious horror of the great snowy range. The air +there they declare is charged with "bis" (poison,) and this is the +only way they can in their original way account for the painful and +distressing effects which the rarefied air in those elevations +produces on the human frame. The first intimation we have that we are +far above the altitude of comfort, is a dull, heavy pain on the +shoulders, as if you were carrying a load above your capacity; then a +very painful sensation on the forehead, as if it had been bandaged +unpleasantly tight, accompanied by a burning sensation of the eyes and +nose, followed by an involuntary bleeding of the latter. + +This last symptom of the effects of high rarefaction, is, to an +Englishman, at least it was to us, always a great relief. It operates +differently upon the natives; they become only more alarmed and +helpless, and, unless hurried through the passes very expeditiously, +invariably perish. On my first trip, I left two unfortunate hill men +in the Sogla Pass. Two more would have perished, had not I taken one +wheelbarrow fashion, by the legs, and dragged him after me, although +very much distressed myself, until we had descended sufficiently to +rest with safety. My head man, Jye Sing, by my direction, took the +other man, and both were saved. + +After getting through the pass, we came upon the inhabited tracks, and +made the acquaintance of the Bhootias. I found them very original, +very dirty, and very honest with regard to every thing except tobacco. +This, neither father nor mother, husband or wife, could help stealing, +whenever they had the opportunity; and the most amusing part of it +was, they never attempted to deny the theft, but stoutly maintained +their right to the article! Numerous were the thrashings inflicted by +Buctoo on them for tobacco thieving, but the thefts did not diminish. + +As my object in coming into these dreary fastnesses was to get on +terms of familiarity with the quadrupedal rather than the bipedal +inhabitants, I will leave the Bhootias, and proceed to describe my +rencontres with the equally civilized four-footed denizens. I had in +my employ Shikarees (gameseekers) of no ordinary class, who, having +been many years with me, were well tutored; although, when first +caught, they were ignorance personified as far as sporting matters +went. Their original incapacity will be easily credited, when I inform +them that my second best man, Buctoo, had followed the sporting +occupation of a village fiddler, before he entered my service, and +knew as much of the capabilities of an English rifle as he did of the +"Pleiades." Jye Sing was a little better informed, for he told me +confidentially, one day, he had seen a gentleman at Subathoo actually +kill quail flying with small shot. His occupation had been that of +findal, or porter, to some families at Simla. Two months' training +turned him out, not only one of the most intelligent, but pluckiest +Shikaree I ever had. + +Having, in my numerous excursions into the hills, obtained some very +vague information from the many villagers I came in contact with, that +they had often heard from parties residing near the snow that there +was an animal to be found there strongly resembling the famous sheep, +(_Ovid Burul_,) I determined upon despatching Jye Sing and Buctoo to +those regions, to obtain all the precise information that might be +available, cautioning them not to return without either having seen +the animal, or bringing me some proof of its existence, and further +promising them a handsome present, if they brought me satisfactory +information. They were absent two months, and returned with some most +marvellous stories about what they had seen and heard, and, as a proof +of the existence of the animal, brought me the horn of a wild sheep +they had picked up in one of the valleys in the snow, after an +avalanche had melted. This physical fragment at once removed all my +doubts, the horn being different from that of any tame sheep. I was +now wound up to the highest pitch of excitement; my marching +establishment was soon put in order, and we started on the following +day. Fifteen forced marches brought me to the foot of the snow, and +also to the last village, called "Ufsul." I found the inhabitants of +this village a most rude and demi-barbarous race, knowing little, and +wishing to know less, of Englishmen, of whom they seemed to have the +greatest dread. However, two days' soft sawdering with a plentiful +supply of hill "buckshee," (spirits,) made them more communicative; +and they at last informed me, if I would promise only to remain a +week, they would show me the wild sheep. This promise, of course, I +gave; and on the following morning at daybreak, (shivering cold it +was,) we started to ascend the snow-capped mountains and glaciers, +which the animal patronized. On the road up I was sorely tempted to +draw my ball and ram down shot, in order to bring down some of the +many woodcocks we were constantly flushing, and which were so +unaccustomed to be disturbed, that they only flew a few yards away; +but I resisted the temptation. + +As we progressed in the region of eternal snow, we began to find +pedestrianism a difficult task. Some parts of the path were very +slippery and hard; others, soft and knee-deep in snow. An idea may be +formed of the height we had to ascend, and the nature of the ground +which we traversed, when I mention that we left our tents at seven +o'clock in the morning, and had not arrived at the "sheep-walk" before +one. + +Now commenced the difficulty. The burrul, from its well-known and +secluded habits, is a most difficult animal to approach. I was at +last, however, rewarded for my labor. About two o'clock we came upon +the fresh marks of the flock; we followed them for some distance, but +coming near a hot spring where they had evidently been grazing, lost +of course all farther track. For the next hour I worked on one +glacier, around another, used my telescope, but could not discern any +object. Suddenly one of the villagers called my attention to something +above me. I looked up and beheld a pair of enormous horns bending +over. None of the body of the animal was then visible. I now +cautiously moved a short distance to the right, when I had the +satisfaction of seeing not only his horns, but a full broadside view +of the first wild sheep I ever saw. He was about one hundred and fifty +yards off. Having elevated the proper sight, I brought my rifle to +bear on the shoulder, took a steady and gradual draw of the trigger, +the rifle cracked, and dead came down the burrul of Thibet. + +Perhaps, up to this time, the burrul had known no other mortal foe +than the white, or whitey-brown bear of the hills--the seeta bhaloo, +as he is called. And this brings me to another part of my sporting +excursion. + +Whether from the scarcity of food, or the amiability of their +dispositions, the seeta bhaloo are to be met with constantly in small +bodies of from five to ten, differing in this respect from their sable +brethren, who are generally found alone, unless a matrimonial alliance +has been formed, when the intrusion of a third party, whether male or +female, ensures a fight. + +The white bear is only carnivorous when pressed by hunger, and in that +state is very destructive to the numerous Tartar flocks of sheep, for +Bruin, with an empty larder is not to be deterred from his ravenous +attacks by men or dogs--a haunch of mutton he will have. His mode of +devouring it differs greatly from that of the tiger or leopard. He +tears the fleece off with his paws, and instead of gnawing and tearing +the flesh, as most carnivorous animals do, he commences sucking it, +and in this way draws off the flesh in shreds, thus occupying four or +five hours in doing what a tiger or leopard would effectually achieve +in half an hour. It is well known among the Tartars, (and I know it +also from experience,) that a bear, after feasting off flesh, is a +very dangerous customer, and will always show fight. If near the +carcass he has captured, he will give very little trouble in looking +for him, indeed, he will almost invariably attack the intruder. + +One day while following up some wild sheep, I came upon two bears very +busily engaged in digging up the snow where an avalanche had fallen. +Being hid from their sight, I determined to wait some little time to +ascertain why they were digging. I accordingly placed myself behind a +rock, and allowed them to work away. In about an hour they had made a +very good opening; and on using my glass I found they had got hold of +something. I now pushed up to them. One immediately showed fight, and +came out to meet me. He made one charge at me, which I received with a +rifle ball, killing him the very first shot. The other bear got away. +On going up to the spot where they had been at work, I found the +exhumed bodies of three wild sheep. They had been carried away and +buried underneath the avalanche, probably as far back as the previous +year, considering the very compact and frozen state the snow was in. +The sheep were in excellent order. We skinned them, and took them to +our tents, and excellent mutton we all had for several days. + +On the melting of the snows, the golden eagle of the Himalaya--a +magnificent bird, often measuring thirteen feet from the tip of one +wing to the other--is one of the best of pointers a sportsman can +follow, to ascertain where any animal has been carried away in an +avalanche. He hovers over the spot, constantly alighting, and then +taking wing again; but if once you observe him pecking with his beak +you may proceed to the spot, and be certain of finding, a very short +distance below the snow, the carcass of a wild sheep, as fresh as it +was on the day on which it was carried away. Many a haunch of good +mutton have I obtained in this way. + +The Himalayan golden eagle is a very carrion crow, never destroying +its own game, and feeding on any dead carcass it may find. + +Many an eagle have I shot feeding on the carcass of an unfortunate +hill bullock, which, either through stupidity or fright, had tumbled +over a precipice; and never, during the many years I shot over all +parts of these hills, do I remember seeing a golden eagle pounce on or +carry away a living prey. + +The Tartar shepherds near the snow informed me that during the lambing +season the eagles were very troublesome. If a ewe dropped a sickly +lamb, and left it, the eagle would attack it, but never attempted to +stoop to carry away a live one, or one that followed its mother. The +Indian golden eagle is identical with the Lammergeyer of the Alps, but +wants the courage of the latter bird. + +A companion and myself had been working hard in the "Sogla," one of +the passes in the snowy range conducting into Chinese Tartary, after +the wild sheep, and found them this day wilder and more wary than on +any previous occasion. It is not generally known that there are two +species of wild sheep--one called the dairuk, and the other (an +enormous animal, at least as far as its horns are concerned) known to +naturalists as the _ovis ammon_. The horns and head of the latter are +as much as a hill man can lift, and singular enough the body is small +indeed, out of all proportion to the horns borne by a full-grown ram. +My companion and self espied on an opposite hill what we at first +(through our telescopes) thought was an enormous pair of horns moving +without any ostensible carriage. At last we observed the body, and I, +in delight, exclaimed, "By Jove, there is the ovis ammon at last." + +After considerable trouble and precious hard work, we worked up to +within the range, when a shot from my rifle brought the ram tumbling +down over the snow. I hoped and believed he was dead, but he was only +wounded. He got up again, and, in spite of the wound, made a very good +gallop over the deep snow. Finding he was too fast for us, we slipped +our dogs, and among them my poor "Karchia." The poor dog, as usual, +was first up with the ram, and seized him. The ram, having still a +good deal in him, broke the hold, and down he went to the bottom of +the ravine, where ran the Tonse river, a tributary of the Jumna here +in the snow. + +The river was covered over in many places by avalanches, and was also +partly frozen; but in many places there were large holes. The ram +bounded over these until my poor dog Karchia again closed with and +seized him behind. With a vigorous effort the ovis ammon shook him +off. A few yards before the steep was a large hole in the Tonse, the +water foaming up through it; into this ovis ammon threw himself, and +was carried under the snow. Heaven knows where. On arriving at the +spot I found my dog baying most piteously, and trying to bite away the +frozen sides, but to no purpose, and I was obliged immediately to get +him chained up, fearing he would have plunged in after the game, when +I should have lost him, and most probably my own life. Having thus +introduced the wild sheep and white bear of Tartary, a few sentences +may not unprofitably be spent in describing the genus homo of the +Snowy Range. The Tartars, as may be imagined, are a very original +race, and in those parts visited by me I found them very primitive and +intensive, always barring the petty larceny propensities. Depending +principally on the sale of their wool for their support, and being +Bhuddhists by religion, they dared not destroy animal life; but when +nature had deprived one of their bullocks or sheep of existence, +either by accident or old age, economy forbids their wasting the +carcass, and it is eagerly devoured by them. Some of the ancient rams +I saw would require a considerable deal of mastication and powerful +digestive organs when summoned to their forefathers and committed to a +Tartar's jaws. + +I cannot say that the hill people thrive on the diet, for in +appearance they are a miserable-looking, stunted race, very filthy in +their habits, seldom changing their coarse woollen clothing, and +entertaining a religious horror of cold water. + +They have no objection to the good things brought from our side of the +snow, and I have seen them devour salt beef and pork with great gusto. +But what they must delight in, when they can get it, is English brandy +and tobacco. The former they will drink in great quantities, and for +men unaccustomed to liquor it is astonishing how well they resist its +intoxicating properties. I saw one man, a "Siana," the head of a +village, drink off two bottles of pure brandy without apparently +feeling any ill effects from the potation. On questioning him about +his sensations, he said that the only difference he found between the +brandy and water was, that it made his inside comfortably warm, and +his tongue very slippery, of which he gave us proof by chattering and +singing in a most uncouth way. Of all the horrible noises I ever +heard, those which a half-drunken Tartar makes are the most +discordant. The deep nasal and guttural noises he emits would beat +Welsh and Gaelic by a long chalk. + +Although petty thefts are common among the Thibetans, valuable +articles may with with safety be left among them--even money they will +never touch. Many an hour have I whiled away among them watching +Buctoo and Jye Sing showing them many articles of my property, the use +or value of which they could not comprehend. Of my guns and rifles, in +particular, they stood in great awe, and for a long time none of them +could be induced to touch one. Our telescopes also caused great +terror, and many were the learned arguments they had as to what +possibly could be the use of the latter. I invariably carried a +favorite "Dolland" across my shoulder, and Buctoo was provided with a +similar instrument, of which he was very proud, and in the use of +which he became very expert. + +One day, after a good day's sport, we had all sat down near a +beautiful spring, and I was enjoying a luncheon, when I found that +Buctoo had collected some fifty Tartars about him, who sat in a +circle, listening to his explanation of the use of his telescope. None +of his hearers could for some time be induced to touch it; they were +afraid of its either exploding or metamorphosing them into wild sheep. +The large village Tehong Si was about four miles below our bivouac, +and several of the head men had come up to have a look at us. The +village was just discernible to the naked eye, and Buctoo politely +inquired of one of the chiefs, if he would like to be informed what +was going on in the village below? The chief told him he should, when +Buctoo drew out the glass, on which all the Tartars moved off to a +respectful distance. + +After looking at the village, Buctoo persuaded them to come close to +him once more, and duly informed them what he could see in the +village, describing certain parts of it so correctly that they were +astounded. (I must here mention that neither myself nor any of my +servants had been allowed to enter the village.) The Tartars at first +could hardly credit it; but after sundry questions as to the +description of houses on the north side, and again on the southern, +which Buctoo, on carefully examining, correctly described, they became +sadly perplexed. Buctoo once more endeavored to persuade them to take +a look themselves, and, after much coaxing and a little brandy, one of +the head men was induced to take the telescope into his hand. + +The figure he cut in doing so, I shall not easily forget. He held it +out at arm's length, grinned at it most horribly, and chattered some +abominable gibberish in Tartaree, that no one understood, appearing to +expect every moment that the glass would bite him. After some minutes +spent in this way, he drew it near him, and by degrees became more +confident. Buctoo then approached him and set it, telling him how to +look through it. He then appeared very suspicious about this movement, +evidently fancying the glass was going to explode. At length he threw +it down, for which Buctoo boxed his ears. He then took it up again, +and it was brought to bear on the village. But the Tartar did us +again; for he shut both eyes. However, after a good deal of +persuasion, he was induced to open one and shut the other, and to peep +through the glass. For a second or two he trembled violently, and then +groaned heavily--threw down the glass, and commenced rolling down the +hill, head over heels, at a most awful pace. The whole batch, some +forty, were seized with the same complaint, and down they went after +their chief, roaring out, "Hi! ha!" at the top of their voice. Break +their necks they could not very easily; but how many of them escaped +serious injury I did not stop to ascertain. Upon seeing them all off, +I fell down heavily, fracturing my sides with laughter. Buctoo was in +the same state, and so were all my servants. We at last saw them, on +reaching a piece of level ground, get on their legs, the chief still +leading, and bolting for the village, at a pace that nothing would +warrant but a tin kettle at their heels. + +In about ten minutes we heard the gongs and bells beating and tolling +at a great pace, with frightful shouting from men and women, and this +lasted for two hours, when all became quiet. + +Not a Tartar could be got hold of for two days after this. At last, by +sending a small party rather near the village, several men showed +themselves, offering us any thing we wanted, if we would only return +to our proper side of the snow. This they were told we would do, if +they would only show us three or four more days' good sport; but if +not we would remain there six months, and turn them all into wild +sheep. Upon this they had a consultation, when it was decided that +they would show us excellent comfort provided we promised to take our +departure in four days, and never come there again. This was duly +agreed to, and after some very cautious approaches we got them once +more up to our tents. They certainly got their promise, for I had +excellent sport, and was therefore bound to fulfil my part of the +agreement. + +On the fourth day arriving, they were invited to come once more to the +tent, and to receive a few trifling rewards for the sport they had +shown. Brandy was first served out, and this soon restored confidence, +when the distribution of a few knives, looking-glasses, beads, etc., +etc., and sundry pieces of red cloth, brought them into good humor. +Every thing was going on as well as could be desired, when some +unfortunate dispute arose among some of my guides, (not my own +servants, but men taken from the last village on our side of the +snow,) and Tartars. They knew each other well, having, at a fair held +at the foot of the pass, a year's intercourse. These men, I have no +doubt, assisted by one of my own men, (and I strongly suspected +Buctoo, although he most solemnly denied it,) played them a sad trick. +I may here note that almost every Tartar carries a pipe, rudely made +of wrought iron, of about the size and shape of the common clay pipe. +Being inveterate smokers, a pipe full of good tobacco is one of the +most convincing arguments you can employ. While I was at dinner, I +ordered some tobacco to be given to them, and it was proposed they +should put that in their pouches, and allow some of my men to charge +their pipes with their own tobacco, of which they begged their +acceptance. + +The Tartars, nothing loth, assented, and each man gave his iron pipe +to be charged, which was duly done and returned to each owner. Smoking +then commenced, and on finishing my dinner and coming outside the +tent, I found the Tartars all in a circle, smoking away, and my men, +some ten yards from them, and above them, and talking to them. They +were also smoking. Thinking nothing of this at the time, I took no +notice, and had my chair brought outside, and smoked my segar. In less +than five minutes I was considerably astonished on hearing a salvo as +of a volley of musketry, and iron pipes flying up and down in all +directions. Then a general shout, and off went the Tartars, as if Old +Nick was at their heels, halloing most fearfully. They did not run +far, but brought up about three hundred yards from where they started, +and demanded their pipes back. I asked them what was the matter; when +they said they would never smoke English tobacco again, for we smoked +with tobacco, and shot with tobacco, and _Sheitzan_ must have been the +manufacturer. + + + + +Kangaroo Hunting. + + +Kangarooing in Tasman's Peninsula is essentially a pedestrian sport. I +am aware that in an open country, and especially in New South Wales, +where the chase is followed on horseback, my assertion may seem like +rank heresy. + +I have pursued the sport both mounted and on foot, and if a horse +enables you occasionally, on comparatively unincumbered ground, to see +something more of the run, you must still have pedestrians to hunt the +dogs. After all, decide this point as you will, we esteem it the +poorest variety of the chase. Some excitement must necessarily attend +it, but too much is left to the imagination, and too little of either +the game or the dogs is given to the eye. + +It is rarely, except when on horseback, that one has the good fortune +to be in at the death, or to see the kangaroo pulled down. + +The ground is usually hilly, the scrub thick, and the grass high. It +is needless to say that on the present occasion we were all on foot. +Forestier's Peninsula is no place for a horse, except the traveller be +jogging along the rugged and little frequented track which leads to +Hobart Town, by a most circuitous route. + +Away then we strode, skirting the shore pretty closely, until we came +to a valley which had been partially cleared by one of those extensive +bush conflagrations which are of annual occurrence. + +The forest is fired in several places every summer, with a view to +keeping down the scrub, and giving a chance of growth to the grass and +the larger forest trees. These burn for several consecutive days, and +at night the glare from them, lighting up the adjacent horizon, and +the wind at one time whirling along vast clouds of smoke, and again +throwing up sheets of flame and myriads of burning particles, produce +an effect as grand as can be imagined. Here, then, in the glade, we +paused, disposed ourselves in an extended line, slipped four dogs, and +gave the word, "go seek." + +Away they trotted with nose to the ground, cautiously hunting, +crossing and recrossing, but occasionally getting not only out of +sight in the long grass, but out of hearing and command. Presently a +sharp bark gave the signal of game started, and the next moment we +catch a glimpse of the kangaroo in mid air, as he bounds down the +declivity in a succession of leaps such as the kangaroos only can +accomplish. + +There he goes, his tiny ears laid back along his small deer-like head, +his forefeet gathered up like a penguin's flappers, and his long stout +tail erect in the air. Now bounding aloft, now vanishing as he leaps +into the waving grass. + +Two more of the dogs have sighted him, and are silently tearing along +on his track. Every bound increases his distance from his pursuers, he +winds round the base of the hill, to avoid the ascent, but up he must +go; this is the only chance for the dogs, for running up hill is the +kangaroo's weak point. But now we lose sight of both dogs and +kangaroo; a burst of three minutes has sufficed to exhaust our first +wind, and to break one of our shins; for tearing through grass as high +as one's middle and stumbling over charred stumps and fallen trees, +soon reduces one to the "dead beat" predicament. Jerry, alone, thanks +to his hard condition, follows the chase. + +All the party are now scattered, and after while reassemble by dint of +continuous "cooees." Whilst swabbing the perspiration off our brow, +one of the dogs makes his appearance, and, trotting slowly back with +panting flanks and lolling tongue, throws himself on his side +exhausted. His mouth is now carefully examined, and two fingers being +inserted, scoop round the fauces. The test is successful; there are +traces of blood and fluff. "Bravo! Rattler! Show him--good dog. Show +him!" Rattler rises with an effort, and lazily strikes into the bush, +to the right. We follow in Indian file, and at about half a mile +distant we come upon the kangaroo lying dead, with the second dog, old +"Ugly," stretched at its side. + +The kangaroo usually found in the Peninsula is not the largest +description commonly known in these colonies as the "boomer," or a +"forester," but the brush kangaroo, which rarely exceeds seventy +pounds in weight; forty is more common. There is a still smaller +variety, known as the "wallaby." The brush kangaroo is easily killed +by the dogs; a grip in the throat or loins usually suffices. The +boomer is a more awkward customer, and, if he can take to the water, +he shows fight, and availing himself of his superior height, he +endeavors to drown the dogs as they approach him. The kangaroo is a +graceful animal, but appears to most advantage when only the upper +part of his body is seen. His head is small and deer-shaped, his eyes +soft and lustrous, but his tapering superior extremities rise almost +pyramidally from a heavy and disproportioned base of hind legs and +tail. + +The kangaroo dog never mangles his prey although fond of the blood, +with a portion of which he is always rewarded. + +Jerry now threw himself on the ground beside the game, and, drawing +his _couteau de chasse_, commenced the operation of disemboweling. +After ripping up the belly, he thrust in his arm, and drawing out the +liver and a handful of coagulated blood, he invited the dogs to +partake of it. The carcass being gutted, some dry fern is thrust in, +the tail is drawn through the fore legs, and secured with a bit of +whipcord, and then the game is suspended over the shoulder--no +insignificant weight either. If the kangaroo be very heavy, the hind +quarters only are carried, but the skin being of some value, it is not +needlessly destroyed. + +There is a peculiarity in the stomach of the kangaroo, which I have +not seen noticed in descriptions of that animal, but of which I have +assured myself by frequent personal observation. On opening the +stomach, even while still warm, the grass found in it is swarming with +small white worms, about a quarter of an inch in length, and not +thicker than a fine thread. + +The entire contents of the stomach, even the most recently masticated +grass, and grass seems to be its only food, are equally pervaded with +these worms, which swarm in myriads, even where no signs of +decomposition are perceptible. + +Resuming our progress, we presently heard a baying from the dogs, who +had again dispersed to hunt. On nearing the spot whence the noise +proceeded, we found them assembled round the trunk of a large tree, in +the hollow of which was a large wombat, a most unsightly brute, in +appearance partaking somewhat of the bear, the pig, and the badger. An +average sized one weighs sixty pounds. The head is flat, neck thick, +body large, legs short, eyes and ears small: the feet provided with +sharp claws for burrowing, three on the hind foot, and an additional +one on the fore foot. They make deep excavations in the ground, and +live chiefly on roots. The hide is very tough and covered with a +coarse wiry hair, and with this defensive armor, and his formidable +teeth and claws, the wombat is a customer not much relished by the +dogs. It was not till we had stunned our new acquaintance, as he stood +at bay in his den, by repeated blows of our sticks on his head, that +we were able to drag him out, and cut his throat. + +The flesh is eatable, and I have heard that the hams are held in some +esteem, but cannot speak from personal experience. On the present +occasion none of our party was ambitious of the honor of carrying our +defunct friend during the day's march that we had before us; so I +contented myself with pocketing his four paws, and leaving the rest of +the carcass for formic epicures. + +Our destination for the evening was Eagle Hawk Neck, or rather our +dining quarters were there fixed, for I proposed to be home some time +during the night; and, as we had some twelve miles of fatiguing +walking before us, we now circled round towards Flinders' Bay, whence +we were to follow the foot track to the "Neck." + +It may readily be imagined that bush travelling in the Australian +colonies is often an intricate affair; long practice alone can give +one assurance and confidence. Few _habitues_ in the Peninsula think of +entering it without a pocket compass, flint, and steel, and even the +best bushmen have in their day been reduced to the greatest +extremities. + +For our own part, our ambition never inclined to the adventurous task +of exploring the bush, content with the subordinate part of trusting +to the superior sagacity of the more experienced; and often have our +wonder and admiration been excited by the unerring judgment of our +guide, when there was neither sun to direct, nor any opening above or +around whereby to obtain a view of the surrounding country. + +As we were approaching Flinders' Bay on our return, a kangaroo was +started some distance ahead of us; presently I observed an old dog, +who was wont to "run cunning," suddenly stop close in front of me. The +next moment the game, closely pursued, dropped in a bound, not six +yards from where I stood, and before he could rise again, old "Ugly" +had his prize by the throat. This proved to be a doe, and on examining +her pouch a foetus was found in it, perfectly detached as usual, and +about three inches and a half long. The generation, growth, and +alimentation of the foetus of the kangaroo and other marsupial animals +(ultra interine and detached from the parent, as it appears to be at +all stages,) is a mystery in physiology which has yet to be +unravelled. + +A "medico" who was of our party, did not neglect this opportunity for +research. With a view to the investigation of the subject at leisure, +he dropped the foetus into his glove for conveyance home. + +Outside the station of Flinders' Bay, we came upon a small limpid +stream, brawling over a rocky bed, which seemed a suitable place to +refresh the inner man with a sandwich, and a thimble full of Cognac. +Segars were then lighted, and, shouldering our game, we resumed our +route. + +The sun was low, when we descended the steep hill whence we opened a +view of Eagle Hawk Neck and the Pacific, and after a long and toilsome +ascent of the "Saddle," by a path which abounded more in loose sharp +stones than any which it has been my misfortune to fall in with. +However, refreshment was at hand, which we were quite in condition to +appreciate, for we will back a day's kangarooing against any other +sport, for giving a zest both to victuals and drink. + +Our host, C--, was famous for his kangaroo soup; this is made of the +tail of the animal, and when well prepared may vie with any oxtail, +if, indeed, it be not superior, having the advantage of a game flavor. +The flesh of the kangaroo resembles in taste and appearance that of +the hare, though drier and inferior in flavor when roasted. The only +part thus cooked is the hind quarter, which should be boned, stuffed, +and larded, and after all, the play is not worth the candle. Not so, +"kangaroo steamer." To prepare this savory dish, portions of the hind +quarter, after hanging for a week, should be cut into small cubical +pieces; about a third portion of the fat of bacon should be similarly +prepared, and these, together with salt, pepper, and some spice, must +simmer gently in a stewpan for three or four hours. No water must +enter into the composition, but a little mushroom ketchup added, which +served, is an improvement. + +Although averse to the diet of bush vermin, so often extolled in these +colonies, and although carefully eschewing all parrot pies, red-bill +ragouts, black swans, kangaroo rats, porcupines, and such vaunted +nastinesses, we strongly contend for the excellence of "kangaroo +steamer," as a most savory and appetizing dish. We cannot reproach it +with a fault, save its tendency to lead one to excess; the only +difficulty is to know when you have had enough. + +We were able to do ample justice to the the Alexander Selkirk of his +post, reigning in solitary grandeur, for he had not a single associate +within ten miles, could always boast of a well-stocked larder and +cellar. What with his garden, poultry-yard, and dairy, hunting and +sea-fishing, he was tolerably independent of the tri-weekly visits of +the boat which brought the commissariat supplies. + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Forest and Frontiers, by Roualeyn Gordon-Cumming + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOREST AND FRONTIERS *** + +***** This file should be named 8411-8.txt or 8411-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/8/4/1/8411/ + +Produced by Ted Garvin and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Forest and Frontiers + or, Adventures among the Indians + +Author: Roualeyn Gordon-Cumming + +Posting Date: August 14, 2011 [EBook #8411] +Release Date: July, 2005 +First Posted: July 8, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOREST AND FRONTIERS *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="t1"> +FOREST AND FRONTIERS +</P> + +<P CLASS="t2"> +OR, ADVENTURES AMONG THE INDIANS +</P> + +<BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="t2"> +By Roualeyn Gordon-Cumming +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="t3"> +<I>PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED</I> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="t4"> +Chicago +<BR> +M. A. Donohue & Company +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +Thrilling stories. +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Mr. Cumming's attack on four lions +</H3> + +<P> +The most daring and adventurous of all hunters is Mr. Roualeyn Gordon +Cumming. Being an officer in the British service at the Cape of Good +Hope, his love of hunting adventures led him to resign his commission +in the army, and devote himself for five years to exploring the +interior of Africa, and hunting wild beasts. We shall quote his own +account of some of his adventures. +</P> + +<P> +The first incident of his career, to which we invite the reader's +attention, is one which he calls an attack on four patriarchal lions. +It occurred in the interior of Africa, not far from the junction of +the rivers Mariqua and Limpopo. He thus describes it. +</P> + +<P> +A few days after this, just as Swint had milked the cows, and was +driving them from the wooded peninsula in which we lay, athwart the +open ground, to graze with my other cattle in the forest beyond, he +beheld four majestic lions walking slowly across the valley, a few +hundred yards below my camp, and disappear over the river's bank, at a +favorite drinking place. These mighty monarchs of the waste had been +holding a prolonged repast over the carcases of some zebras killed by +Present, and had now come down the river to slake their thirst. This +being reported, I instantly saddled two horses, and, directing my boys +to lead after me as quickly as possible my small remaining pack of +sore-footed dogs, I rode forth, accompanied by Carey carrying a spare +gun, to give battle to the four grim lions. As I rode out of the +peninsula, they showed themselves on the banks of the river, and, +guessing that their first move would be a disgraceful retreat, I +determined to ride so as to make them think that I had not observed +them, until I should be able to cut off their retreat from the river, +across the open vley, to the endless forest beyond. That point being +gained, I knew that they, still doubtful of my having observed them, +would hold their ground on the river's bank until my dogs came up, +when I could more advantageously make the attack. +</P> + +<P> +I cantered along, holding as if I meant to pass the lions at a +distance of a quarter of a mile, until I was opposite to them, when I +altered my course, and inclined a little nearer. The lions showed +symptoms of uneasiness; they rose to their feet, and, overhauling us +for half a minute, disappeared over the bank. They reappeared, +however, directly, a little farther down; and finding that their +present position was bare, they walked majestically along the top of +the bank to a spot a few hundred yards lower, where the bank was well +wooded. Here they seemed half inclined to await my attack; two +stretched out their massive arms, and lay down in the grass, and the +other two sat up like dogs upon their haunches. Deeming it probable +that when my dogs came up and I approached they would still retreat +and make a bolt across the vley, I directed Carey to canter forward +and take up the ground in the centre of the vley about four hundred +yards in advance; whereby the lions would be compelled either to give +us battle or swim the river, which, although narrow, I knew they would +be very reluctant to do. +</P> + +<P> +I now sat in my saddle, anxiously waiting the arrival of my dogs; and +whilst thus momentarily disengaged, I was much struck with the +majestic and truly appalling appearance which these four noble lions +exhibited. They were all full-grown immense males; and I felt, I must +confess, a little nervous, and very uncertain as to what might be the +issue of the attack. When the dogs came up I rode right in towards the +lions. They sprang to their feet, and trotted slowly down along the +bank of the river, once or twice halting and facing about for half a +minute. Immediately below them their was a small determined bend in +the stream, forming a sort of peninsula. Into this bend they +disappeared, and next moment I was upon them with my dogs. They had +taken shelter in a dense angle of the peninsula, well sheltered by +high trees and reeds. Into this retreat the dogs at once boldly +followed them, making a loud barking, which was instantly followed by +the terrible voices of the lions, which turned about and charged to +the edge of the cover. Next moment, however, I heard them plunge into +the river, when I sprang from my horse, and, running to the top of the +bank, I saw three of them ascending the opposite bank, the dogs +following. One of them bounded away across the open plain at top +speed, but the other two, finding themselves followed by the dogs, +immediately turned to bay. +</P> + +<P> +It was now my turn, so, taking them coolly right and left with my +little rifle, I made the most glorious double shot that a sportsman's +heart could desire, disabling them both in the shoulder before they +were even aware of my position. Then snatching up my other gun from +Carey, who that moment had ridden up to my assistance, I finished the +first lion with a shot about the heart, and brought the second to a +standstill by disabling him in his hind quarters. He quickly crept +into a dense, wide, dark green bush, in which for a long time it was +impossible to obtain a glimpse of him. At length, a clod of earth +falling near his hiding-place, he made a move which disclosed to me +his position, when I finished him with three more shots, all along the +middle of his back. Carey swam across the river to flog off the dogs; +and when these came through to me, I beat up the peninsula in quest of +the fourth lion, which had, however, made off. We then crossed the +river a little higher up, and proceeded to view the noble prizes I had +won. Both lions were well up in their years; I kept the skin and skull +of the finest specimen, and only the nails and tail of the other, one +of whose canine teeth was worn down to the socket with the caries, +which seemed to have affected his general condition. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Mr. Cumming Hunting Rhinoceroses. +</H3> + +<P> +Mr. Cumming thus describes his encounter with some rhinoceroses and an +eland, in the country of the Bechuanas. +</P> + +<P> +It was on the 4th of June, 1844, that I beheld for the first time the +rhinoceros. Having taken some coffee, I rode out unattended, with my +rifle, and before proceeding far I fell in with a huge white +rhinoceros with a large calf, standing in a thorny grove. Getting my +wind she set off at top speed through thick thorny bushes, the calf, +as is invariably the case, taking the lead, the mother guiding its +course by placing her horn, generally about three feet in length, +against its ribs. +</P> + +<P> +My horse shied very much at first, alarmed at the strange appearance +of "Chukuroo," but by a sharp application of spur and jambok I +prevailed upon him to follow, and presently, the ground improving, I +got alongside, and, firing at the gallop, sent a bullet through her +shoulder. She continued her pace with blood streaming from the wound, +and very soon reached an impracticable thorny jungle, where I could +not follow, and instantly lost her. In half an hour I fell in with the +second rhinoceros, being an old bull of the white variety. +Dismounting, I crept within twenty yards, and saluted him with both +barrels in the shoulder, upon which he made off, uttering a loud +blowing noise, and upsetting every thing that obstructed his progress. +</P> + +<P> +Shortly after this I found myself on the banks of the stream, beside +which my wagons were outspanned. Following along its margin, I +presently beheld a bull of the borele, or black rhinoceros, standing +within a hundred yards of me. Dismounting from my horse, I secured him +to a tree, and then stalked within twenty yards of the huge beast +under cover of a large strong bush. Borele, hearing me advance, came +on to see what it was, and suddenly protruded his horny nose within a +few yards of me. Knowing well that a front shot would not prove +deadly, I sprang to my feet and ran behind the bush. Upon this the +villain charged, blowing loudly, and chased me round the bush. Had his +activity been equal to his ugliness, my wanderings would have +terminated here, but by my superior agility I had the advantage in the +turn. +</P> + +<P> +After standing a short time eyeing me through the bush, he got a whiff +of my wind, which at once alarmed him. Uttering a blowing noise, and +erecting his insignificant yet saucy-looking tail, he wheeled about, +leaving me master of the field, when I sent a bullet through his ribs +to teach him manners. Of the rhinoceros there are four varieties in +South Africa, distinguished by the Bechuanas by the names of the +borele or black rhinoceros, the keitloa or two-horned rhinoceros, the +muchocho or common white rhinoceros, and the kobaoba or long-horned +white rhinoceros. Both varieties of the black rhinoceros are extremely +fierce and dangerous, and rush headlong and unprovoked at any object +which attracts their attention. They never attain much fat, and their +flesh is tough, and not much esteemed by the Bechuanas. Their food +consists almost entirely of the thorny branches of the wait-a-bit +thorns. +</P> + +<P> +Finding that rhinoceros were abundant in the vicinity, I resolved to +halt a day for the purpose of hunting, and after an early breakfast, +on the 6th, I rode south-east with the two Baquaines. They led me +along the bases of the mountains, through woody dells and open glades, +and we eventually reached a grand forest grey with age. Here we found +abundance of spoor of a variety of game, and started several herds of +the more common varieties. At length I observed an old bull eland +standing under a tree. He was the first that I had seen, and was a +noble specimen, standing about six feet high at the shoulder. +Observing us, he made off at a gallop, springing over the trunks of +decayed trees which lay across his path; but very soon he reduced his +pace to a trot. Spurring my horse, another moment saw me riding hard +behind him. Twice in the thickets I lost sight of him, and he very +nearly escaped me; but at length, the ground improving, I came up with +him, and rode within a few yards behind him. Long streaks of foam now +streamed from his mouth, and a profuse perspiration had changed his +sleek grey coat to an ashy blue. Tears trickled from his large dark +eye, and it was plain that the eland's hours were numbered. Pitching +my rifle to my shoulder, I let fly at the gallop, and mortally wounded +him behind; then spurring my horse, I shot past him on his right side, +and discharged my other barrel behind his shoulder, when the eland +staggered for a moment and subsided in the dust. The two Baquaines +soon made their appearance, and seemed delighted at my success. Having +kindled a fire, they cut out steaks, which they roasted on the embers; +I also cooked a steak for myself, spitting it upon a forked branch, +the other end of which I sharpened with my knife and stuck into the +ground. +</P> + +<P> +The eland is a magnificent animal, by far the largest of all the +antelope tribe, exceeding a large ox in size. It also attains an +extraordinary condition, being often burdened with a very large amount +of fat. Its flesh is most excellent, and is justly esteemed above all +others. It has a peculiar sweetness, and is tender and fit for use the +moment the animal is killed. Like the gemsbok, the eland is +independent of water, and frequents the borders of the great Kalahari +desert in herds varying from ten to a hundred. It is also generally +diffused throughout all the wooded districts of the interior where I +have hunted. Like other varieties of deer and and antelope, the old +males may often be found consorting together apart from the females, +and a troop of these, when in full condition, may be likened to a herd +of stall-fed oxen. +</P> + +<P> +The eland has less speed than any other variety of antelope; and, by +judicious riding, they may be driven to camp from a great distance. In +this manner I have often ridden the best bull out of the herd, and +brought him within gunshot of my wagons, where I could more +conveniently cut up and preserve the flesh, without the trouble of +sending men and packoxen to fetch it. I have repeatedly seen an eland +drop down dead at the end of a severe chase, owing to his plethoric +habit. The skin of the eland I had just shot emitted, like most other +antelopes, the most delicious perfume of trees and grass. +</P> + +<P> +Having eaten my steak, I rode to my wagon, where I partook of coffee, +and having mounted a fresh horse, I again set forth accompanied by +Carollus leading a packhorse, to bring home the head of the eland and +a supply of the flesh; I took all my dogs along with me to share in +the banquet. We had not proceeded far when the dogs went ahead on some +scent. Spurring my horse, I followed through some thorny bushes as +best I might, and emerging on an open glade, I beheld two huge white +rhinoceroses trotting along before me. The dogs attacked them with +fury, and a scene of intense excitement ensued. The Old Gray, on +observing them, pricked up his ears, and seemed only half inclined to +follow, but a sharp application of the spur reminded him of his duty, +and I was presently riding within ten yards of the stem of the +largest, and sent a bullet through her back. The Old Grey shied +considerably and became very unmanageable, and on one occasion, in +consequence, the rhinoceros, finding herself hemmed in by a bend in a +watercourse, turned round to charge, I had a very narrow escape. +</P> + +<P> +Presently, galloping up on one side, I gave her a bad wound in the +shoulder, soon after which she came to bay in the dry bed of a river. +Dismounting from my horse, I commenced loading, but before this was +accomplished she was off once more. I followed her, putting on my caps +as I rode, and coming up alongside, I made a fine shot from the +saddle, firing at the gallop. The ball entered somewhere near her +heart. On receiving this shot she reeled about, while torrents of +blood flowed from her mouth and wounds, and presently she rolled over +and expired, uttering a shrill screaming sound as she died, which +rhinoceroses invariably do while in the agonies of death. +</P> + +<P> +The chase had led me close in along the northern base of a lofty +detached mountain, the highest in all that country. The mountain is +called, by the Bechuanas, the Mountain of the Eagles. The eland which +I had shot in the morning lay somewhere to the southward of this +mountain, but far in the level forest. Having rounded the mountain, I +began to recognise the ground. +</P> + +<P> +I had the satisfaction to behold a few vultures soaring over the +forest in advance, and, on proceeding a short distance farther, large +groups of these birds were seated on the grey and weather-beaten +branches of the loftiest old trees of the forest. This was a certain +sign that the eland was not far distant; and on raising my voice and +loudly calling on the name of Carollus, I was instantly answered by +that individual, who, heedless of his master's fate, was actively +employed in cooking for himself a choice steak from the dainty rump of +the eland. That night I slept beneath the blue and starry canopy of +heaven. My sleep was light and sweet, and no rude dreams or hankering +cares disturbed the equanimity of my repose. +</P> + +<P> +One of Mr. Cumming's most perilous adventures was with a black +Rhinoceros, which gave chase to him, and nearly run turn down. He thus +describes this affair. +</P> + +<P> +On the 22d, ordering my men to move on to the fountain of Bootlonamy, +I rode forth with Ruyter, [Footnote: This is the name of a favorite +servant of Mr. Cumming.] and held east through a grove of lofty and +wide-spreading mimosas, most of which were more or less damaged by the +gigantic strength of a troop of elephants, which had passed there +about twelve months before. +</P> + +<P> +Having proceeded about two miles with large herds of game on every +side, I observed a crusty looking old bull borele, or black +rhinoceros, cocking his ears one hundred yards in advance. He had not +observed us; and soon after he walked slowly toward us, and stood +broadside to, eating some wait-a-bit thorns within fifty yards of me. +I fired from my saddle, and sent a bullet in behind his shoulder, upon +which he rushed forward about one hundred yards in tremendous +consternation, blowing like a grampus, and then stood looking about +him. Presently he made off. I followed, but found it hard to come up +with him. When I overtook him I found the blood running freely from +his wound. +</P> + +<P> +The chase led through a large herd of blue wildebeests, zebras, and +springboks, which gazed at us in utter amazement. At length I fired my +second barrel, but my horse was fidgety, and I missed. I continued +riding alongside of him, expecting in my ignorance that at length he +would come to bay, which rhinoceroses never do; when suddenly he fell +flat on his broadside on the ground, but, recovering his feet, resumed +his course as if nothing had happened. Becoming at last annoyed at the +length of the chase, as I wished to keep my horses fresh for the +elephants, and being indifferent whether I got the rhinoceros or not, +as I observed that his horn was completely worn down by age, and the +violence of his disposition, I determined to bring matters to a +crisis; so, spurring my horse, I dashed ahead, and rode right in his +path. +</P> + +<P> +Upon this the hideous monster instantly charged me in the most +resolute manner, blowing loudly through his nostrils; and although I +quickly wheeled about to my left, he followed me at such a furious +pace for several hundred yards, with his horrid horny snout within a +few yards of my horse's tail, that my little Bushman, who was looking +on in great alarm, thought his master's destruction inevitable. It was +certainly a very near thing; my horse was extremely afraid, and +exerted his utmost energies on the occasion. The rhinoceros, however, +wheeled about and continued his former course; and I being perfectly +satisfied with the interview which I had already enjoyed with him, had +no desire to cultivate his acquaintance any further, and accordingly +made for camp. +</P> + +<P> +We left the fountain of Bootlonamy the same day, and marched about six +miles through an old grey forest of mimosas, when we halted for the +night. Large flocks of guinea-fowls roosted in the trees around our +encampment, several of which I shot for my supper. +</P> + +<P> +On the 23d we inspanned by moonlight, and continued our march through +a thinly wooded level country. It was a lovely morning; the sun rose +in great splendor, and the sky was beautifully overcast with clouds. +Having proceeded about ten miles, the country became thickly covered +with detached forest trees and groves of wait-a-bit thorns. The guides +now informed us that the water, which is called by the Bechuanas, +"Lepeby," was only a short distance in advance; upon which I saddled +steeds, and rode ahead with the Bushman, intending to hunt for an hour +before breakfast. Presently we reached an open glade in the forest, +where I observed a herd of zebras in advance; and on my left stood a +troop of springboks, with two leopards watching them from behind a +bush. I rode on, and soon fell in with a troop of hartebeests, and, a +little after, with a large herd of blue wildebeests and pallahs. I +followed for some distance, when they were reinforced by two other +herds of pallahs and wildebeests. Three black rhinoceroses now trotted +across my path. +</P> + +<P> +Presently I sprang from my horse, and fired right and left at a +princely bull blue wildebeest. He got both balls, but did not fall, +and I immediately lost sight of him in the dense ranks of his shaggy +companions. The game increased as we proceeded, until the whole forest +seemed alive with a variety of beautifully colored animals. On this +occasion I was very unfortunate; I might have killed any quantity of +game if venison had been my object; but I was trying to get a few very +superior heads of some of the master bucks of the pallahs. Of these I +wounded four select old bucks, but in the dust and confusion caused by +the innumerable quantity of the game I managed to lose them all. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Encounter with a Lioness. +</H3> + +<P> +When Mr. Cumming was in that part of the interior of South Africa +inhabited by the tribe called the Griquas, he had a remarkable and +fearful encounter with a lioness. He had been shooting some of the +various kinds of antelopes which abound in that country, under various +names, such as wildebeests, springboks, blesboks, and pallahs, when +the adventure occurred, which he thus describes. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly I observed a number of vultures seated on the plain about a +quarter of a mile ahead of us, and close beside them stood a huge +lioness, consuming a blesbok which she had killed. She was assisted in +her repast by about a dozen jackals, which were feasting along with +her in the most friendly manner. +</P> + +<P> +Directing my followers' attention to the spot, I remarked, "I see the +lion;" to which they replied, "Whar? whar? Yah! Almagtig! dat is he;" +and instantly reining in their steeds and wheeling about they pressed +their heels to their horses' sides, and were preparing to betake +themselves to flight. I asked them what they were going to do. To +which they answered, "We have not yet placed caps on our rifles." This +was true; but while this short conversation was passing, the lioness +had observed us. Raising her full, round face, she overhauled us for a +few seconds, and then set off at a smart canter toward a range of +mountains some miles to the northward; the whole troop of jackals also +started off in another direction; there was, therefore, no time to +think of caps. +</P> + +<P> +The first move was to bring her to bay, and not a second was to be +lost. Spurring my good and lively steed, and shouting to my men to +follow, I flew across the plain, and, being fortunately mounted on +Colesberg, the flower of my stud, I gained upon her at every stride. +This was to me a joyful moment, and I at once made up my mind that she +or I must die. +</P> + +<P> +The lioness having had a long start of me, we went over a considerable +extent of ground before I came up with her. She was a large, +full-grown beast, and the bare and level nature of the plain added to +her imposing appearance. Finding that I gained upon her, she reduced her +pace from a canter to a trot, carrying her tail stuck out behind her, +and slewed a little to one side. I shouted loudly to her to halt, as I +wished to speak with her, upon which she suddenly pulled up, and sat +on her haunches like a dog, with her back toward me, not even deigning +to look round. She then appeared to say to herself, "Does this fellow +know who he is after?" +</P> + +<P> +Having thus sat for half a minute, as if involved in thought, she +sprang to her feet, and, facing about, stood looking at me for a few +seconds, moving her tail slowly from side to side, showing her teeth, +and growling fiercely. She next made a short run forward, making a +loud, rumbling noise like thunder. This she did to intimidate me; but +finding that I did not flinch an inch nor seem to heed her hostile +demonstrations, she quietly stretched out her massive arms, and lay +down on the grass. My Hottentots now coming up, we all three +dismounted, and, drawing our rifles from their holsters, we looked to +see if the powder was up in the nipples, and put on our caps, While +this was doing the lioness sat up, and showed evident symptoms of +uneasiness. She looked first at us, and then behind her, as if to see +if the coast were clear; after which she made a short run toward us, +uttering her deep-drawn, murderous growls. +</P> + +<P> +Having secured the three horses to one another by their reins, we led +them on as if we intended to pass her, in the hope of obtaining a +broadside. But this she carefully avoided to expose, presenting only +her full front. I had given Stofolus my rifle, with orders to shoot +her if she should spring upon me, but on no account to fire before me. +Kleinboy was to stand ready to hand me my Purdey rifle, in case the +two-grooved Dixon should not prove sufficient. My men as yet had been +steady, but they were in a precious stew, their faces having assumed a +ghastly paleness, and I had a painful feeling that I could place no +reliance on them. +</P> + +<P> +Now then for it, neck or nothing! She is within sixty yards of us, and +she keeps advancing. We turned the horses' tails to her. I knelt on +one side, and, taking aim at her breast, let fly. The ball cracked +loudly on her tawny hide, and crippled her in the shoulder, upon which +she charged with an appalling roar, and in the twinkling of an eye she +was in the midst of us, At this moment Stofolus's rifle exploded in +his hand, and Kleinboy, whom I had ordered to stand ready by me, +danced about like a duck in a gale of wind. +</P> + +<P> +The lioness sprang upon Colesberg, and fearfully lacerated his ribs +and haunches with her horrid teeth and claws; the worst wound was on +his haunch, which exhibited a sickening, yawning gash, more than +twelve inches long, almost laying bare the very bone. I was very cool +and steady, and did not feel in the least degree nervous, having +fortunately great confidence in my own shooting; but I must confess, +when the whole affair was over, I felt that it was a very awful +situation, and attended with extreme peril, as I had no friend with me +on whom I could rely. +</P> + +<P> +When the lioness sprang on Colesberg, I stood out from the horses, +ready with my second barrel for the first chance she should give of a +clear shot. This she quickly did; for, seemingly satisfied with the +revenge She had now taken, she quitted Colesberg, and slewing her tail +to one side, trotted sulkily past within a few paces of me, taking one +step to the left. I pitched my rifle to my shoulder, and in another +second the lioness was stretched on the plain a lifeless corpse. +</P> + +<P> +In the struggles of death she half turned on her back, and stretched +her neck and fore arms convulsively, when she fell back to her former +position; her mighty arms hung powerless by her side, her lower jaw +fell, blood streamed from her mouth, and she expired. At the moment I +fired my second shot, Stofolus, who hardly knew whether he was alive +or dead, allowed the three horses to escape. These galloped +frantically across the plain, on which he and Kleinboy instantly +started after them, leaving me standing alone, and unarmed, within a +few feet of the lioness, which they from their anxiety to be out of +the way, evidently considered quite capable of doing further mischief. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Hunting the Blauwbok and Buffalo. +</H3> + +<P> +Among the various kinds of antelopes which inhabit South Africa, the +blauwbok, or blue buck, called by Mr. Cumming, the blue antelope, is +one of the most remarkable. It is six feet in length, three feet and a +half high to the back, and very compactly made. The horns are more +than two feet in length, round, closely annulated to within six inches +of the tips, bent back in a uniform but moderate curve, and very sharp +at the points. The general color of the hair is gray, with the insides +of the ears, a streak before each eye, the insides of the legs, and a +few hairs along the ridge of the neck, white. The hair on the body +divides on the line of the back, and is rather coarse and open. +</P> + +<P> +The skin under it on the upper part of the living animal is a black, +which shining through the grey, produces a sort of raven-blue tint. It +is the epidermis only and not the mucous tissue which has this black +color, otherwise the hair would have it; and it fades when the animal +is dead, as is the case with a highly-colored epidermis in almost all +animals. +</P> + +<P> +This animal was frequently pursued and shot by Mr. Cumming, in his +African hunts, and his flesh was found to be excellent. +</P> + +<P> +The Cape buffalo, or African buffalo, was a more troublesome object of +chase. This animal, has a most formidable front, and its general +aspect is shaggy and formidable. The horns are the most compact, and +in their substance the heaviest of all the ruminating animals, +excepting only some of those of the antelopes. This animal is +considerably lower than the Indian buffalo; but it is firmer, though +shorter in the legs, rounder in the body; and the beard and short mane +give it a rugged appearance. This is by far the most formidable animal +of the genus. It has never been tamed, and the males are dangerous to +come near. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Cumming thus describes one of his encounters with this animal, by +himself and Ruyter, a Bushman, a favorite servant. +</P> + +<P> +On the forenoon of the 26th, I rode to hunt, accompanied by Ruyter; we +held west, skirting the wooded stony mountains. The natives had here +many years before waged successful war with elephants, four of whose +skulls I found. Presently I came across two sassaybies, one of which I +knocked over; but while I was loading he regained his legs and made +off. We crossed a level stretch of forest, holding a northerly course +for an opposite range of green, well wooded hills and valleys. Here I +came upon a troop of six fine old bull buffaloes, into which I +stalked, and wounded one princely fellow behind the shoulder, bringing +blood from nis mouth; he, however made off with his comrades, and the +ground being very rough we failed to overtake him. They held for the +Ngotwani. After following the spoor for a couple of miles, we dropped +it, as it led right away from camp. +</P> + +<P> +Returning from this chase, we had an adventure with another old bull +buffalo, which shows the extreme danger of hunting buffaloes without +dogs. We started him in a green hollow among the hills, and his course +inclining for camp, I gave him chase. He crossed the level broad +strath and made for the opposite densely wooded range of mountains. +Along the base of these we followed him, sometimes in view, sometimes +on the spoor, keeping the old fellow at a pace which made him pant. At +length, finding himself much distressed, he had recourse to a singular +stratagem. Doubling round some thick bushes which obscured him from +our view, he found himself beside a small pool of rain water, just +deep enough to cover his body; into this he walked, and facing about, +lay gently down and awaited our on-coming, with nothing but his old +grey face and massive horns above the water, and these concealed from +our view by rank overhanging herbage. +</P> + +<P> +Our attention was entirely engrossed with the spoor, and thus we rode +boldly on until within a few feet of him, when springing to his feet, +he made a desperate charge after Ruyter, uttering a low, stifling +roar, peculiar to buffaloes, (somewhat similar to the growl of a lion) +and hurled horse and rider to the ground with fearful violence. His +horns laid the poor horse's haunches open to the bone, making the most +fearful ragged wound. +</P> + +<P> +In an instant Ruyter regained his feet and ran for his life, which the +buffalo observing, gave chase, but most fortunately came down with a +tremendous somersault in the mud, his feet slipping from under him; +thus the Bushman escaped certain destruction. The buffalo rose much +discomfited, and, the wounded horse first catching his eye, he went a +second time at him, but he got out of the way. At this moment I +managed to send one of my patent pacificating pills into his shoulder, +when he instantly quitted the scene of action, and sought shelter in a +dense cover on the mountain side, whither I deemed it imprudent to +follow him. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Adventures with snakes. +</H3> + +<P> +The following stories of fascination by snakes, is copied from +"Arthur's Home Gazette." It is no fiction; but is contributed by a +gentleman of Tennessee, who is willing to vouch for the truth of what +he relates. +</P> + +<P> +It has been a thousand times affirmed, and as often denied, that +certain serpents possess the power—independent of the touch—of +paralyzing their proposed victims. And it seems to be generally +admitted that this is done, if done at all, by the eye; for those +theorists who ascribe it to poison inhaled through the nostrils of the +charmed ones, offer us no example to confirm their theory, or to make +it worthy of a second thought. In extended rambles, alone as well as +with society, I have made the study of serpents a matter of amusement, +and familiarized myself—at least I had done so ten years back—to +handle them without any flesh-shrinking. As I got older, and my nerves +become weakened by long exposure to the seasons and to midnight +studies, more debilitating than Texas "northers," I must confess that +I am more timid; but I can yet join a hunt, or project one in good +"snake weather," with considerable gusto. I have never met with a +snake that could charm me, look he never so keenly, although I have +<I>faced them</I> till they got tired, uncoiled, and beat an inglorious +retreat. And I am sure that I never <I>smell</I> anything about a snake, +calculated to excite any other emotions or <I>motions</I> except <I>holding +the nose</I>. And finally I never found a snake or snakelet that I would +turn my heel upon to flee, and for the very good reason that the +animal in question always runs first. +</P> + +<P> +So, ye manufacturers of snake stories horrific, amusive, or +instructive, put that against your tales of blacksnakes, copperheads, +cotton-mouths, horn-tails, water-mocassins, and the whole tribe else. +</P> + +<P> +But as to the <I>fascination</I>, what of that? +</P> + +<P> +Why, although I have never been fascinated, or seen a person in that +singular situation, yet I am a firm believer in the art, a believer +against my wishes—because evidence indisputable has been furnished +me, and in abundance. Now I leave out of the question, all the +influences of fright, surprise, etc., also all the humbug stories of +novel writers and romancers in private life, and yet there is a +remainder that I cannot cast out. One or two anecdotes, and then I +come to my principal proof. +</P> + +<P> +A gentleman of my acquaintance, passing along a bridle path, observed +a mouse running backwards and forwards, upon a fallen log, as if in +great terror. Reining in this horse, he paused full ten minutes, and +until the mouse disappeared on the farther side of the log. Drawing +nearer, and peeping over, his suspicions of Lucifer's guile were +verified—for mousey was within three inches of his open jaw, +"irresistibly attracted," said the narrator, "although he was drawing +back with all his might." The latter part of the tale is fishy—for +the gentleman was twenty feet off, and could not nave seen that—but +he saw the mouse finally disappear in that cavernous gullet; and when +he killed the snake-a large black one—the mouse lay in its stomach, +<I>without a wound</I>. How will that do? +</P> + +<P> +Another, well authenticated. A young man, of some twenty years, +passing along the road to school, on foot, was observed by some of his +companions in the rear to pause suddenly and look down. His fellows +intent on their conversation, were several minutes coming up; but when +they did so they witnessed a veritable case of fascination—for the +young man was looking intently into the eyes of a large rattlesnake, +coiled at his feet; nor could the voices of all his friends arouse +him. Being jerked back with some violence, he instantly recovered his +senses, but seemed to be puzzled to recall the circumstances connected +with his first view of the snake. After a mental effort he explained, +while the cold sweat poured from his face, and his limbs were flaccid +as an infant's, that the sound of a rattle had caused him to stop +short—that a pleasant halo danced before his eyes, and sweet sounds +met his ears—and that from that instant until the conclusion of the +trance, "he was as happy as he ever expected to be!" +</P> + +<P> +But now for the hardest knock of conviction. I will give it in the +language of the original narrator—premising that opponents to the +theory of serpent attraction must knock under, or flatly contradict +my tale. In the latter event, I shall be compelled to settle the +question as Hodginson did his lawsuit, "by exhibiting the skin and +parading the witnesses." +</P> + +<P> +"In the month of April, a few years back," commences the witness, "I +took my eldest chap, an eight year old boy, but stout and bold enough +for a twelve year old—and sauntered down to Beech river, to spend the +evening [Footnote: Evening, in this place, signifies from noon until +dark; that's the Southern and Western notion always.] fishing. Finding +a large beech, whose spreading roots formed a natural easy chair, with +arms to it, I threw my line into the stream, and myself into the +cavity, to take the thing deliberately as I generally do on such +occasions. There had been a rise in Beech river sufficient to muddy +the water, and I knew the only chance was for cat (<I>bull-pouts</I> the +Yankees call them,) so I chose a big hook and baited with a chunk of +bacon, big enough for an eight-pounder at least. That hook was a +Limerick, for which I had sent all the way to Porter, of 'The +Spirit'—that hook I was never more to behold. +</P> + +<P> +"The boy chose for himself a steep place about ten yards below me, and +after sticking his pole in the mud, like a lazy fellow, as he is, +amused himself by counting the stamens in some sorrel-flowers that +grew thick thereabouts. I listened to his chatter for a while as he +vacillated in his numbers—eight—nine—ten—twelve—until my own +thoughts took an interesting turn, and I heard to more of him for +several minutes. Then the sound of his voice again struck one, but a +little distance further down stream, as he tailed out—'Oh, Pa, look!' +</P> + +<P> +"Being well accustomed to his 'mares' nests,' I did not turn until he +had repeated several times the same words, and it was the singularity +of his tones at last that caused me to do it. His voice was +indescribably plaintive, clear, but low, and each vowel sound was +drawn out at great length, thus—'Oh-h-h-h, Pa-a-a-a, +loo-oo-oo-ook,'—with the diminuendo, soft as the ring of a glass vessel, +when struck. I have heard Kyle, the flutist, while executing some of his +thrilling touches, strike his low notes very much like it. Slewing myself +partly round in my seat, I observed the little fellow standing bent +forward, his hands stretched out before him as if shielding his face from +a bush, while his whole body worked to and fro like the subjects in +certain mesmeric experiments that I nave observed when first they are +brought under 'the influence' of the operator. His face was partly +turned from me, but the cheek, which I saw was pale as death, and his +cloth cap was trembling on the back part of his head, as if forced +there by the workings of the scalp. +</P> + +<P> +"This was as much as I had time to observe in the first hasty glance. +Astonished at his actions, though not at all alarmed—or the first +thought that occurred to me as that he was trying to catch a young +rabbit—I called out in a half-jocular tone, well, bubby boy, what is +it?' He made no reply, but continued that strange murmur of '—Oh-h-h, +Pa-a-a, loo-oo-ook,' and took a couple of paces forward, not as though +he wished to advance, but more in the style of a person who has leaned +too far forward and moves his feet to recover the perpendicular. I +arose, rather slowly, for it was a mere prompting of curiosity, and +walking towards him, called out in a tone of some authority, 'John, +come here!' Now I can say, without boasting, that my domestic +government is thorough, and my children will promptly obey my commands +in every thing, from the taking of a dose of quinine to the springing +out of bed at daylight of a frosty morning. My surprise, therefore, +was great to observe that the lad only answered my order, twice +repeated, by the same melancholy cry, and another stumble forward. +</P> + +<P> +"I was now thoroughly aroused. I hastened my own steps, for a horror +came over me as though I was in the presence of a demon. I advanced +directly behind the child, and looking over him, observed a thick bush +of the Early Honeysuckle, (<I>Azalea nudiflora</I>.) Into and through this +I glanced, but I observed no object to excite my notice. I had got +within a pace of him, and was in the act of putting my hand with some +force upon his shoulder, when following more precisely the direction +of his eyes, I looked at the foot of the bush, then about six feet +from me, and how shall I describe the sequel! +</P> + +<P> +"Like an electric shock, a sensation pervaded my whole frame, which, +although I can never forget, I must most imperfectly describe. I was +in a trance—the blood overcharged my brain—a murmuring sound, as of +an Aeolian, filled my ears-drops, like rain, oozed from my face—my +hat, first elevated to the very tips of the hairs, worked backwards +and fell to the ground—in brief, I was regularly, and for the first +and last time in my life, in a state of fascination. +</P> + +<P> +"No sensation of languor troubled me, for although I felt no +inclination to go forward, yet I seemed to myself perfectly able and +willing to stay where I was, so long as the world lasted. I was +perfectly happy in spite of my bodily excitement. A bright halo of +changeable colors, for all the world like the changeable lights I have +seen displayed in front of the American Museum, New York, filled all +my vision, in the very focus of which gleamed two keen points, like +sparks from the blacksmith's anvil, and they were so vivid that they +seemed to pierce me through and through. +</P> + +<P> +"How long this continued I cannot say, but I suppose only for a +minute. So far as my own perception of time's flight is concerned, +however, it might have been an age. +</P> + +<P> +"I was awakened by the harsh crackling of some dry sticks upon which +the boy had stepped as he continued to shuffle forward. The recovery +was as sudden as the attack. In an instant I was disenchanted. The +bush looked familiar, and I heard the fall of water in the stream, but +a thought of imminent danger now possessed my mind; so shouting with a +voice that made the woods ring, I seized the lad around the waist, and +heavy as he was, ran with him quite a quarter of a mile without +stopping. I confess it most frankly that I didn't stop until I fell +exhausted in the public road. To tell the cowardly truth, I should +have ran on until now if I had been able. So we fell down together and +lay for a good while panting. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I got up and propping myself against a poplar, took little John +on my knee. His nervous system was unstrung. He was weeping bitterly, +and sobbing as if his heart would break. His flesh was cold and +clammy, his pulse was almost still, and he hadn't strength to raise +his hands to his mouth. +</P> + +<P> +"I had some root ginger in my pocket—I always carry a piece with +me—which I chewed and made him swallow. This revived him. Then I rubbed +him briskly, pinched his skin in divers tender spots, and by these +means and cheerful conversation, got him so that he could stand alone +and answer my questions. I never saw such a fool thing as he was! He +was not at all alarmed, very willingly consented to return with me—for +I'd die but what I'd see it but—thought there ought to be a perch +on his hook by this time, thought it was Sunday, thought there was +snow somewhere, 'twas so cold,—and all such notions as that. +</P> + +<P> +"Every few minutes he would burst into an uncontrollable flood of +tears, but he couldn't tell for what. +</P> + +<P> +"You will want to know how I felt all this time. Well, when I got a +minute's leisure from attending to him and could notice my own +feelings, I found that I was snivelling too! that my pulse was small, +my nose had been profusely bleeding, and the blood had drenched me to +the very boot tops, and I felt altogether as exhausted as one does who +has had a month's spell of the chills. +</P> + +<P> +"We were a precious pair, daddy and son, as we sat under that poplar. +I am sure I never felt so foolish in all my life. Well, back we +started, for my spunk was up; and, beside that, I had left my hat, +handkerchief, dinner, and memorandum book, and was bound to have them. +I felt the most burning curiosity to understand the puzzle while my +mental faculties were completely obfuscated by it. +</P> + +<P> +"Neither of us said a word of the affair itself, for John didn't seem +to know that he had been frightened, and I was afraid to alarm him by +speaking of it. He asked no questions of any sort, although in general +he is a miniature Paul Pry, expressed no surprise that I was +bareheaded and bloody, or that we had come so far from the fishing +place and left our tackle behind. His face expressed confusion, such +as a child will exhibit when he is waked suddenly by falling out of +bed, and commences grasping around the bedpost preparatory to getting +in again. I knew that something frightful was there, and felt that we +had escaped some great peril, but what the object or what the peril I +had no idea whatever. I am sure, however, that the notion of a snake +never entered my mind, but if any thing tangible, if was of a wild +cat, for the recollection of Cooper's panther story in the Pioneers +occurred to me, and I cut a stout hickory sapling to be prepared. We +arrived with slow steps at the haunted spot, for both were exhausted, +and I felt the value of prudence. There lay my basket by the beech +root, more by token that the hogs had found it and were just devouring +the last morsel of bread and meat so carefully deposited therein. +</P> + +<P> +"There was my fishing line, but the eight-pounder had become weary and +worn, and carried off my Limerick hook. There was my hat near the +honeysuckle bush, but the phantom itself, with its diamond eyes and +mystic powers, was gone. Frightened probably by the hogs, unromantic +objects in every point of view, he had fled; but I found him within +fifty yards in the form of a <I>rattlesnake</I>, full six feet from tip to +tip, and glorying in fourteen full rattles. +</P> + +<P> +"I had my revenge in every possible form. I looked at him for ten +minutes at a time, but the power was gone, and I only saw two keen, +devilish-looking eyes. Then I punched him till he spent all his venom +on my stick. Then I made him drunk on tobacco juice, ingloriously and +brutally drunk. +</P> + +<P> +"Getting tired at last, I gave him the <I>coup de grâce</I>, skinned him, +and returned home. He hangs now in loops over my family bed. Those +eyes that thrilled my heart so strangely are dim with dust. Those +fangs, which in a few minutes more would probably have sent death to +the heart's fountain of my boy, are now in Europe, a part of the +collection admired by countless crowds at the British Museum. The +subject is fast fading from my memory,'mid the cares of life, and had +you not asked me to write it out for you, I should have thought of it +but a little longer. Let it stand as another testimony, and a most +unwilling one, too, of the fascinating powers of serpents on the +human." +</P> + +<P> +So far my correspondent tells his own tale in language sufficiently +plain and explicit. If any figure him out as a man of feeble frame and +low stature, let them change their fancy at once. +</P> + +<P> +He is a strong, muscular man, an old bear hunter, one who has fought +Indians in the Florida swamps; a person withal, of unquestionable +veracity, and in all respects the last man to impose on others, or be +imposed upon by anything, fish, flesh, or fowl. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Contests with Large Snakes +</H3> + +<P> +The family of snakes called Boidae, including the Boas and Pythons are +huge snakes confined to the hotter regions of the globe, and +formidable from their vast strength and mode of attack. They lurk in +ambush and dart upon their victim, which in an instant is seized and +enveloped in their folds, and crushed to death or strangled. For their +predatory habits they are admirably adapted; their teeth are terrible, +and produce a dreadful wound; the neck is slender, the body increasing +gradually to about the middle in diameter, and then decreasing. The +tail is a grasping instrument, strongly prehensile, and aided by two +hooklike claws, sheathed with horn, externally visible on each side, +beneath, just anterior to the base of the tail. Though externally +nothing beyond these spurs appear, internally is found a series of +bones, representing those of the hinder limbs, but of course +imperfectly developed; yet they are acted upon by powerful muscles, +and can be so used as to form a sort of antagonist to the tail while +grasping any object; they thus become a fulcrum giving additional +force to the grasp, which secured thereby to a fixed point, giving +double power to the animal's energy. +</P> + +<P> +The emperor boa, or boa constrictor as well as all the others to which +the name boa applies are, according to Cuvier, natives of America. The +engraving represents one of these terrible snakes in the act of +strangling a deer. +</P> + +<P> +The Aboma (<I>Boa cenchrea</I>) has scaly plates on the muzzle, and pits or +dimples upon the plates of the jaws. +</P> + +<P> +Endowed with powers which in a semicivilized state of society must +operate powerfully on the mind; at ease and freedom alike on the land, +in the water, or among the trees; at once wily, daring, and +irresistible in their attack, graceful in their movements, and +splendid in their coloring—that such creatures, to be both dreaded +and admired, should become the subject of superstitious reverence, is +scarcely to be wondered at. The ancient Mexicans regarded the boa as +sacred; they viewed its actions with religious horror; they crouched +beneath the fiery glances of its eyes; they trembled as they listened +to its long-drawn hiss, and from various signs and movements predicted +the fate of tribes or individuals, or drew conclusions of guilt or +innocence. The supreme idol was represented encircled and guarded by +sculptured serpents, before which were offered human sacrifices. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "On a blue throne, with four huge silver snakes,<BR> + As if the keepers of the sanctuary,<BR> + Circled, with stretching necks and fangs display'd,<BR> + Mexitli sate: another graven snake<BR> + Belted with scales of gold his monster bulk."<BR> +</P> + +<P> +It is probably of the boa constrictor, the emperor, the devin, that +Hernandez writes, under the name of Temacuilcahuilia, so called from +its powers, the word meaning a fighter with five men. It attacks, he +says, those it meets, and overpowers them with such force, that if it +once coils itself around their necks it strangles and kills them, +unless it bursts itself by the violence of its own efforts; and he +states that the only way of avoiding the attack is for the man to +manage in such a way as to oppose a tree to the animal's constriction, +so that while the serpent supposes itself to be crushing the man, it +may be torn asunder by its own act, and so die. We do not ask our +readers for their implicit faith in this. He adds, that he has himself +seen serpents as thick as a man's thigh, which had been taken young by +the Indians and tamed; they were provided with a cask strewn with +litter in the place of a cavern, where they lived, and were for the +most part quiescent, except at meal-times, when they came forth, and +amicably climbed about the couch or shoulders of their master, who +placidly bore the serpent's embrace. They often coiled tip in folds, +equalling a large sized cartwheel in size, and harmlessly received +their food. +</P> + +<P> +In most accounts current respecting the mode in which boas and pythons +take their food, the snake, after crushing its prey, is described as +licking the body with its tongue and lubricating it with its saliva, +in order to facilitate the act of deglutition. It has been observed +with justice that few worse instruments for such a purpose than the +slender dark forked tongue of these snakes could have been contrived: +and that, in fact, the saliva does not begin to be poured out +abundantly till required to lubricate the jaws and throat of the +animal straining to engulph the carcass. We have seen these snakes +take their food, but they did not lubricate it, though the vibratory +tongue often touched it; we must, therefore, withhold our credence +from the common assertion. +</P> + +<P> +The size attained by the boa is often very great, and larger +individuals than any now seen occurred formerly, before their ancient +haunts had been invaded by human colonization. +</P> + +<P> +The Anaconda, (<I>Boa Scytale</I>), called by Linnaeus, Boa Murina, and by +Prince Maximilian, Boa Aquatica, is of an enormous size, from twenty +to thirty feet in length. +</P> + +<P> +The boa cenchrea has scaly plates on the the muzzle; and dimples upon +the plates at the sides of the jaws. His color is yellowish, with a +row of large brown rings running the whole length of the back, and +variable spots on the sides. These are generally dark, often +containing a whitish semi-lunar mark. This species, according to Seba, +who describes it as Mexican, is the Temacuilcahuilia (or Tamacuilla +Huilia, as Seba writes the word) described by Hernandez. The species +here described, according to Cuvier, grow nearly to the same size, and +haunt the marshy parts of South America. There, adhering by the tail +to some aquatic tree, they suffer the anterior part of the body to +float upon the water, and patiently wait to seize upon the quadrupeds +which come to drink. +</P> + +<P> +Our engraving represents him in the attitude of watching for a deer +which is seen, in the distance. +</P> + +<P> +A specimen apparently of the boa scytale called in Venezuela "La +Culebra de Agua," or water serpent, and also "El Traga Venado," or +deer-swallower, which measures nineteen feet and a half in length, was +presented by Sir Robert Ker Porter to the United Service Museum. He +states that "The flesh of this serpent is white and abundant in fat. +The people of the plains never eat it, but make use of the fat as a +remedy for rheumatic pains, ruptures, strains, &c." +</P> + +<P> +"This serpent," says Sir B. K. Porter, "is not venomous nor known to +injure man (at least not in this part of the New World;) however, the +natives stand in great fear of it, never bathing in waters where it is +known to exist. Its common haunt, or rather domicile, is invariably +near lakes, swamps, and rivers; likewise close wet ravines produced by +inundations of the periodical rains: hence, from its aquatic habits, +its first appellation. Fish and those animals which repair there to +drink, are the objects of its prey. The creature lurks watchfully +under cover of the water, and, whilst the unsuspecting animal is +drinking, suddenly makes a dash at the nose, and with a grip of its +back-raclining double range of teeth never fails to secure the +terrified beast beyond the power of escape." +</P> + +<P> +It would appear that boas are apt to be carried out to sea by sudden +floods, and are sometimes drifted alive on distant coasts. The Rev. +Lansdown Guilding, writing in the Island of St. Vincent, says, "A +noble specimen of the boa constrictor was lately conveyed to us by the +currents, twisted round the trunk of a large sound cedar tree, which +had probably been washed out of the bank, by the floods of some great +South American river, while its huge folds hang on the branches as it +waited for its prey. The monster was fortunately destroyed after +killing a few sheep, and his skeleton now hangs before me in my study, +putting me in mind how much reason I might have had to fear in my +future rambles through St. Vincent, had this formidable animal been a +pregnant female and escaped to a safe retreat." +</P> + +<P> +The pythons closely resemble the true boas, but have the subcaudal +plates double; the muzzle is sheathed with plates, and those covering +the mouth of the jaws have pits. These snakes, which equal or exceed +the boas in magnitude, are natives of India, Africa, and Australia. +</P> + +<P> +Pliny speaks of snakes in India of such a size as to be capable of +swallowing stags and bulls; and Valerius Maximus, quoting a lost +portion of Pliny's work, narrates the alarm into which the troops +under Regulus were thrown by a serpent which had its lair on the banks +of the river Bagradas, between Utica and Carthage, and which +intercepted the passage to the river. It resisted ordinary weapons, +and killed many of the men; till at last it was destroyed by heavy +stones thrown from military engines used in battering walls; its +length is stated as a hundred and twenty feet. Regulus carried its +skin and jaws to Rome, and deposited them in one of the temples, where +they remained till the time of the Numantine war. +</P> + +<P> +Diodorus Siculus relates the account of the capture of a serpent, not +without loss of life, in Egypt, which measured thirty cubits long; it +was taken to Alexandria. Suetonius speaks of a serpent exhibited at +Rome in front of the Comitium, fifty cubits in length. +</P> + +<P> +Though we do not refuse credit to these narratives, it must be added +that in modern days we have not seen serpents of such magnitude; yet +they may exist. Bontius observes that some of the Indian pythons +exceed thirty-six feet in length, and says that they swallow wild +boars, adding, "there are those alive who partook with General Peter +Both, of a recently swallowed hog cut out of the belly of a serpent of +this kind." +</P> + +<P> +These snakes, he observes, are not poisonous, but strangle a man or +other animal by powerful compression. The Ular Sawa, or great Python +of the Sunda Isles, is said to exceed when full-grown, thirty feet in +length; and it is narrated that a "Malay prow being anchored for the +night under the Island of Celebes, one of the crew went ashore, in +search of betel nut, and, as was supposed, fell asleep on the beach, +on his return. In the dead of night, his companions on board were +aroused by dreadful screams; they immediately went ashore, but they +came too late, the cries had ceased—the man had breathed his last in +the folds of an enormous serpent, which they killed. They cut off the +head of the snake and carried it, together with the lifeless body of +their comrade, to the vessel; the right wrists of the corpse bore the +marks of the serpent's teeth, and the disfigured body showed that the +man had been crushed by the constriction of the reptile round the +head, neck, breast, and thigh." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. McLeod, in his voyage of H.M.S. Alceste, after describing the mode +in which a python on board, sixteen feet in length, crushed and gorged +a goat, the distressing cries of which on being introduced into the +serpent's cage, could not but excite compassion, goes on to say that +during a captivity of some months at Whidah, in the kingdom of +Dahomey, on the coast of Africa, he had opportunities of observing +pythons of more than double that size, and which were capable of +swallowing animals much larger that goats or sheep. "Governor Abson," +he adds, "who had for thirty-seven years resided at Fort William, one +of the African Company's settlements there, describes some desperate +struggles which he had seen, or which had come to his knowledge, +between the snakes and wild beasts as well as the smaller cattle, in +which the former were always victorious. A negro herdsman belonging to +Mr. Abson, and who afterwards limped for many years about the fort, +had been seized by one of these monsters by the thigh; but from his +situation in a wood the serpent in attempting to throw himself around +him got entangled in a tree; and the man being thus preserved from a +state of compression, which would instantly have rendered him quite +powerless, had presence of mind enough to cut with a large knife which +he carried about with him, deep gashes in the neck and throat of his +antagonist, thereby killing him, and disengaging himself from his +frightful situation. He never afterwards, however, recovered the use +of his limb, which had sustained considerable injury from the fangs +and mere force of his jaws." +</P> + +<P> +Ludolph states that enormous snakes exist in Ethiopia: and Bosman +informs us that entire men have been found in the gullet of serpents +on the Gold coast. In the "Oriental Annual" is the following +narrative, explanatory of a well-known picture by W. Daniell: "A few +years before our visit to Calcutta," says the writer, "the captain of +a country ship while passing the Sunderbunds sent a boat into one of +the creeks to obtain some fresh fruits, which are cultivated by the +few miserable inhabitants of this inhospitable region. Having reached +the shore the crew moored the boat under a bank, and left one of their +party to take care of her." +</P> + +<P> +During their absence, the lascar who remained in charge of the boat, +overcome by heat, lay down under the seats and fell asleep. While he +was in this happy state of unconsciousness an enormous boa, python, +emerged from the jungle, reached the boat, had already coiled its huge +body round the sleeper, and was in the very act of crushing him to +death, when his companions fortunately returned at this auspicious +moment, and attacking the monster, severed a portion of its tail, +which so disabled it that it no longer retained the power of doing +mischief. The snake was then easily despatched, and was found to +measure, as stated, sixty-two feet and some inches in length. It is +hardly probable that the snake had fairly entwined round the man, for +the sudden compression of the chest, had the snake exerted its +strength, would have been instantly fatal. +</P> + +<P> +In March, 1841, a singular circumstance occurred at the gardens of the +Zoological Society, which at the time caused no little surprise. A +python, eleven or twelve feet long, and one about nine feet long, were +kept together in a well-secured cage; both had been fed one evening, +the larger one with three guinea pigs and a rabbit; but, as it would +appear, his appetite was unsatiated. The next morning, when the keeper +came to look into the cage, the smaller python was missing—its escape +was impossible—and the question was what had become of it? +</P> + +<P> +The truth was evident—its larger companion had swallowed it. There it +lay torpid, and bloated to double its ordinary dimensions. How it +accomplished the act is not known, but we may imagine a fearful +struggle to have taken place, as wreathing round each other they +battled for the mastery; unless, indeed, the victim was itself torpid +and incapable of resistance. +</P> + +<P> +The Tiger Python, (<I>Python, tigris</I>), is a native of India and Java, +and is often brought over to England for exhibition. It was, we +believe, from one of these species that Mr. Cops, the keeper of the +lion office was in imminent danger, as narrated by Mr. Broderip. +</P> + +<P> +The animal was near shedding its skin, and consequently nearly blind, +for the skin of the eye, which is shed with the rest of the slough, +becomes then opaque, when Mr. Cops, wishing it to feed, held a fowl to +its head. The snake darted at the bird, but missed it, seizing the +keeper by the left thumb, and coiled round his arm and neck in a +moment. Mr. Cops, who was alone, did not lose his presence of mind, +and immediately attempted to relieve himself of the powerful +constriction by getting at the snake's head. But the serpent had so +knotted himself on his own head, that Mr. Cops could not reach it, and +had thrown himself on the floor in order to grapple with a better +chance of success, when two other keepers coming in broke the teeth of +the serpent, and with some difficulty relieved Mr. Cops from his +perilous situation. Two broken teeth were extracted from the thumb, +which soon healed, and no material inconvenience was the result of +this frightful adventure. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Cumming, to whose exploits we have so frequently referred, gives +the following account of a day's adventures, one of which was an +amusing affair with a large python. +</P> + +<P> +On the 26th, I rose at earliest dawn to inspect the heads of the three +old buffaloes, they were all enormous old bulls, and one of them +carried a most splendid head. The lions had cleaned out all his +entrails; their spoor [Footnote: Spoor, <I>i.e.,</I> track] was immense. +Having taken some buffalo breast and liver for breakfast, I despatched +Ruyter to the wagons to call the natives to remove the carcasses, +while I and Kleinboy held through the hills to see what game might be +in the next glen which contained water. On my way thither, we started +a fine old buck koodoo, which I shot, putting both barrels into him at +one hundred yards. As I was examining the spoor of the game by the +fountain, I suddenly detected an enormous old rock-snake stealing in +beside a mass of rock beside me. He was truly an enormous snake, and, +having never before dealt with this species of game, I did not exactly +know how to set about capturing him. Being very anxious to preserve +his skin entire, and not wishing to have recourse to my rifle, I cut a +stout and tough stick about eight feet long, and having lightened +myself of my shooting-belt, I commenced the attack. Seizing him by the +tail, I tried to get him out of his place of refuge; but I hauled in +vain; he only drew his large folds firmer together; I could not move +him. At length I got a rheim round one of his folds about the middle +of his body, and Kleinboy and I commenced hauling away in good +earnest. +</P> + +<P> +The snake, finding the ground too hot for him, relaxed his coils, and, +suddenly bringing round his head to the front, he sprang out at us +like an arrow, with his immense and hideous mouth opened to its +largest dimensions, and before I could get out of the way he was clean +out of his hole, and made a second spring, throwing himself forward +about eight or ten feet, and snapping his horrid fangs within a foot +of my legs. I sprang out of his way, and, getting hold of the green +bough I had cut, returned to the charge. The snake was now gliding +along at top speed: he knew the ground well, and was making for a mass +of broken rocks, where he would have been beyond my reach, but before +he could gain this place of refuge I caught him two or three +tremendous whacks on the head. He, however, held on, and gained a pool +of muddy water, which he was rapidly crossing, when I again belabored +him, and at length reduced his pace to a stand. We then hanged him by +the neck to a bough of a tree, and in about fifteen minutes he seemed +dead, but he again became very troublesome during the operation of +skinning, twisting his body in all manner of ways. This serpent +measured fourteen feet. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Adventure with Buffalo and Elephant. +</H3> + +<P> +The Cape Buffalo we have already described, and we now refer to him +again only for the purpose of quoting Mr. Cumming's account of a +spirited fight with one. He thus relates the affair. +</P> + +<P> +On the evening of the next day I had a glorious row with an old bull +buffalo: he was the only large bull in a fine herd of cows. I found +their spoor while walking ahead of the wagon, and following it up, I +came upon a part of the herd feeding quietly in a dense part of the +forest. I fired my first shot at a cow, which I wounded. The other +half of the herd then came up right in my face, within six yards of +me. They would have trampled on me if I had not sung out in their +faces and turned them. I selected the old bull and sent a bullet into +his shoulder. The herd then crashed along through the jungle to my +right, but he at once broke away from them and took to my left. On +examining his spoor, I found it bloody. I then went to meet my wagons, +which I heard coming on, and, ordering the men to outspan, I took all +my dogs to the spoor. They ran it up in fine style, and in a few +minutes the silence of the forest was disturbed by a tremendous bay. +On running towards the sound I met the old fellow coming on towards +the wagons, with all my dogs after him. I saluted him with a second +ball in the shoulder; he held on and took up a position in the thicket +within forty yards of the wagons, where I finished him. He carried a +most splendid head. +</P> + +<P> +In another part of his narrative, Mr. Cumming thus describes a +desperate battle with an elephant. +</P> + +<P> +On the 27th I cast loose my horses at earliest dawn of day, and then I +lay half asleep for two hours, when I arose to consume coffee and +rhinoceros. Having breakfasted, I started with a party of natives to +search for elephants in a southerly direction. We held along the +gravelly bed of a periodical river, in which were abundance of holes +excavated by the elephants in quest of water. Here the spoor of +rhinoceros was extremely plentiful, and in every hole where they had +drunk the print of the horn was visible. We soon found the spoor of an +old bull elephant, which led us into a dense forest, where the ground +was particularly unfavorable for spooring; we, however, threaded it +out for a considerable distance, when it joined the spoor of other +bulls. +</P> + +<P> +The natives now requested me to halt, while the men went off in +different directions to reconnoitre. In the mean time a tremendous +conflagration was roaring and crackling close to windward of us. It +was caused by the Bakalahari burning the old dry grass to enable the +young to spring up with greater facility, whereby they retained the +game in their dominions. The fire stretched away for many miles on +either side of us, darkening the forest far to leeward with a dense +and impenetrable canopy of smoke. Here we remained for about half an +hour, when one of the men returned, reporting that he had discovered +elephants. This I could scarcely credit, for I fancied that the +extensive fire which raged so fearfully must have driven, not only +elephants, but every living creature out of the district, The native, +however, pointed to his eye, repeating the word "Klow," and signed to +me to follow him. +</P> + +<P> +My guide led me about a mile through dense forest, when we reached a +little wellwood hill, to whose summit we ascended, whence a view might +have been obtained of the surrounding country, had not volumes of +smoke obscured the scenery far and wide, as though issuing from the +funnels of a thousand steamboats. Here, to my astonishment, my guide +halted, and pointed to the thicket close beneath me, when I instantly +perceived the colossal backs of a herd of bull elephants. There they +stood quietly browsing on the lee side of the hill, while the fire in +its might was raging to windward within two hundred yards of them. +</P> + +<P> +I directed Johannus to choose an elephant, and promised to reward him +should he prove successful. Galloping furiously down the hill, I +started the elephants with an unearthly yell, and instantly selected +the finest in the herd. Placing myself alongside, I fired both barrels +behind his shoulder, when he instantly turned upon me, and in his +impetuous career charged head foremost against a large bushy tree +which he sent flying before him high in the air with tremendous force, +coming down at the same moment violently on his knees. He then met the +raging fire, when, altering his course, he wheeled to the right-about +As I galloped after him I perceived another noble elephant meeting us +in an opposite direction, and presently the gallant Johannus hove in +sight, following his quarry at a respectful distance. Both elephants +held on together, so I shouted to Johannus, "I will give your elephant +a shot in the shoulder and you must try to finish him." Spurring my +horse, I rode close alongside, and gave the fresh elephant two balls +immediately behind the shoulder, when he parted from mine, Johannus +following; but before many minutes had elapsed that mighty Nimrod +reappeared, having fired one shot and lost his prey. +</P> + +<P> +In the mean time I was loading and firing as fast as could be, +sometimes at the head, sometimes behind the shoulder, until my +elephant's fore-quarters were a mass of gore, notwithstanding which he +continued to hold stoutly on, leaving the grass and branches of the +forest scarlet in his wake. +</P> + +<P> +On one occasion he endeavored to escape by charging desperately amid +the thickest of the flames; but this did not avail, and I was soon +once more alongside. I blazed away at this elephant, until I began to +think that he was proof against my weapons. Having fired thirty-five +rounds with my two-grooved rifle, I opened fire upon him with the +Dutch six-pounder; and when forty bullets had perforated his hide, he +began for the first time to evince signs of a dilapidated +constitution. He took up a position in a grove; and as the dogs kept +barking round him, he backed stern foremost amongst the trees, which +yielded before his gigantic strength. Poor old fellow! he had long +braved my deadly shafts, but I plainly saw that it was all over with +him; so I resolved to expend no further ammunition, but hold him in +view until he died. Throughout the chase this elephant repeatedly +cooled his person with large quantities of water, which he ejected +from his trunk over his back and sides; and just as the pangs of death +came over him, he stood trembling violently beside a thorny tree, and +kept pouring water into his bloody mouth until he died, when he +pitched heavily forward, with the whole weight of his fore-quarters +resting on the points of his tusks. +</P> + +<P> +A most singular occurrence now took place. He lay in this posture for +several seconds, but the amazing pressure of the carcase was more than +the head was able to support. He had fallen with his head so short +under him that the tusks received little assistance from his legs. +Something must give way. The strain on the mighty tusks was fair; they +did not, therefore, yield; but the portion of his head in which his +trunk was imbedded, extending a long way above the eye, yielded and +burst with a muffled crash. The tusk was thus free, and turned right +round in his head, so that a man could draw it out, and the carcase +fell over and rested on its side. This was a very first-rate elephant, +and the tusks he carried were long and perfect. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Hunting the Orix and the Lion. +</H3> + +<P> +Mr. Cumming was extremely desirous to fall in with an oryx, and carry +off his fine head with its splendid long horns as a trophy. He thus +describes a long but successful chase for one. +</P> + +<P> +At at early hour on the morning of the 16th, Paterson and I took the +field, accompanied by our three after-riders, and having ridden +several miles in a northerly direction, we started an oryx, to which +Paterson and his after-rider immediately gave chase. I then rode in an +easterly direction, and shortly fell in with a fine old cow oryx, +which we instantly charged. She stole away at a killing pace, her +black tail streaming in the wind, and her long, sharp horns laid well +back over her shoulders. Aware of her danger, and anxious to gain the +desert, she put forth her utmost speed and strained across the bushy +plain. She led us a tearing chase of upwards of five miles in a +northerly course, Cobus sticking well into her, and I falling far +behind. After a sharp burst of about three miles, Cobus and the grey +disappeared over a ridge about half a mile ahead of me. I mounted a +fresh horse, which had been led by Jacob, and followed. On gaming the +ridge, I perceived the grey disappearing over another ridge, a +fearfully long way ahead. When I reached this point I commanded an +extremely extensive prospect, but no living object was visible on the +desolate plain. +</P> + +<P> +Whilst deliberating in which direction to ride, I suddenly heard a +pistol-shot, some distance to my left, which I knew to be Cobus's +signal that the oryx was at bay. Having ridden half a mile, I +discovered Cobus dismounted in a hollow, and no oryx in view. He had +succeeded in riding the quarry to a stand, and, I not immediately +appearing, he very injudiciously had at once lost sight of the buck +and left it. +</P> + +<P> +Having upbraided Cobus in no measured terms for his stupidity, I +sought to retrieve the fortunes of the day by riding in the direction +in which he had left the oryx. The ground here was uneven and +interspersed with low hillocks. We extended our front and rode on up +wind, and, having crossed two or three ridges, I discovered a troop of +bucks a long way ahead. Having made for these, they turned out to be +hartebeests. At this moment I perceived three magnificent oryx a short +distance to my left. On observing us, they cantered along the ridge +towards a fourth oryx, which I at once perceived to be "embossed with +foam and dark with soil," and knew to be the antelope sought for. Once +more we charged her. Our horses had now considerably recovered their +wind, but the poor oryx was much distressed; and after a chase of half +a mile I jumped off my horse and sent a bullet through her ribs, which +brought her to a stand, when I finished her with the other barrel. She +proved a fine old cow with very handsome horns; the spot on which she +fell being so sterile that we could not even obtain the smallest +bushes with which to conceal her from the vultures, we covered her +with my after-rider's saddle-cloth, which consisted of a large +blanket. The head, on which I placed great value, we cut off and bore +along with us. +</P> + +<P> +On my way home I come across Pater-son's after-rider, "jaging" a troop +of gemsboks, but fearfully to leeward, his illustrious master being +nowhere in sight. An hour after I reached the camp Paterson came in, +in a towering rage, having been unlucky in both his chases. I now +despatched one of my wagons to bring home my oryx. It returned about +twelve o'clock that night, carrying the skin of my gemsbok and also a +magnificent old blue wildebeest (the brindled gnoo,) which the +Hottentots had obtained in an extraordinary manner. He was found with +one of his fore legs caught over his horn, so that he could not run, +and they hamstrung him and cut his throat. He had probably managed to +get himself into this awkward attitude while fighting with some of his +fellows. The vultures had consumed all the flesh of the oryx, and +likewise torn my blanket with which I had covered her. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Gumming thus describes an innumerable herd of blesboks which he +encountered in the plains of Africa. +</P> + +<P> +The game became plentiful in about ten days after we left Colesberg, +but when we came to the Vet River I beheld with astonishment and +delight decidedly one of the most wonderful displays which I had +witnessed during my varied sporting career in Southern Africa. On my +right and left the plain exhibited one purple mass of graceful +blesboks, which extended without a break as far as my eyes could +strain: the depth of their vast legions covered a breadth of about six +hundred yards. On pressing upon them, they cantered along before me, +not exhibiting much alarm, taking care, however, not to allow me to +ride within six hundred yards of them. On, on I rode, intensely +excited with the wondrous scene before me, and hoped at length to get +to windward of at least some portion of the endless living mass which +darkened the plain, but in vain. Like squadrons of dragoons, the +entire breadth of this countless herd held on their forward course as +if aware of my intention, and resolved not to allow one to weather +them. +</P> + +<P> +At length I determined to play upon their ranks, and, pressing my +horse to his utmost speed, I dashed forward, and, suddenly halting, +sprang from the saddle, and, giving my rifle at least two feet of +elevation, red right and left into one of their darkest masses. A +noble buck dropped to the right barrel, and the second shot told +loudly; no buck however, fell, and, after lying for half a minute the +prostrate blesbok rose, and was quickly lost sight of amongst the +retreating herd. +</P> + +<P> +In half a minute I was again loaded, and after galloping a few hundred +yards let drive into them, but was still unsuccessful. Excited, and +annoyed at my want of luck, I resolved to follow them up, and blaze +away while a shot remained in the locker, which I did; until, after +riding about eight or ten miles, I found my ammunition expended, and +not a single blesbok bagged, although at least a dozen must have been +wounded. It was now high time to retrace my steps and seek my wagons. +I accordingly took a point, and rode across the trackless country in +the direction for which they were steering. +</P> + +<P> +I very soon once more fell in with fresh herds of thousands of +blesboks. As it was late in the day, and I being on the right side for +the wind, the blesboks were very tame, and allowed me to ride along +within rifle-shot of them, and those which ran barged resolutely past +me up the wind in long-continued streams. I took a lucky course for +the wagons, and came right upon them, after they had outspanned on the +bank of the Vet River. I could willingly have devoted a month to +blesbok-shooting in this hunter's elysium. +</P> + +<P> +The following is one of Mr. Cumming's most remarkable lion hunts. +</P> + +<P> +We trecked up along the banks of the river for the Mariqua, and a +little before sundown fell in with two enormous herds of buffaloes, +one of which, consisting chiefly of bulls, stood under the shady trees +on one side of the bank, whilst the other, composed chiefly of cows +and calves, stood on the opposite side, a little higher up the river. +In all there were at least three hundred. Thinking it probable that if +I hunted them I might kill some old bull with a head perhaps worthy of +my collection, I ordered my men to outspan, and, having saddled +steeds, I gave chase to the herd of bulls, accompanied by Booi and my +dogs. After a short burst they took through the river, whereby I lost +sight of an old bull which carried the finest head in the herd. My +dogs, however, brought a cow to bay as they crossed the river, which I +shot standing in the water, but not before she had killed a +particularly favorite bull-dog, named Pompey. +</P> + +<P> +I then continued the chase, and again came up with the herd, which was +now considerably scattered: and after a sharp chase, part of which was +through a wait-a-bit thorn cover, I brought eight or nine fine bulls +to bay in lofty reeds at the river's margin, exactly opposite to my +camp; of these I singled out the two best heads, one of which I shot +with five balls, and wounded the other badly, but he made off while I +was engaged with his comrade. +</P> + +<P> +In the morning I instructed four of my people to cross the river, and +bring over a supply of buffalo meat. These men were very reluctant to +go, fearing a lion might have taken possession of the carcase. On +proceeding to reconnoitre from our side, they beheld the majestic +beast they dreaded walk slowly up the opposite bank from the dead +buffalo, and take up a position on the top of the bank under some +shady thorn-trees. I resolved to give him battle, and rode forth with +my double-barrelled Westly Richards rifle, followed by men leading the +dogs. Present, who was one of the party, carried his <I>roer</I>, no doubt +to perform wonders. The wind blew up the river; I accordingly held up +to seek a drift, and crossed a short distance above where the buffalo +lay. As we drew near the spot, I observed the lion sitting on the top +of the bank, exactly where he had been seen last by my people. +</P> + +<P> +On my right and within two hundred yards of me, was a very extensive +troop of pallahs, which antelope invariably manage to be in the way +when it is not wanted. On this occasion, however, I succeeded in +preventing my dogs from observing them. When the lion saw us coming, +he overhauled us for a moment, and then slunk back for concealment; +being well to leeward of him I ordered the dogs to be slipped, and +galloped forward. On finding that he was attacked, the lion at first +made a most determined bolt for it, followed by all the dogs at a +racing pace; and when they came up with him he would not bay, but +continued his course down the bank of the river, keeping close in +beside the reeds, growling terribly at the dogs, which kept up an +incessant angry barking. +</P> + +<P> +The bank of the river was intersected by deep watercourses, and the +ground being extremely slippery from the rain which had fallen during +the night, I was unable to overtake him until he came to bay in a +patch of lofty dense reeds which grew on the lower bank, immediately +adjacent to the river's margin. I had brought out eleven of my dogs, +and before I could come up three of them were killed. On reaching the +spot I found it impossible to obtain the slightest glimpse of the +lion, although the ground favored me, I having the upper bank to stand +upon; so, dismounting from my horse, I tried to guess, from his horrid +growling, his exact position, and fired several shots on chance, but +none of these hit him. I then commenced pelting him with lumps of +earth and sticks, there being no stones at hand. This had the effect +of making him change his position, but he still kept in the densest +part of the reeds, where I could do nothing with him. +</P> + +<P> +Presently my followers came up, who, as a matter of course, at once +established themselves safely in the tops of thorn trees. After about +ten minutes' bullying, the lion seemed to consider his quarters too +hot for him, and suddenly made a rush to escape from his persecutors, +continuing his course down along the edge of the river. The dogs, +however, again gave him chase, and soon brought him to bay in another +dense patch of reeds, just as bad as the last. +</P> + +<P> +Out of this in a few minutes I managed to start him, when he bolted up +the river, and came to bay in a narrow strip of reeds. Here he lay so +close that for a long time I could not ascertain his whereabouts; at +length, however, he made a charge among the dogs, and, coming forward, +took up a position near the outside of the reeds, where for the first +time I was enabled to give him a shot. My ball entered his body a +little behind the shoulder. On receiving it he charged growling after +the dogs, but not farther than the edge of the reeds, out of which he +was extremely reluctant to move I gave him a second shot, firing for +his head; my ball entered at the edge of his eye, and passed through +the back of the roof of his mouth. +</P> + +<P> +The lion then sprang up, and, facing about, dashed through the reeds, +and plunged into the river, across he swam, dyeing the waters with his +blood; one black dog, named "Schwart," alone pursued him. A huge +crocodile, attracted by the blood, followed in their wake, but +fortunately did not take my dog, which I much feared he would do. +Present fired at the lion as he swam, and missed him; both my barrels +were empty. Before, however, the lion could reach the opposite bank, I +had one loaded without patch, and just as his feet gained the ground I +made a fine shot at him neck, and turned him over dead on the spot. +Present, Carollus, and Adonis then swam in and brought him through. We +landed him by an old hippopotamus footpath, and the day being damp and +cold, we kindled a fire, beside which we skinned him. +</P> + +<P> +While this was going forward I had a painful duty to perform, viz. to +load one barrel, and blow out Rascality's brains, whom the lion had +utterly disabled in his after-quarters. Thus ended this protracted and +all but unsuccessful hunt; for when I at length managed to shoot him, +the dogs were quite tired of it, and, the reeds being green, I could +not have set them on fire to force him out. +</P> + +<P> +The lion proved to be a first-rate one; he was in the prime of life, +and had an exquisitely beautiful coat of hair. His mane was not very +rank; his awful teeth were quite perfect, a thing which in lions of +his age is rather unusual; and he had the finest tuft of hair on the +end of his tail that I had ever seen in a lion. +</P> + +<P> +In the chase, my after-rider, who fortunately did not carry my rifle, +got a tremendous capsize from bad riding, a common occurrence with +most after-riders who have been employed in my service. The afternoon +was spent in drying the mane of the wet lion, skinning out the feet, +and preserving the skin with alum and arsenical soap. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Hunting the Giraffe. +</H3> + +<P> +Mr. Cumming thus describes the giraffe. These gigantic and exquisitely +beautiful animals, which are admirably formed by nature to adorn the +fair forests that clothe the boundless plains of the interior, are +widely distributed throughout the interior of Southern Africa, but are +nowhere to be met with in great numbers. In countries unmolested by +the intrusive foot of man, the giraffe is found generally in herds +varying from twelve to sixteen; but I have not unfrequently met with +herds containing thirty individuals, and on one occasion I counted +forty together; this, however, was owing to chance, and about sixteen +may be reckoned as the average number of a herd. These herds are +composed of giraffes of various sizes, from the young giraffe of nine +or ten feet in height, to the dark chestnut-colored old bull of the +herd, whose exalted head towers above his companions, generally +attaining a height of upwards of eighteen feet. The females are of +lower stature and more delicately formed than the males, their height +averaging from sixteen to seventeen feet. +</P> + +<P> +Some writers have discovered ugliness and a want of grace in the +giraffe, but I consider that he is one of the most strikingly +beautiful animals in the creation; and when a herd of them is seen +scattered through a grove of the picturesque parasol-topped acacias +which adorn their native plains, and on whose uppermost shoots they +are enabled to browse by the colossal height with which nature has so +admirably endowed them, he must indeed be slow of conception who fails +to discover both grace and dignity in all their movements. +</P> + +<P> +On the 24th, at the dawn of day, we inspanned, and trekked about five +hours in a northeasterly course, through a boundless open country, +sparingly adorned with dwarfish old tree. In the distance the +long-sought mountains of Bamangwato at length loomed blue before me. We +halted beside a glorious fountain, which at once made me forget all +the cares and difficulties I had encountered in reaching it. +</P> + +<P> +The name of this fountain was Massouey, but I at once christened it +"the Elephant's own Fountain." This was a very remarkable spot on the +southern borders of endless elephant forests, at which I had at length +arrived. The fountain was deep and strong, situated in a hollow at the +eastern extremity of an extensive vley, and its margin was surrounded +by a level stratum of solid old red sandstone. Here and there lay a +thick layer of soil upon a rock, and this was packed flat with the +fresh spoors of elephants. Around the water's edge the very rock was +worn down by the gigantic feet which for ages had trodden there. +</P> + +<P> +The soil of the surrounding country was white and yellow sand, but +grass, trees, and bushes were abundant. From the borders of the +fountain a hundred well-trodden elephant foot-paths led away in every +direction, like the radii of a circle. The breadth of the paths was +about three feet; those leading to the northward and east was most +frequented, the country in those directions being well wooded. +</P> + +<P> +We drew up the wagons on a hillock on the eastern side of the water. +This position commanded a good view of any game that might approach to +drink. I had just cooked my breakfast, and commenced to feed when I +heard my men exclaim, "Almatig keek de ghroote clomp cameel;" and +raising my eyes from my sassayby stew, I beheld a truly beautiful and +very unusual scene. From the margin of the fountain there extended an +open level vley, without tree or bush, that stretched away about a +mile to the northward, where it was bounded by extensive grooves of +wide-spreading mimosas. Up the middle of this vley stalked a troop of +ten colossal giraffes, flanked by two large herds of blue wildebeests +and zebras, with an advance guard of pallahs. They were all coming to +the fountain to drink, and would be within rifle-shot of the wagons +before I could finish my breakfast. I, however, continued to swallow +my food with the utmost expedition, having directed my men to catch +and saddle Colesberg. +</P> + +<P> +In a few minutes the giraffes were slowly advancing within two hundred +yards, stretching their graceful necks, and gazing in wonder at the +unwonted wagons. Grasping my rifle, I now mounted Colesberg, and rode +slowly toward them. They continued gazing at the wagons until I was +within one hundred yards of them, when, whisking their long tails over +their rumps, they made off at an easy canter. As I pressed upon them +they increased their pace; but Colesberg had much the speed of them, +and before we had proceeded half a mile I was riding by the shoulder +of the dark chestnut old bull, whose head towered above the rest. +Letting fly at the gallop, I wounded him behind the shoulder; soon +after which I broke him from the herd, and presently going ahead of +him, he came to a stand. I then gave him a second bullet, somewhere +near the first. These two shots had taken effect, and he was now in my +power, but I would not lay him low so far from camp; so having waited +until he had regained his breath I drove him half way back toward the +wagons. Here he became obstreperous; so loading one barrel, and +pointing my rifle toward the clouds, I shot him in the throat, when, +rearing high, he fell backward and expired. +</P> + +<P> +This was a magnificent specimen of the giraffe, measuring upwards of +eighteen feet in height. I stood for nearly half an hour engrossed in +the contemplation of his extreme beauty and gigantic proportions; and +if there had been no elephants, I could have exclaimed, like Duke +Alexander of Gordon, when he killed the famous old stag with seventeen +tine, "Now I can die happy." But I longed for an encounter with the +noble elephants, and I thought little more of the giraffe than if I +had killed a gemsbok or an eland. +</P> + +<P> +There are various modes of capturing giraffes. The Americans, who seek +them for their menageries, have the Mexican lasso, a long cord which +is thrown over the animal's head; and by casting him to the ground and +surrounding him by a large force of hunters, he is then captured +without difficulty. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Cumming thus notices the pitfalls used by the natives of Africa +for taking the giraffe and other animals:—Starvation was written in +the faces of these inhabitants of the forest. In their miserable +villages were a few small gardens, containing watermelons and a little +corn. Occasionally they have the luck to capture some large animal in +a pitfall, when for a season they live in plenty. But as they do not +possess salt, the flesh soon spoils, when they are compelled once more +to roam the forests in quest of fruits and roots, on which, along with +locusts, they in a great measure subsist. In districts where game is +abundant, they often construct their pits on a large scale, and erect +hedges in the form of a crescent, extending to nearly a mile on either +side of the pit. By this means, the game may easily be driven into the +pitfalls which are easily covered over with thin sticks and dry grass; +and thus whole herds of zebras and wildebeests are massacred at once, +which capture is followed by the most disgusting banquets, the poor +starving savages gorging and surfeiting in a manner worthy only of the +vulture or hyæna. They possess no cattle, and, if they did, the +nearest chief would immediately rob them. All parts of the country +abounded with pitfalls made by these and others of the Bakalahari. +Many of these had been dug expressly for the giraffe, and were +generally three feet wide, and ten long; their depth was from nine to +ten feet. They were placed in the path of the giraffe, and in the +vicinity of several of these we detected the bones of giraffes, +indicating the success that had attended their formation. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +M'Dougal and the Indian +</H3> + +<P> +Several years previous to the Revolution a Scotchman and his wife, +named M'Dougal, emigrated to America. Having but very little money, he +purchased land where it was then sold for almost nothing, in a country +thinly peopled, and on the extreme verge of civilization. +</P> + +<P> +His first care was to construct a house and clear away some of the +trees around it This done, he spent his whole time, early and late, in +making a garden and cultivating a few fields. By unwearied industry +and with the occasional help of older settlers, he by degrees acquired +a stock of cattle, sheep, and pigs, and was in a rough way, possessed +of a comfortable independence. His greatest discomforts were, distance +from his neighbors, the church, market, and even the mill; but, above +all, the complete separation from his friends; and this he would have +felt still more had he been an idle man. +</P> + +<P> +One day, Farmer M'Dougal, having a quantity of corn to grind, knowing +that the distance was considerable, and the road none of the +smoothest, set out in the morning at sunrise, hoping he should reach +home again before dark. +</P> + +<P> +When the farmer was at home he always drove up the cows for his wife +to milk, morning and evening; but now this care devolved on her, and +the careful woman went out in quest of them. Not accustomed to go far +from the house, she found herself in an unknown country, and, with +neither pocket compass nor notched trees to guide, it is not to be +wondered that she wandered long and wearily to very little purpose. +Tall trees seemed to encompass her on every side, or where the view +was more open, she beheld the distant blue hills rising one behind +another; but no village spire or cottage chimney was there to cheer +her on her way, and fatigued with the search, and despairing of +finding the cattle, she resolved while it was yet light, to retrace +her steps homeward. +</P> + +<P> +But this resolution was more easily formed than executed; she became +completely bewildered; she knew not in which direction to turn, and, +at length, with tears in her eyes, and her mind agitated almost to +distraction, she sunk on the ground. But she had not rested there many +minutes before she was startled by the sound of approaching footsteps, +and, on looking up, she beheld before her an Indian hunter. +</P> + +<P> +Although Mrs. M'Dougal knew that there were Indians living in the +neighborhood, she had never yet seen one, and her terror was very +great. The Indian, however, knew her; he had seen her before, he knew +where she lived, and he instantly guessed the cause of her distress. +He could speak but a few words of English; but he made signs for her +to follow him. She did so, and after a few minutes' walk, they arrived +at the door of an Indian wigwam. He invited her to enter, but not +being able to persuade her to do so, he darted into the wigwam, and +spoke a few words to his wife, who instantly appeared, and by the +kindness of her manner induced the stranger to enter their humble +abode. Venison was prepared for supper, and Mrs. M'Dougal, though +still alarmed at the novelty of her situation, could not refuse to +partake of the savory meal. +</P> + +<P> +Seeing that their guest was weary, the Indians removed from their +place two beautiful deer skins, and, by stretching and fixing them +across, divided the wigwam into two apartments. Mats were then spread +in both, and the stranger was made to understand that one division was +for her accommodation. But here again her courage failed her, and to +the most pressing entreaties she replied that she would sit and sleep +by the fire. This determination seemed to puzzle the Indian and his +squaw sadly. They looked at one another, and conversed softly in their +own language; and at length, the squaw taking her guest by the hand, +led her to her couch and became her bedfellow. +</P> + +<P> +In the morning she awoke greatly refreshed, and anxious to depart +without further delay; but this her new friends would not permit, +until she had eaten of their corn cakes and venison. Then the Indian +accompanied his guest, and soon conducted her to the spot where the +cattle were grazing. These he drove from the wood, on the edge of +which Mrs. M'Dougal descried her husband, who was equally delighted at +seeing her, as her absence from home all night had caused him great +uneasiness. They invited their Indian benefactor to their house, and, +on his departure, presented him with a suit of clothes. +</P> + +<P> +Three days after, he returned and endeavored, partly by signs, and +partly by broken English, to induce Farmer M'Dougal to follow him into +the forest; but he refused. Time was precious to him, who had to work +hard for every thing he possessed, and the Indian repeated his +entreaties in vain. The poor fellow looked grieved and disappointed; +but a moment after, a sudden thought struck him. He hit on an +expedient which none but an Indian hunter would have thought of. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. M'Dougal had a young child, which the Indian's quick eye had not +failed to notice; and, finding that his eloquence was completely +thrown away upon the parents, he approached the cradle, seized the +child, and darted out of the house with the speed of an antelope. The +father and mother instantly followed, calling loudly on him to return; +but he had no such intention. He led them on, now slower, now faster, +and occasionally turning towards them, laughing, and holding up the +child to their view. +</P> + +<P> +It is needless to go into all the details of this singular journey, +further than to say that the Indian, instead of enticing them to his +own wigwam, as they expected, halted on the margin of a most beautiful +prairie, covered with the richest vegetation, and extending over +several thousand acres. In a moment the child was restored to its +parents, who, wondering what so strange a proceeding could mean, stood +awhile panting for breath, and looking at one another with silent +astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +The Indian, on the other hand, seemed overjoyed at the success of his +manoeuvre, and never did a human being frisk about and gesticulate +with greater animation. We have heard of a professor of signs, and if +such a person were wanted, the selection would not be a matter of +difficulty, so long as any remnant exists in the aborigines of North +America. All travellers agree in describing their gestures as highly +dignified, and their countenances intelligent; and we have Mr. +M'Dougal's authority for stating that the hero of this tale proved +himself a perfect master of the art of eloquence his broken English +was nearly in these words: +</P> + +<P> +"You think Indian treacherous; you think him wish steal the child. No, +no; Indian has child of his own. Indian knew you long ago; saw you +when you not see him; saw you hard working man. Some white men bad, +and hurt poor Indian. You not bad; you work hard for your wife and +child; but you choose bad place; you never make rich there. Indian see +your cattle go in forest; think you come and catch them; you not come; +your wife come. Indian find her faint and weary; take her home; wife +fear go in; think Indian kill her! No, no; Indian lead her back; meet +you very sad; then very glad to see her. You kind to Indian; give him +meat and drink, and better clothes than your own. Indian grateful; +wish you come here; not come; Indian very sorry; take the child; know +you follow child. If Indian farm, Indian farm here. Good ground; not +many trees; make road in less than half a moon; Indians help you; +Indians your friends; come, live here." +</P> + +<P> +M'Dougal immediately saw the advantage that such a change would be to +him, and, taking the Indian's advice, the day was soon fixed for the +removal of the log-house, along with the rest of his goods and +chattels; and the Indian, true to his word, brought a party of his red +brethren to assist in one of the most romantic removals that ever took +place, either in the Old World, or the New. +</P> + +<P> +In a few days a roomy log-house was raised, and garden marked out in +the most fertile and beautiful part of the prairie. The Indians +continued friendly and faithful, and the good understanding; between +them and the white settlers was a source of great comfort to both +parties. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Contests with Jaguars +</H3> + +<P> +Nature, ever provident, has scattered with a bounteous hand her gifts +in the country of the Orinoco, where the jaguar especially abounds. +The savannahs, which are covered with grasses and slender plants, +present a surprising luxuriance and diversity of vegetation; piles of +granite blocks lie here and there, and, at the margins of the plains, +occur deep valleys and ravines, the humid soil of which is covered +with arums, heliconias, llianas. The shelves of primitive rocks, +scarcely elevated above the plain, are partially covered with lichens +and mosses, together with succulent plants and tufts of evergreen +shrubs with shining leaves. The horizon is bounded with mountains +overgrown with forests of laurels, among which clusters of palms rise +to the height of more than a hundred feet, their slender stems +supporting tufts of feathery foliage. To the east of Atures other +mountains appear, the ridge of which is composed of pointed cliffs, +rising like huge pillars above the trees. +</P> + +<P> +When these columnar masses are situated near the Orinoco, flamingoes, +herons, and other wading birds perch on their summits, and look like +sentinels. In the vicinity of cataracts, the moisture which is +diffused in the air, produces a perpetual verdure, and wherever soil +has accumulated on the plains, it is adorned by the beautiful shrubs +of the mountains. +</P> + +<P> +Such is one view of the picture, but it has its dark side also; those +flowing waters, which fertilize the soil, abound with alligators: +those charming shrubs and flourishing plants, are the hiding places of +deadly serpents; those laurel forests, the favorite lurking spot of +the fierce jaguar; while the atmosphere, so clear and lovely, abounds +with musquitoes and zancudoes, to such a degree that in the missions +of Orinoco, the first questions in the morning when two people meet, +are, "How did you find the zancudoes during the night? How are we +to-day for the musquitoes?" +</P> + +<P> +It is in the solitude of this wilderness, that the jaguar, stretched +out motionless and silent, upon one of the lower branches of the +ancient trees, watches for its passing prey; a deer, urged by thirst, +is making its way to the river, and approaches the tree where this +enemy lies in wait. The jaguar's eyes dilate, the ears are thrown +down, and the whole frame becomes flattened against the branch. The +deer, all unconscious of danger, draws near, every limb of the jaguar +quivers with excitement every fibre is stiffened for the spring; then, +with the force of a bow unbent, he darts with a terrific yell upon his +prey, seizes it by the back of the neck, a blow is given by his +powerful paw, and with broken spine the deer falls lifeless to the +earth. The blood is then sucked, and the prey dragged to some favorite +haunt, where it is devoured at leisure. +</P> + +<P> +Humboldt surprised a jaguar in his retreat. It was near the Joval, +below the mouth of the Cano de la Tigrera, that in the midst of wild +and awful scenery, he saw an enormous jaguar stretched beneath the +shade of a large mimosa. He had just killed a chiguire, an animal +about the size of a pig, which he held with one of his paws, while the +vultures were assembled in flocks around. It was curious to observe +the mixture of boldness and timidity which these birds exhibited; for +although they advanced within two feet of the jaguar, they instantly +shrunk back at the least motion he made. In order to observe more +clearly their proceedings, the travellers went into their little boat, +when the tyrant of the forest withdrew behind the bushes, leaving his +victim, upon which the vultures attempted to devour it, but were soon +put to flight by the jaguar rushing into the midst of them. +</P> + +<P> +The following night, Humboldt and his party were entertained by a +jaguar hunter, half-naked, and as brown as a Zambo, who prided himself +on being of the European race; and called his wife and daughter, who +were as slightly clothed as himself, Donna Isabella and Donna Manuela. +As this aspiring personage had neither home nor hut, he invited the +strangers to swing their hammocks near his own between two trees, but, +as ill-luck would have it, a thunder storm came on, which wetted them +to the skin; but their troubles did not end here, for Donna Isabella's +cat had perched on one of the trees, and frightened by the +thunderstorm, jumped down upon one of the travellers in his cot; he +naturally supposed that he was attacked by a wild beast, and as smart +a battle took place between the two, as that celebrated feline +engagement of Don Quixotte; the cat, who, perhaps had most reason to +consider himself an ill-used personage, at length bolted, but the +fears of the gentleman had been excited to such degree, that he could +hardly be quieted. The following night was not more propitious to +slumber. The party finding no tree convenient, had stuck their oars in +the sand, and suspended their hammocks upon them. About eleven, there +arose in the immediately adjoining wood, so terrific a noise, that it +was impossible to sleep. The Indians distinguished the cries of +sapagous, alouates, jaguars, cougars, peccaris, sloths, curassows, +paraquas, and other birds, so that there must have been as full a +forest chorus as Mr. Hullah himself could desire. +</P> + +<P> +When the jaguars approached the edge of the forest, which they +frequently did, a dog belonging to the party began to howl, and seek +refuge under their cots. Sometimes, after a long silence, the cry of +the jaguars came from the tops of the trees, when it was followed by +an outcry among the monkeys. Humboldt supposes the noise thus made by +the inhabitants of the forest during the night, to be the effect of +some contest that had arisen among them. +</P> + +<P> +On the pampas of Paraguay, great havoc is committed among the herds of +horses by the jaguars, whose strength is quite sufficient to enable +them to drag off one of these animals. Azara caused the body of a +horse, which had been recently killed by a jaguar, to be drawn within +musket-shot of a tree, in which he intended to pass the night, +anticipating that the jaguar would return in the course of it, to its +victim; but while he was gone to prepare for his adventure, behold the +animal swam across a large and deep river, and having seized the horse +with his teeth, dragged it full sixty paces to the river, swam across +again with his prey, and then dragged the carcass into a into a +neighboring wood: and all this in sight of a person, whom Azara had +placed to keep watch. But the jaguars have also an aldermanic gout for +turtles, which they gratify in a very systematic manner, as related by +Humboldt, who was shown large shells of turtles emptied by them. +</P> + +<P> +They follow the turtles toward the beach, where the laying of eggs is +to take place, surprise them on the sand, and in order to devour them +at their ease, adroitly turn them on their backs; and as they turn +many more than they can devour in one night, the Indians often profit +by their cunning. The jaguar pursues the turtle quite into the water, +and when not very deep, digs up the eggs; they, with the alligator, +the heron, and the gallinago vulture ore the most formidable enemies +the little turtles have. Humboldt justly remarks, When we reflect on +the difficulty that the naturalist finds in getting out the body of +the turtle, without separating the upper and the under shell, we +cannot enough admire the suppleness of the jaguar's paw, which empties +the double armor of the <I>arraus</I>, as if the adhering parts of the +muscles had been cut by a surgical instrument. +</P> + +<P> +The rivers of South America swarm with alligators, and these wage +perpetual war with the jaguars. It is said, that when the jaguar +surprises the alligator asleep on the hot sandbank, he attacks him in +a vulnerable part under the tail, and often kills him, but let the +alligator only get his antagonist into the water, and the tables are +turned, for the jaguar is held under the water until he is drowned. +</P> + +<P> +The onset of the jaguar is always made from behind, partaking of the +stealthy treacherous character of his tribe; if a herd of animals, or +a party of men be passing, it is the last that is always the object of +his attack. When he has made choice of his victim, he springs upon the +neck, and placing one paw upon the back of the head, while he seizes +the muzzle with the other twists the head round with a sudden jerk +which dislocates the spine, and deprives it instantaneously of life: +sometimes, especially when satiated with food, he is indolent and +cowardly, skulking in the gloomiest depths of the forest, and scared +by the most trifling causes, but when urged by the cravings of hunger, +the largest quadrupeds, and man himself, are attacked with fury and +success. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Darwin has given an interesting account of the habits of the +jaguar: the wooded banks of the great South American rivers appear to +be their favorite haunt, but south of the Plata they frequent the +reeds bordering the lakes; wherever they are they seem to require +water. They are particularly abundant on the isles of the Payana, +their common prey being the carpincho, so that it is generally said, +that where carpinchos are plentiful, there is little fear of the +jaguar; possibly, however, a jaguar which has tasted human flesh, may +afterwards become dainty, and like the lions of South Africa, and the +tigers of India, acquire the dreadful character of maneaters, from +preferring that food to all others. +</P> + +<P> +It is not many years ago since a very large jaguar found his way into +a church in Santa Fe; soon afterward a very corpulent padre entering, +was at once killed by him: His equally stout coadjutor, wondering what +had detained the padre, went to look after him, and also fell a victim +to the jaguar; a third priest, marveling greatly at the unaccountable +absence of the others, sought them, and the jaguar having by this time +acquired a strong clerical taste, made at him also, but he, being +fortunately of the slender order, dodged the animal from pillar to +post, and happily made his escape; the beast was destroyed by being +shot from a corner of the building, which was unroofed, and thus paid +the penalty of his sacrilegious propensities. +</P> + +<P> +On the Parana, they have even entered vessels by night. One dark +evening the mate of a vessel, hearing a heavy but peculiar footstep on +deck, went up to see what it was, and was immediately met by a jaguar, +who had come on board, seeking what he could devour; a severe struggle +ensued, assistance arrived, and the brute was killed, but the man lost +the use of the arm which had been ground between his teeth. +</P> + +<P> +The Gauchos say that the jaguar, when wandering about at night, is +much tormented by the foxes yelping as they follow him: this may +perhaps serve to alarm his prey, but must be as teasing to him as the +attentions of swallows are to an owl, who happens to be taking a +daylight promenade; and if owls ever swear, it is under these +circumstances. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Darwin, when hunting on the banks of the Uruguay, was shown three +well-known trees to which the jaguars constantly resort, for the +purpose, it is said, of sharpening their claws. Every one must be +familiar with the manner in which cats, with out-stretched legs and +extended claws, will card the legs of chairs and of men; so with the +jaguar; and of these trees the bark was worn quite smooth in front; on +each side there were deep grooves, extending in an oblique line nearly +a yard in length. The scars were of different ages, arid the +inhabitants could always tell when a jaguar was in the neighborhood, +by his recent autograph on one of these trees. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Indian Parents. +</H3> + +<P> +Captain William Wells was a noted hunter and ranger in the western +country. He was captured by the Indians when but a child, and raised +among them. When the Indians defeated the United States troops, who +were under the command of Generals Harmer and St. Clair, Captain Wells +fought among the red men, and distinguished himself by his courage and +skill. But when General Wayne was placed at the head of the United +States forces in the west. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Wells came over to the side of the whites, and received the +command of a company of rangers, or woodmen, who acted as spies and +scouts for General Wayne. The captain performed many daring exploits, +and caused the Indians to feel that in losing him they had gained a +terrible enemy. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Wells was desperate in battle, but he often displayed much +kindness and generosity. On one of his excursions with a party of +rangers, through the Indian country, he came to the bank of the river +St. Mary, and discovered some Indians in canoes coming across the +stream. The captain dismounted, and concealed his men near the bank of +the river, while he went to the bank in open view, and called to the +Indians to come over. As he was dressed nearly in the Indian style, +and spoke to them in their own language, the Indians, without +suspicion of danger came across the river. The moment the first canoe +struck the shore, Wells heard the clicking of the locks of his +comrades' rifles, as they prepared to shoot the Indians. But who +should be in the canoe, but his Indian father, mother, and their +children! As his comrades were coming forward with their rifles +cocked, ready to pour in the deadly storm, Wells called upon them to +hold their hands. He then informed them who the Indians were, and +solemnly declared, that the man who would attempt to injure one of +them should receive a ball in his head. He continued, "That family fed +me when I was hungry, clothed me when I was naked, and kindly nursed +me when I was sick. In every respect they were as kind and +affectionate to me as they were to their own children. No one +belonging to them shall be hurt." But four men were with the Indian +party, and they did not attempt hostility. The short, pathetic speech +of Captain Wells found its way to the hearts of his comrades. They +entered into his feelings, threw down their rifles and tomahawks, went +to the canoe, and shook hands with the trembling Indians in the most +friendly manner. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Wells assured the red men that they had nothing to fear from +him, and after talking with them to dispel their dread, he said, that +General Wayne was approaching with an overwhelming force; that the +best thing that the Indians could do was to make peace; that the white +men did not wish to continue the war. He urged his Indian father to +keep out of danger for the future. The Indians appeared very grateful +for his clemency. After the captain bade them farewell, they pushed +off their canoe, and went down the river as fast as they could paddle. +</P> + +<P> +Wells's conduct on this occasion proved him to be as generous as he +was brave. This famous ranger was killed near Chicago, at the +commencement of the war of 1812, in an attempt to save an American +garrison. At that time sixty-four whites were attacked by four hundred +red men, and all killed or captured. The Indians were very glad to get +the scalp of Captain Wells. He was as wild a spirit as ever shouldered +a rifle or wielded a tomahawk. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Attack on Captain Ward's Boat +</H3> + +<P> +About 1784 and '85, boats ascending the Ohio river were often fired +upon by the Indians, and sometimes the crew were all killed or made +prisoners. A t that time, the whites had no settlements on either side +of the Ohio. But Kentucky contained several very important stations. +In 1785, Captain James Ward descended the river, under circumstances, +which rendered a meeting with the Indians peculiarly to be dreaded. +</P> + +<P> +The captain with half a dozen others, one of them his nephew, embarked +in a crazy boat, about forty-five long, and eight feet wide, with no +other bulwark than a single pine plank, above each gunnel. The boat +was much encumbered with baggage, and seven horses were on board. +Having seen no enemy for several days, they had become secure and +careless, and permitted the boat to drift within fifty yards of the +Ohio shore. Suddenly several Indians showed themselves on the bank, +and opened heavy fire upon the boat. The astonishment of the crew may +be conceived. Captain Ward and his nephew were at the oars when the +enemy appeared, and the captain knowing that their safety depended +upon their ability to regain the middle of the river, kept his seat +firmly, and exerted his utmost powers at the oar, but his nephew +started up at the sight of the enemy, seized his rifle and was in the +act of levelling it, when he received a ball in the breast, and fell +dead in the bottom of the boat. Unfortunately, his oar fell into the +river, and the Captain having no one to pull against him, rather urged +the boat nearer to the hostile shore than otherwise. He quickly seized +a plank, however, and giving his own oar to another of the crew, he +took the station which his nephew had held, and unhurt by the bullets +which flew around him, continued to exert himself, until the boat had +reached a more respectable distance. He then, for the first time, +looked around him in order to observe the condition of the crew. His +nephew lay in his blood, perfectly lifeless,—the horses had been all +killed or mortally wounded. Some had fallen overboard—others were +struggling violently, and causing their frail bark to dip water so as +to excite the most serious apprehensions. +</P> + +<P> +But the crew presented the most singular spectacle. A captain, who had +served with reputation in the continental army, seemed now totally +bereft of his faculties. He lay upon his back in the bottom of the +boat, with hands uplifted, and a countenance in which terror was +personified, exclaiming in a tone of despair, "Oh, Lord! Oh, Lord!" A +Dutchman, whose weight might amount at about three hundred pounds, was +busily engaged in endeavoring to find shelter for his bulky person, +which, from the lowness of the gunnels, was a very difficult +undertaking. In spite of his utmost efforts, a portion of his +posterial luxuriance, appeared above the gunnel, and afforded a mark +to the enemy, which brought a constant shower of balls around it. In +vain he shifted his position. The lump still appeared, and the balls +still flew around it, until the Dutchman, losing all patience, raised +his head above the gunnel, and in a tone of querulous remonstrance, +called out, "Oh, now I git tat nonsense, tere,—will you!" Not a shot +was fired from the boat. +</P> + +<P> +At one time, after they had partly reined the current, Captain Ward +attempted to bring his rifle to bear upon them, but so violent was the +agitation of the boat, from the furious struggles of the horses, that +he could not steady his piece within twenty yards of the enemy, and +quickly laying it aside returned to the oar. The Indians followed them +down the river for more than an hour, but having no canoes, they did +not attempt to board; and as the boat was at length transferred to the +opposite side of the river, they finally abandoned the pursuit and +disappeared. None of the crew, save the young man already mentioned, +were hurt, although the Dutchman's seat of honor served as a target +for the space of an hour, and the continental captain was deeply +mortified at the sudden, and, as he said, "unaccountable" panic which +had seized him. Captain Ward himself was protected by a post, which +had been fastened to the gunnel, and behind which he sat while rowing. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Massy Herbeson and her Family +</H3> + +<P> +During the settlement of the interior of Pennsylvania, the Indians +were almost constantly hostile. Houses were burned, fields desolated, +and the poor, hard-working settlers were killed, or carried into a +dreadful captivity. The sufferings of some of these captives can +scarcely be described. The following narrative will give some idea of +savage nature. +</P> + +<P> +On the 22nd of May, 1792, Massy Herbeson and her children were taken +from their house, within two hundred yards of Reed's blockhouse, and +about twenty-five miles from Pittsburg. Mr. Herbeson, being one of the +spies, was from home; two of the scouts lodged with her that night, +but had left her house about sunrise, in order to go to the +blockhouse, and had left the door standing wide open. Shortly after +the two scouts went away, a number of Indians came into the house, and +drew her out of bed by the feet; the two eldest children, who also lay +in another bed were drawn out in the same manner; a younger child, +about one year old slept with Mrs. Herbeson. The Indians then +scattered the articles about in the house. +</P> + +<P> +Whilst they were at this work, Mrs. Herbeson went out of the house, +and hallooed to the people in the blockhouse; one of the Indians then +ran up and stopped her mouth, another ran up with his tomahawk drawn, +and a third ran and seized the tomahawk and called her his squaw; this +last Indian claimed her as his, and continued by her. About fifteen of +the Indians then ran down towards the blockhouse and fired their guns +at the block and store-house, in consequence of which one soldier was +killed and another wounded, one having been at the spring, and the +other in coming or looking out of the store-house. Mrs. Herbeson told +the Indians there were about forty men in the blockhouse, and each man +had two guns, the Indians then went to those that were firing at the +blockhouse, and brought them back. +</P> + +<P> +They then began to drive Mrs. Herbeson and her children away; but a +boy, about three years old, being unwilling to leave the house, they +took it by the heels, and dashed it against the house, then stabbed +and scalped it. They then took Mrs. Herbeson and the two other +children to the top of the hill, where they stopped until they tied up +the plunder they had got. While they were busy about this, Mrs. +Herbeson counted them, and the number amounted to thirty-two, +including two white men, that were with them, painted like the +Indians. Several of the Indians could speak English, and she knew +several of them very well, having often seen them go up and down the +Alleghany river; two of them she knew to be Senecas, and two Munsees, +who had got their guns mended by her husband about two years ago. +</P> + +<P> +They sent two Indians with her, and the others took their course +towards Puckty. She, the children, and the two Indians had not gone +above two hundred yards, when the Indians caught two of her uncle's +horses, put her and the youngest child on one, and one of the Indians +and the other child on the other. The two Indians then took her and +the children to the Alleghany river, and took them over in bark +canoes, as they could not get the horses to swim the river. After they +had crossed the river, the oldest child, a boy about five years of +age, began to mourn for his brother, when one of the Indians +tomahawked and scalped him. They travelled all day very hard, and that +night arrived at a large camp, covered with bark, which, by +appearance, might hold fifty men. That night they took her about three +hundred yards from the camp, into a large dark bottom, bound her arms, +gave her some bed clothes, and lay down one on each side of her. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning they took her into a thicket, on the hill side, and +one remained with her till the middle of the day, while the other went +to watch the path, lest some white people should follow them. They +then exchanged places during the remainder of the day. She got a piece +of dry venison, about the size of an egg, that day, and a piece about +the same size the day they were marching; that evening, (Wednesday, +23d) they moved her to a new place, and secured her as the night +before. During the day of the 23'd, she made several attempts to get +the Indian's gun or tomahawk, that was guarding her, and, had she +succeeded, she would have put him to death. She was nearly detected in +trying to get the tomahawk from his belt. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning one of the Indians went out, as on the day before, to +watch the path. The other lay down and fell asleep. When she found he +was sleeping, she stole her short gown, handkerchief, a child's frock, +and then made her escape; the sun was then about half an hour +high—she took her course from the Alleghany, in order to deceive the +Indians, as they would naturally pursue her that way; that day she +travelled along Conequenessing creek. The next day she altered her +course, and, as she believes, fell upon the waters of Pine Creek, +which empties into the Alleghany. Thinking this not her best course, +she took over some dividing ridges,—lay on a dividing ridge on Friday +night, and on Saturday came to Squaw run—continued down the run until +an Indian, or some other person, shot a deer; she saw the person about +one hundred and fifty yards from her—the deer running and the dog +pursuing it, which, from the appearance, she supposed to be an Indian +dog. +</P> + +<P> +She then altered her course, but again came to the same run, and +continued down until she got so tired that she was obliged to lie +down, it having rained on her all that day and the night before; she +lay there that night; it rained constantly. On Sunday morning, she +proceeded down the run until she came to the Alleghany river, and +continued down the river till she came opposite to Carter's house, on +the inhabited side, where she made a noise, and James Closier brought +her over the river to Carter's house. +</P> + +<P> +Such outrages were frequent upon the frontier, in time of war with the +Indians. Many instances of the generosity and hospitality of the red +men are recorded. But when we remember that they made war and the +chase the business of their lives, and that they never would be +content to till the ground, as the neighbors of the whites we cannot +regret that they have disappeared from our vicinity. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Nocturnal Adventure with Six Lions +</H3> + +<P> +Mr. Cumming, whose adventures we have already found so entertaining, +had a method of hunting for wild beasts, and especially lions, which +was quite curious. He dug holes near the fountains or streams, where +the animals were accustomed to resort at night for water, and +concealed himself and his companions in them, to wait for their +approach. The following is a specimen of this kind of adventure. +</P> + +<P> +On the afternoon of the 4th I deepened my hole and watched the water. +As the sun went down two graceful springboks and a herd of pallah came +and drank, when I shot the best pallah in the troop. At night I +watched the water with Kleinboy: very soon a cow black rhinoceros came +and drank, and got off for the present with two balls in her. A little +afterwards two black rhinoceroses and two white ones came to the +waterside. We both fired together at the finest of the two black +rhinoceroses; she ran three hundred yards, and fell dead. Soon after +this the other black rhinoceros came up again and stood at the +waterside; I gave her one ball after the shoulder; she ran a hundred +yards and fell dead. In half an hour a third old borele appeared, and, +having inspected the two dead ones, he came up to the waterside. We +fired together; he ran two hundred yards and fell dead. I felt +satisfied with our success, and gave it up for the night. +</P> + +<P> +By the following evening the natives had cleared away the greater part +of the two rhinoceroses which lay right in the way of the game +approaching the water; I, however, enforced their leaving the third +rhinoceros, which had fallen on the bare rising ground, almost +opposite to my hiding-place, in the hope of attracting a lion, as I +intended to watch the water at night. Soon after the twilight had died +away, I went down to my hole with Kleinboy and two natives, who lay +concealed in another hole, with Wolf and Boxer ready to slip, in the +event of wounding a lion. +</P> + +<P> +On reaching the water I looked towards the carcase of the rhinoceros, +and, to my astonishment, I beheld the ground alive with large +creatures, as though a troop of zebras were approaching the fountain +to drink. Kleinboy remarked to me that a troop of zebras were standing +on the height. I answered, "Yes," but I knew very well that zebras +would not be capering around the carcase of a rhinoceros. I quickly +arranged my blankets, pillow, and guns, in the hole, and then lay down +to feast my eyes on the interesting sight before me. It was bright +moonlight, as clear as I need wish, and within one night of being full +moon. There were six large lions, about twelve or fifteen hyaenas, and +from twenty to thirty jackals, feasting on and around the carcases of +the three rhinoceroses. The lions feasted peacefully, but the hyenas +and jackals fought over every mouthful, and chased one another round +and round the carcases, growling, laughing, screeching, chattering, +and howling without any intermission. The hyaenas did not seem afraid +of the lions, although they always gave way before them; for I +observed that they followed them in the most disrespectful manner, and +stood laughing, one or two on either side, when any lions came after +their comrades to examine pieces of skin or bones which they were +dragging away. I had lain watching this banquet for about four hours, +in the strong hope that, when the lions had feasted, they would come +and drink. Two black and two white rhinoceroses had made their +appearance, but, scared by the smell of the blood, they soon made off. +</P> + +<P> +At length the lions seemed satisfied. They all walked about with their +heads up, and seemed to be thinking about the water, and in two +minutes one of them turned his face towards me, and came on; he was +immediately followed by the second lion, and in half a minute by the +other four. It was a decided and general move, they were all coming to +drink right bang in my face, within fifteen yards of me. +</P> + +<P> +I charged the unfortunate, pale, and panting Kleinboy to convert +himself into a stone, and knowing, from old spoor, exactly where they +would drink, I cocked my left barrel, and placed myself and gun in +position. The six lions came steadily on along the ridge, until within +sixty yards of me, when they halted for a minute to reconnoitre. One +of them stretched out his massive arms on the rock and lay down; the +others then came on, and he rose and brought up the rear. They walked, +as I had anticipated, to the old drinking place, and three of them had +put down their heads and were lapping the water loudly, when Kleinboy +thought it necessary to show his ugly head. I turned my head slowly to +rebuke him, and again taming to the lions I found myself discovered. +</P> + +<P> +An old lioness, who seemed to take the lead, had detected me, and, +with her head high and her eyes fixed full upon me, she was coming +slowly round the corner of the little vley to cultivate further my +acquaintance! This unfortunate proceeding put a stop at once to all +further contemplation. I thought, in my haste, that it was perhaps +most prudent to shoot this lioness, especially as none of the others +had noticed me. I accordingly moved my arm and covered her: she saw me +move and halted, exposing a full broadside, I fired; the ball entered +one shoulder and passed out behind the other. She bounded forward with +repeated growls, and was followed by her five comrades all enveloped +in a cloud of dust; nor did they stop until they had reached the cover +behind me, except one old gentleman, who halted and looked back for a +few seconds, when I fired, but the ball went high. I listened +anxiously for some sound to denote the approaching end of the lioness; +nor listened in vain. I heard her growling and stationary, as if +dying. In one minute her comrades crossed the vley a little below me, +and made towards the rhinoceros. I then slipped Wolf and Boxer on her +scent, and, following them into the river, I found her lying dead +within twenty yards of where the old lion had lain two nights before. +This was a fine old lioness, with perfect teeth, and was certainly a +noble prize; but I felt dissatisfied at not having rather shot a lion, +which I had most certainly done if my Hottentot had not destroyed my +contemplation. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Attacks on Brookfield and Deerfield. +</H3> + +<P> +The early settlers of New England did not suffer much from the +hostility of the Indians, until the breaking out of King Philip's war, +in 1675. Philip was the son of Massasoit, who was the friend of the +English from the time of the landing of the pilgrims until the day of +his death. Offended at the manner in which the English behaved towards +his brother, Alexander, Philip resolved upon a war of extermination, +and, for this purpose, he united nearly all the New England tribes. +The war was very destructive to the whites, though it ended in the +total overthrow of the Indian power. +</P> + +<P> +One of the first places attacked was the town of Brookfield, +Massachusetts. Upon receiving intelligence that Philip had begun +hostilities, the inhabitants all collected in one large house. +Captains Wheeler and Hutchinson went into the country of the Nipmucks, +to treat with them, but they, instigated by Philip, fired upon the +party of whites, killed eight men and mortally wounded Captain +Hutchinson. The rest fled to Brookfield, pursued by the Indians. The +inhabitants were now surrounded by a host of foes, who burned every +house in the place, except the one in which the people and soldiers +were collected. Here they directed their whole force. Upon this house +they poured a storm of musket balls for about two days. Countless +numbers pierced through the walls, yet only one person was killed. +Brands and rags dipped in brimstone were thrust against the house with +long poles. The Indians shot arrows, tipped with fire, upon the roof. +They loaded a cart with flax and tow, and with long poles fastened +together, pushed it against the house. Destruction seemed inevitable, +the house was kindling. The bold and resolute settlers were beginning +to give up all hope, when a sudden and providential fall of rain +quenched the flames. +</P> + +<P> +The savages yelled with the fury of disappointment, and resorted to +other schemes for the destruction of the house and its inmates. In all +probability, they would have succeeded in effecting their object; but +on the 4th of August, Major Willard, with a party of troops, appeared, +and attacked the besiegers. The conflict was soon decided. The Indians +never could withstand an equal number of whites in a fair field. They +now gave way, after suffering a great loss. The people of Brookfield +were thus happily delivered from their savage foe. But their houses +were burned, and stock destroyed. +</P> + +<P> +The next place attacked was Deerfield, upon the Connecticut river, +which experienced the horror of Indian atrocity several times during +the course of the war. The town was first attacked in September, 1675, +when most of the houses were burned, and some of the inhabitants +killed. At Deerfield, there were three thousand bushels of wheat in +stock, which it was resolved to bring to the general magazine at +Hadley. Captain Lathrop, with ninety men, guarded the teams employed +in this service. On the way, they were assaulted by about seven +hundred Indians. Few of the whites escaped. They fought bravely, and +killed a great many of the Indians, but were nearly all slain. Captain +Mosely marched from Deerfield to reinforce Captain Lathrop. Arriving +too late, he was compelled to sustain the onset of the whole force of +the enemy, until Major Treat came to his relief, and put the Indians +to flight. +</P> + +<P> +In the early part of February, a large body of Indians attempted to +surprise Deerfield by night. But the inhabitants were alarmed and +prepared, and after a short conflict succeeded in driving off the +savages. Soon after a party of whites from Deerfield attacked a party +of Indians in a swamp, near that town, and killed one hundred and +twenty of them. But the whites, on their return, were waylaid, and as +they had expended all their ammunition they fell an easy prey. Fifty +were killed and eighty-four wounded. Such were the horrors of King +Philip's war. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Attack on Mrs. Scraggs's House. +</H3> + +<P> +On the night of the 11th of April, 1787, the house of the widow +Scraggs, in Bourbon county, Kentucky, was attacked by the Indians. The +widow occupied what is called double cabin, one room of which was +tenanted by the old lady herself, together with two grown sons and a +widowed daughter, who was at that time suckling an infant, while the +other was occupied by two unmarried daughters, from sixteen to twenty +years of age, together with a little girl, not more than half grown. +</P> + +<P> +The hour was eleven o'clock at night. One of the unmarried daughters +was still busily engaged at the loom, but the other members of the +family, with the exception of one of the sons, had retired to rest. +Some symptoms of an alarming nature had engaged the attention of the +young man for an hour before any thing of a decided character took +place. The cry of owls was heard in the adjoining wood, answering each +other in rather an unusual manner. The horses which were enclosed as +usual in a pound near the house were more than commonly their excited, +and by repeated snorting and galloping, announced the presence of some +object of terror. The young man was often upon the point of awakening +his brother, but was as often restrained by the fear of incurring +ridicule and their reproach of timidity, at that time an unpardonable +blemish in the character of a Kentuckian. At length, hasty steps were +heard in the yard, and quickly afterwards several knocks at the door, +accompanied by the usual exclamation, "who keeps house?" in very good +English. +</P> + +<P> +The young man, supposing from the language, that some benighted +settlers were at the door, hastily arose and advancing to withdraw the +bar which secured it, when his mother, who had long lived upon the +frontiers, and had probably detected the Indian tone in the demand for +admission, sprung out of bed, and ordered her son not to admit them, +declaring that they were Indians. She instantly awakened her other +son, and the two young men seizing their guns, which were always +charged, prepared to repel the enemy. +</P> + +<P> +The Indians finding it impossible to enter under their assumed +characters, began to thunder at the door with great violence, but a +single shot from a loophole, compelled them to shift the attack to +some less exposed point; and, unfortunately, they discovered the door +of the other cabin, which contained the three daughters. The rifles of +the brothers could not be brought to bear upon this point, and by +means of several rails taken from the yard fence, the door was forced +from its hinges and the three girls were at the mercy of the savage. +One was immediately secured, but the eldest defended herself +desperately with a knife which she had been using in the loom, and +stabbed one of the Indians to the heart, before she was tomahawked. +</P> + +<P> +In the meantime the little girl, who had been overlooked by the enemy +in their eagerness to secure the others, ran out into the yard, and +might have effected her escape had she taken advantage of the darkness +and fled, but instead of that the terrified little creature ran round +the house wringing her hands, and crying out that her sisters were +killed. The brothers, unwilling to hear her cries without risking +every thing for her rescue, rushed to the door and were preparing to +sally out to her assistance, when their mother threw herself before +them and calmly declared that the child must be abandoned to its +fate—that the sally would sacrifice the lives of the rest without the +slightest benefit to the little girl. Just then the child uttered a +loud scream, followed by a faint moan, and all was again silent. +Presently the crackling of flames was heard, accompanied by a +triumphant yell from the Indians, announcing that they had set fire to +that division of the house which had been occupied by the daughters, +and of which they had undisputed possession. +</P> + +<P> +The fire was quickly communicated to part of the building, it became +necessary to abandon it or perish in the flames. In the one case, +there was a possibility that some might escape; in the other, their +fate would be equally certain and terrible. The rapid approach of the +flames cut short their momentary suspense. The door was thrown open, +just as some of the Indians began to enter the house through a breach +made by the fire. The old lady, supported by her eldest son, attempted +to cross the fence at one point, while the other son carried his +sister and her son in another direction. +</P> + +<P> +The old lady was permitted to reach the stile unmolested, but in the +act of crossing, received several balls in the breast and fell dead. +Her son, providentially, remained unhurt, and by extraordinary agility +effected his escape. The other party succeeded also in reaching the +fence unhurt, but in the act of crossing, were vigorously assailed by +several Indians, who throwing down their guns, rushed upon them with +their tomahawks. The young man defended his sister gallantly, firing +upon the enemy as they approached, and then wielding the butt of his +rifle with a fury that drew the whole attention upon himself, and gave +his sister an opportunity of effecting her escape. He quickly fell, +however, under the tomahawk of his enemies, and was found at daylight, +scalped and mangled in a shocking manner. Of the whole family, +consisting of eight persons, when the attack commenced, only three +escaped. Four were killed upon the spot, and one, the second daughter, +carried off a prisoner. +</P> + +<P> +The neighborhood was quickly alarmed, and by daylight about thirty men +were assembled under the command of Colonel Edwards. A slight snow had +fallen during the latter part of the night, and the Indian trail could +be pursued at a gallop. It led directly into the mountainous country +bordering on Licking, and afforded evidences of great hurry and +precipitation on the part of the fugitives. Unfortunately, a hound had +been permitted to accompany the whites, and as the trail became fresh +and the scent warm, she followed it with eagerness, baying loudly and +giving the alarm to the Indians. +</P> + +<P> +The consequences of this imprudence were soon displayed. The enemy +finding the pursuit keen, and perceiving that the strength of the +prisoner began to fail, sunk their tomahawks in her head and left her, +still warm and bleeding upon the snow. As the whites came up, she +retained strength enough to wave her hand in token of recognition, and +appeared desirous of giving them some information, with regard to the +enemy, but her strength was too far gone. Her brother sprung from his +horse, and knelt by her side, endeavoring to stop the effusion of +blood, but in vain. She gave him her hand, muttering some inarticulate +words, and expired within two minutes after the arrival of the party. +</P> + +<P> +The pursuit was renewed with additional ardor, and in twenty minutes +the enemy was within view. They had taken possession of a steep narrow +ridge and seemed desirous of magnifying their numbers in the eyes of +the whites, as they ran rapidly from tree to tree, and maintained a +steady yell in their most appalling tones. The pursuers, however, were +too experienced to be deceived by so common an artifice, and being +satisfied that the number of the enemy must be inferior to their own, +they dismounted, tied their horses, and flanking out in such a manner +as to enclose the enemy, ascended the ridge as rapidly as was +consistent with a due regard to the shelter of their persons. The +firing quickly commenced, and now for the first time they discovered +that only two Indians were opposed to them. They had voluntarily +sacrificed themselves for the safety of the main body, and had +succeeded in delaying pursuit until their friends had reached the +mountains. One of them was shot dead, and the other was badly wounded, +as was evident from the blood upon his blanket, as well as that which +filled his tracks in the snow for a considerable distance. The pursuit +was recommenced, and urged keenly until night, when the trail entered +a running stream and was lost. On the following morning the snow had +melted, and every trace of the enemy was obliterated. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Fearful Adventure with a man-eating lion. +</H3> + +<P> +The following is Mr. Cumming's account of a fearful adventure, in +which he lost one of his most valuable servants: +</P> + +<P> +On the 29th we arrived at a small village of Bakalahari. These natives +told me that elephants were abundant on the opposite side of the +river. I accordingly resolved to halt here and hunt, and drew my +wagons up on the river's bank, within thirty yards of the water, and +about one hundred yards from the native village. Having outspanned, we +at once set about making for the cattle a kraal of the worst +description of thorn trees. Of this I had now become very particular, +since my severe loss by lions on the first of this month; and my +cattle were, at night, secured by a strong kraal, which enclosed my +two wagons, the horses being made fast to a trektow, stretched to the +two hind-wheels of the wagons. I had yet, however, a fearful lesson to +learn as to the nature and character of the lion, of which I had at +one time entertained so little fear; and on this night a horrible +tragedy was to be acted in my little lonely camp of so very awful and +appalling a nature as to make the blood curdle in our veins. I worked +till near sun down at one side of the kraal with Hendrick, my first +wagon driver—I cutting down the trees with my axe, and he dragging +them to the kraal. When the kraal for the cattle was finished, I +turned my attention to making a pot of barley broth, and lighted a +fire between the wagons and the water, close on the river's bank, +under a dense grove of shady trees, making a sort of kraal around our +sitting place for the evening. +</P> + +<P> +The Hottentots, without any reason, made their fire about fifty yards +from mine; they according to their usual custom, being satisfied with +the shelter of a large dense bush. The evening passed away cheerfully. +Soon after it was dark we heard elephants breaking the trees in the +forest across the river; and once or twice I strode away into the +darkness some distance from the fireside, to stand and listen to them. +I little, at that moment, deemed of the imminent peril to which I was +exposing my life, nor thought that a blood-thirsty man-eater lion was +crouching near, and only watching his opportunity to spring into the +midst of us, and consign one of our number to a most horrible death. +About three hours after the sun went down I called to my men to come +and take their coffee and supper which was ready for them at my fire; +and after supper three of them returned before their comrades to their +own fireside, and lay down; these were John Stofolus, Hendrick, and +Ruyter. In a few minutes an ox came out by the gate of the kraal and +walked out by the back of it. Hendrick got up and drove him in again, +and then went back to his fireside and lay down. Hendrick and Ruyter +lay on one side of the fire under one blanket, and John Stofolus lay +on the other. At this moment I was sitting taking some barley-broth; +our fire was very small, and the night was pitch-dark and windy. Owing +to our proximity to the native village the wood was very scarce, the +Bakalahari having burnt it all in their fires. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly the appalling and murderous voice of an angry blood-thirsty +lion burst upon my ears within a few yards of us, followed by the +shrieking of the Hottentots. Again and again the murderous roar of +attack was repeated. We heard John and Ruyter shriek, "The lion, the +lion!" still, for a few moments, we thought he was chasing one of the +dogs round the kraal; but, the next instant, John Stofolus rushed into +the midst of us, almost speechless with fear and terror, his eyes +bursting from their sockets, and shrieked out, "The lion, the lion! He +has got Hendrick; he dragged him away from the fire beside me. I +struck him with the burning brands upon his head, but he would not let +go his hold. Hendrick is dead! Oh, God! Hendrick is dead! Let us take +fire and seek him!" +</P> + +<P> +The rest of my people rushed about shrieking and yelling as if they +were mad. I was at once angry with them for their folly, and told them +if they did not stand still and keep quiet the lion would have another +of us; and that very likely there was a troop of them. I ordered the +dogs, which were nearly all fast, to be made loose, and the fire to be +increased as far as could be. I then shouted Hendrick's name, but all +was still. I told my men that Hendrick was dead, and that a regiment +of soldiers could not now help him, and, hunting my dogs forward, I +had every thing brought within the cattle-kraal, when we lighted our +fire and closed the entrance as well as we could. My terrified people +sat round the fire with guns in their hand till the day broke, still +fancying that every moment the lion would return and spring again into +the midst of us. +</P> + +<P> +When the dogs were first let go, the stupid brutes, as dogs often +prove when most required, instead of going at the lion, rushed +fiercely on one another, and fought desperately for some minutes. +After this, they got his wind, and going at him, disclosed to us his +position; they kept up a continual barking until the day dawned, the +lion occasionally springing after them and driving them in upon the +kraal. The horrible monster lay all night within forty yards of us, +consuming the wretched man whom he had chosen for his prey. He had +dragged him into a little hollow at the back of a thick bush, beside +which the fire was kindled, and there he remained till the day dawned, +careless of our proximity. +</P> + +<P> +It appeared that when the unfortunate Hendrick rose to drive in the +ox, the lion had watched him to his fireside, and he had scarcely lain +down when the brute sprang upon him and Ruyter, for both lay under one +blanket, with his appalling murderous roar, and, roaring as he lay, +grappled him with his fearful claws, and kept biting him on his breast +and shoulder, all the while feeling for his neck; having got hold of +which, he dragged him away backwards round the bush into the dense +shade. +</P> + +<P> +As the lion lay upon the unfortunate man he faintly cried, "Help me, +help me! Oh, God! men, help me!" After which the fearful beast got a +hold of his neck, and then all was still, except that his comrades +heard the bones of his neck cracking between the teeth of the lion. +John Stofolus had lain with his back to the fire on the opposite side, +and on hearing the lion he sprang up, and, seizing a large flaming +brand, he had belabored him on the head with the burning wood; but the +brute did not take any notice of him. The Bushman had a narrow escape; +he was not altogether scatheless, the lion having inflicted two gashes +in his seat with his claws. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning, just as the day began to dawn, we heard the lion +dragging something up the river-side under cover of the bank. We drove +the cattle out of the kraal, and then proceeded to inspect the scene +of the night's awful tragedy. In the hollow, where the lion had lain +consuming his prey, we found one leg of the unfortunate Hendrick, +bitten off below the knee, the shoe still on his foot; the grass and +bushes were all stained with his blood, and fragments of his pea-coat +lay around. +</P> + +<P> +Poor Hendrick! I knew the fragments of that old coat, and had often +marked them hanging in the dense covers where the elephant had charged +after my unfortunate after-rider. Hendrick was by far the best man I +had about my wagons, of a most cheerful disposition, first-rate wagon +driver, fearless in the field, ever active, willing, and obliging: his +loss to us all was very serious. I felt confounded and utterly sick in +my heart; I could not remain at the wagons, so I resolved to go after +elephants to divert my mind. I had this morning heard them breaking +the trees on the opposite side of the river. I accordingly told the +natives of the village my intentions; and having ordered my people to +devote the day to fortifying the kraal, I started with Piet and Ruyter +as my after-riders. +</P> + +<P> +It was a very cold day. We crossed the river, and at once took up the +fresh spoor of a troop of bull elephants. These bulls unfortunately +joined a troop of cows, and the bulls were off in a moment, before we +could even see them. One remarkably fine old cow charged the dogs. I +hunted this cow and finished her with two shots from the saddle. Being +anxious to return to my people before night, I did not attempt to +follow the troop. +</P> + +<P> +My followers were not a little gratified to see me returning, for +terror had taken hold of their minds, and they expected that the lion +would return, and, emboldened by the success of the preceding night, +would prove still more daring in his attack. The lion would most +certainly have returned, but fate had otherwise ordained. My health +had been better in the last three days: my fever was leaving me, but I +was, of course, still very weak. It would still be two hours before +the sun would set, and feeling refreshed by a little rest, and able +for further work, I ordered the steeds to be saddled, and went in +search of the lion. +</P> + +<P> +I took John and Carey as after-riders, armed, and a party of the +natives followed up the spoor and led the dogs. The lion had dragged +the remains of poor Hendrick along a native footpath that led up the +river's side. We found fragments of his coat all along the spoor, and +at last the mangled coat itself. About six hundred yards from our camp +a dry river's course joined the Limpopo. At this spot was much cover, +and heaps of dry reeds and trees deposited by the Limpopo in some +great flood. The lion had left the footpath and entered this secluded +spot. I at once felt convinced that we were upon him, and ordered the +natives to make loose the dogs. These walked suspiciously forward on +the spoor, and next minute began to spring about, barking angrily, +with all their hair bristling on their backs: a crash upon the dry +reeds immediately followed—it was the lion bounding away. +</P> + +<P> +Several of the dogs were extremely afraid of him, and kept rushing +continually backwards springing aloft to obtain a view. I now pressed +forward and urged them on; old Argyll and Bles took up his spoor in +gallant style and led on the other dogs. Then commenced a short but +lively and glorious chase, whose conclusion was the only small +satisfaction that I could obtain to answer for the horrors of the +preceding evening. The lion held up the river's bank for a short +distance and took away through some wait-a-bit thorn cover, the best +he could find, but nevertheless open. Here, in two minutes, the dogs +were up with him, and he turned and stood at bay. As I approached, he +stood, his horrid head right to me, with open jaws growling fiercely, +his tail waving from side to side. +</P> + +<P> +On beholding him my blood boiled with rage. I wished that I could take +him alive and torture him, and setting my teeth, I dashed my steed +forward within thirty yards of him and shouted, "Your time is up, old +fellow." I halted my horse, and, placing my rifle to my shoulder, I +waited for a broadside. This, the next moment, he exposed, when I sent +a bullet through his shoulder and dropped him on the spot. He rose, +however, again, when I finished him with a second in the breast. The +Bakalahari now came up with wonder and delight. I ordered John to cut +off his head and forepaws and bring them to the wagons, and mounting +my horse I galloped home, having been absent about fifteen minutes. +When the Bakalahari women heard that the man-eater was dead, they all +commenced dancing about with joy, calling me <I>their father</I>. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Thrilling Adventures of Mr. Butler. +</H3> + +<P> +The early history of Kentucky is one continued series of daring and +romantic adventures. Had the founder of that state lived in the days +of chivalric yore, his exploits would have been sung in connection +with those of Arthur and Orlando; and his followers, in the same +region, would certainly have been knights of the Round Table. +</P> + +<P> +The hero of our story was one of these. Those who desire to inspect +his adventure, by the light of romance, will not be displeased at +learning that his choice of a hunter's life was determined by a +disappointment in the object of his early love. +</P> + +<P> +He was then only nineteen, yet he fearlessly left his native state, +and sought, amid the uncultivated wilds of Kentucky, the stirring +enjoyment of a western hunter. After rendering valuable service to the +Virginia colony, as a spy and pioneer, he undertook a voyage of +discovery to the country north of the Ohio. It was while thus engaged +that he was taken prisoner by the Indians. +</P> + +<P> +He was, no doubt, known to the Indians as an active and dangerous +enemy; and they now prepared to avenge themselves upon him. They +condemned him to the fiery torture, painted his body black, and +marched him toward Chilicothe. By way of amusement on the road, he was +manacled hand and foot, tied to an unbridled and unbroken horse, and +driven off amid the shouts and whoops of the savages; poor Butler thus +played the part of an American Mazeppa. The horse, unable to shake +him off galloped with terrific speed toward the wood, jarring and +bruising the rider at every step; but at length, exhausted and +subdued, it returned to camp with its burden, amid the exulting shouts +of the savages. When within a mile of Chilicothe, they took Butler +from the horse, and tied him to a stake, where, for twenty-four hours, +he remained in one position. He was then untied to run the gauntlet. +Six hundred Indians, men, women, and children, armed with clubs and +switches, arranged themselves in two parallel lines, to strike him as +he passed. It was a mile to the council-house, which if he reached, he +was to be spared. A blow started him on this encouraging race; but he +soon broke through the files and had almost reached the council-house, +when he was brought to the ground by a club. In this position he was +severely beaten and again taken into custody. +</P> + +<P> +These terrible sufferings, instead of satisfying the Indians, only +stimulated them to invent more ingenious tortures. Their cruelty was +not more astonishing than the fortitude of the victim. He ran the +gauntlet thirteen times; he was exposed to insult, privation, and +injury of every kind: sometimes he was tied, sometimes beaten. At +others, he was pinched, dragged on the ground, or deprived for long +periods of sleep. Then, amid jeers and yells, he was marched from +village to village, so that all might be entertained with his +sufferings. Yet, amid each torture, he never failed to improve an +opportunity favorable for escaping, and in one instance would have +effected it, but for some Indians whom he accidentally met returning +to the village. Finally it was resolved to burn him at Lower Sandusky. +The procession, bearing the victim to the stake, passed by the cabin +of Simon Girty, whose name is a counterpart to that of Brandt, in the +annals of Pennsylvania. This man had just returned from an +unsuccessful expedition to the frontier of that state, burning, of +course, with disappointment, and a thirst for revenge. Hearing that a +white prisoner was being carried to the torture, he rushed out, threw +Butler down, and began to beat him. +</P> + +<P> +The reader will not be apt to imagine that this was in any way +favorable to Butler's escape; yet it was so. He instantly recognised +in the fierce assailant a companion of early days, and as such made +himself known. The heart of the savage relented. He raised up his old +friend, promised to use his influence for him, summoned a council, and +persuaded the Indians to resign Butler to him. Taking the unfortunate +man home, he fed and nursed him until he began to recover. But five +days had scarcely expired, when the Indians relented, seizing their +victim, and marched him to be burned at Lower Sandusky. By a +surprising coincidence, he here met the Indian agent from Detroit, who +interceded and saved him. He was taken to that town, paroled by the +governor, and subsequently escaped through the woods to Kentucky. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Robert and Samuel M'Afee. +</H3> + +<P> +Early in May, 1781, M'Afee's station, in the neighborhood of +Harrodsburg, Kentucky, was alarmed by the approach of Indians. On the +morning of the 9th, Samuel M'Afee, accompanied by another man, left +the fort in order to visit a small plantation in the neighborhood, and +at the distance of three hundred yards from the gate, they were fired +upon by a party of Indians in ambush. The man who, accompanied him +instantly fell. An Indian rushed up, dropped his rifle, scalped the +man, and holding up the bleeding trophy, gave a yell of delight. +</P> + +<P> +M'Afee attempted to regain the fort. While running for that purpose, +he found himself suddenly intercepted by an Indian, who, springing out +of the canebrake, placed himself directly in his path. Each glared +upon the other for an instant, in silence, and both raising their guns +at the moment, pulled the triggers together. The Indian's rifle +snapped, while M'Afee's ball passed directly through his brain. Having +no time to reload his gun, he sprung over the body of his antagonist, +and continued his flight to the fort. When within one hundred yards of +the gate, he was met by his two brothers, Robert and James, who at the +report of the guns, had hurried out to the assistance of their +brother. Samuel hastily informed them of their danger, and exhorted +them to return. James readily complied, but Robert, declared that he +must have a view of the dead Indian. He ran on for that purpose, and +having enjoyed the spectacle, was returning, when he saw five or six +Indians between him and the fort, evidently bent on taking him alive. +All his activity and presence of mind was put in request. He ran from +tree to tree, endeavoring to turn their flank, and reach one of the +gates, and after a variety of turns and doublings, he found himself +pressed by only one Indian. M'Afee turned upon his pursuer, and +compelled him to take shelter behind a tree. Both stood still for a +moment—M'Afee having his gun cocked, and the sight fixed where he +supposed the Indian would thrust out his head in order to have a view +of his antagonist. After waiting a few seconds, the Indian exposed a +part of his head to take sight, when M'Afee fired, and the Indian +fell. While turning, to continue the flight, he was fired on by a +party of six, which compelled him again to tree. But scarcely had he +done so, when he received the fire of three more enemies which made +the bark and dust fly about him. Finding his post dangerous, he ran +for the fort, which he reached in safety, to the inexpressible joy of +his brothers, who had despaired of his return. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A few days' Sport in Chinese Tartary. +</H3> + +<P> +Much may have been said, but little has been written, of the yet but +very partially explored part of the world between China and the +Himayla chain. Moorcroft and Gerard, some thirty years ago, visited +some parts bordering on the extreme north-west of the British +possessions in India. Fraser, a few years later, penetrated probably +those parts of it adjoining the central hill sanatoriums of Simla and +Almorah, and he, like his predecessors, was stopped by the jealous +government and its inhabitants. Previous to entering Chinese Tartary +from British India, the traveller has to cross certain of the passes +in the great snowy range, some of them varying in height from sixteen +to eighteen thousand feet above the level of the sea. +</P> + +<P> +The Barinda, one of the most frequented and best known of these +passes, is variously estimated at from seventeen to eighteen thousand +feet. The months of June, July, and August are generally considered +the best months for crossing. +</P> + +<P> +The scenery in and around these passes is of the most sublime +description. As I should assuredly fail, however, in describing it, I +must content myself with a narration of some personal adventures which +befel me in an attempt to carry into effect a long cherished +determination to make the acquaintance of the seeta bhaloo (white +bear) and the burul, (white sheep,) found only in these regions. By +the route I took, seventeen marches brought me to the snow. Here our +"roughing" commenced, the Peharrees, or hill men, of our side of the +snow, having a most religious horror of the great snowy range. The air +there they declare is charged with "bis" (poison,) and this is the +only way they can in their original way account for the painful and +distressing effects which the rarefied air in those elevations +produces on the human frame. The first intimation we have that we are +far above the altitude of comfort, is a dull, heavy pain on the +shoulders, as if you were carrying a load above your capacity; then a +very painful sensation on the forehead, as if it had been bandaged +unpleasantly tight, accompanied by a burning sensation of the eyes and +nose, followed by an involuntary bleeding of the latter. +</P> + +<P> +This last symptom of the effects of high rarefaction, is, to an +Englishman, at least it was to us, always a great relief. It operates +differently upon the natives; they become only more alarmed and +helpless, and, unless hurried through the passes very expeditiously, +invariably perish. On my first trip, I left two unfortunate hill men +in the Sogla Pass. Two more would have perished, had not I taken one +wheelbarrow fashion, by the legs, and dragged him after me, although +very much distressed myself, until we had descended sufficiently to +rest with safety. My head man, Jye Sing, by my direction, took the +other man, and both were saved. +</P> + +<P> +After getting through the pass, we came upon the inhabited tracks, and +made the acquaintance of the Bhootias. I found them very original, +very dirty, and very honest with regard to every thing except tobacco. +This, neither father nor mother, husband or wife, could help stealing, +whenever they had the opportunity; and the most amusing part of it +was, they never attempted to deny the theft, but stoutly maintained +their right to the article! Numerous were the thrashings inflicted by +Buctoo on them for tobacco thieving, but the thefts did not diminish. +</P> + +<P> +As my object in coming into these dreary fastnesses was to get on +terms of familiarity with the quadrupedal rather than the bipedal +inhabitants, I will leave the Bhootias, and proceed to describe my +rencontres with the equally civilized four-footed denizens. I had in +my employ Shikarees (gameseekers) of no ordinary class, who, having +been many years with me, were well tutored; although, when first +caught, they were ignorance personified as far as sporting matters +went. Their original incapacity will be easily credited, when I inform +them that my second best man, Buctoo, had followed the sporting +occupation of a village fiddler, before he entered my service, and +knew as much of the capabilities of an English rifle as he did of the +"Pleiades." Jye Sing was a little better informed, for he told me +confidentially, one day, he had seen a gentleman at Subathoo actually +kill quail flying with small shot. His occupation had been that of +findal, or porter, to some families at Simla. Two months' training +turned him out, not only one of the most intelligent, but pluckiest +Shikaree I ever had. +</P> + +<P> +Having, in my numerous excursions into the hills, obtained some very +vague information from the many villagers I came in contact with, that +they had often heard from parties residing near the snow that there +was an animal to be found there strongly resembling the famous sheep, +(<I>Ovid Burul</I>,) I determined upon despatching Jye Sing and Buctoo to +those regions, to obtain all the precise information that might be +available, cautioning them not to return without either having seen +the animal, or bringing me some proof of its existence, and further +promising them a handsome present, if they brought me satisfactory +information. They were absent two months, and returned with some most +marvellous stories about what they had seen and heard, and, as a proof +of the existence of the animal, brought me the horn of a wild sheep +they had picked up in one of the valleys in the snow, after an +avalanche had melted. This physical fragment at once removed all my +doubts, the horn being different from that of any tame sheep. I was +now wound up to the highest pitch of excitement; my marching +establishment was soon put in order, and we started on the following +day. Fifteen forced marches brought me to the foot of the snow, and +also to the last village, called "Ufsul." I found the inhabitants of +this village a most rude and demi-barbarous race, knowing little, and +wishing to know less, of Englishmen, of whom they seemed to have the +greatest dread. However, two days' soft sawdering with a plentiful +supply of hill "buckshee," (spirits,) made them more communicative; +and they at last informed me, if I would promise only to remain a +week, they would show me the wild sheep. This promise, of course, I +gave; and on the following morning at daybreak, (shivering cold it +was,) we started to ascend the snow-capped mountains and glaciers, +which the animal patronized. On the road up I was sorely tempted to +draw my ball and ram down shot, in order to bring down some of the +many woodcocks we were constantly flushing, and which were so +unaccustomed to be disturbed, that they only flew a few yards away; +but I resisted the temptation. +</P> + +<P> +As we progressed in the region of eternal snow, we began to find +pedestrianism a difficult task. Some parts of the path were very +slippery and hard; others, soft and knee-deep in snow. An idea may be +formed of the height we had to ascend, and the nature of the ground +which we traversed, when I mention that we left our tents at seven +o'clock in the morning, and had not arrived at the "sheep-walk" before +one. +</P> + +<P> +Now commenced the difficulty. The burrul, from its well-known and +secluded habits, is a most difficult animal to approach. I was at +last, however, rewarded for my labor. About two o'clock we came upon +the fresh marks of the flock; we followed them for some distance, but +coming near a hot spring where they had evidently been grazing, lost +of course all farther track. For the next hour I worked on one +glacier, around another, used my telescope, but could not discern any +object. Suddenly one of the villagers called my attention to something +above me. I looked up and beheld a pair of enormous horns bending +over. None of the body of the animal was then visible. I now +cautiously moved a short distance to the right, when I had the +satisfaction of seeing not only his horns, but a full broadside view +of the first wild sheep I ever saw. He was about one hundred and fifty +yards off. Having elevated the proper sight, I brought my rifle to +bear on the shoulder, took a steady and gradual draw of the trigger, +the rifle cracked, and dead came down the burrul of Thibet. +</P> + +<P> +Perhaps, up to this time, the burrul had known no other mortal foe +than the white, or whitey-brown bear of the hills—the seeta bhaloo, +as he is called. And this brings me to another part of my sporting +excursion. +</P> + +<P> +Whether from the scarcity of food, or the amiability of their +dispositions, the seeta bhaloo are to be met with constantly in small +bodies of from five to ten, differing in this respect from their sable +brethren, who are generally found alone, unless a matrimonial alliance +has been formed, when the intrusion of a third party, whether male or +female, ensures a fight. +</P> + +<P> +The white bear is only carnivorous when pressed by hunger, and in that +state is very destructive to the numerous Tartar flocks of sheep, for +Bruin, with an empty larder is not to be deterred from his ravenous +attacks by men or dogs—a haunch of mutton he will have. His mode of +devouring it differs greatly from that of the tiger or leopard. He +tears the fleece off with his paws, and instead of gnawing and tearing +the flesh, as most carnivorous animals do, he commences sucking it, +and in this way draws off the flesh in shreds, thus occupying four or +five hours in doing what a tiger or leopard would effectually achieve +in half an hour. It is well known among the Tartars, (and I know it +also from experience,) that a bear, after feasting off flesh, is a +very dangerous customer, and will always show fight. If near the +carcass he has captured, he will give very little trouble in looking +for him, indeed, he will almost invariably attack the intruder. +</P> + +<P> +One day while following up some wild sheep, I came upon two bears very +busily engaged in digging up the snow where an avalanche had fallen. +Being hid from their sight, I determined to wait some little time to +ascertain why they were digging. I accordingly placed myself behind a +rock, and allowed them to work away. In about an hour they had made a +very good opening; and on using my glass I found they had got hold of +something. I now pushed up to them. One immediately showed fight, and +came out to meet me. He made one charge at me, which I received with a +rifle ball, killing him the very first shot. The other bear got away. +On going up to the spot where they had been at work, I found the +exhumed bodies of three wild sheep. They had been carried away and +buried underneath the avalanche, probably as far back as the previous +year, considering the very compact and frozen state the snow was in. +The sheep were in excellent order. We skinned them, and took them to +our tents, and excellent mutton we all had for several days. +</P> + +<P> +On the melting of the snows, the golden eagle of the Himalaya—a +magnificent bird, often measuring thirteen feet from the tip of one +wing to the other—is one of the best of pointers a sportsman can +follow, to ascertain where any animal has been carried away in an +avalanche. He hovers over the spot, constantly alighting, and then +taking wing again; but if once you observe him pecking with his beak +you may proceed to the spot, and be certain of finding, a very short +distance below the snow, the carcass of a wild sheep, as fresh as it +was on the day on which it was carried away. Many a haunch of good +mutton have I obtained in this way. +</P> + +<P> +The Himalayan golden eagle is a very carrion crow, never destroying +its own game, and feeding on any dead carcass it may find. +</P> + +<P> +Many an eagle have I shot feeding on the carcass of an unfortunate +hill bullock, which, either through stupidity or fright, had tumbled +over a precipice; and never, during the many years I shot over all +parts of these hills, do I remember seeing a golden eagle pounce on or +carry away a living prey. +</P> + +<P> +The Tartar shepherds near the snow informed me that during the lambing +season the eagles were very troublesome. If a ewe dropped a sickly +lamb, and left it, the eagle would attack it, but never attempted to +stoop to carry away a live one, or one that followed its mother. The +Indian golden eagle is identical with the Lammergeyer of the Alps, but +wants the courage of the latter bird. +</P> + +<P> +A companion and myself had been working hard in the "Sogla," one of +the passes in the snowy range conducting into Chinese Tartary, after +the wild sheep, and found them this day wilder and more wary than on +any previous occasion. It is not generally known that there are two +species of wild sheep—one called the dairuk, and the other (an +enormous animal, at least as far as its horns are concerned) known to +naturalists as the <I>ovis ammon</I>. The horns and head of the latter are +as much as a hill man can lift, and singular enough the body is small +indeed, out of all proportion to the horns borne by a full-grown ram. +My companion and self espied on an opposite hill what we at first +(through our telescopes) thought was an enormous pair of horns moving +without any ostensible carriage. At last we observed the body, and I, +in delight, exclaimed, "By Jove, there is the ovis ammon at last." +</P> + +<P> +After considerable trouble and precious hard work, we worked up to +within the range, when a shot from my rifle brought the ram tumbling +down over the snow. I hoped and believed he was dead, but he was only +wounded. He got up again, and, in spite of the wound, made a very good +gallop over the deep snow. Finding he was too fast for us, we slipped +our dogs, and among them my poor "Karchia." The poor dog, as usual, +was first up with the ram, and seized him. The ram, having still a +good deal in him, broke the hold, and down he went to the bottom of +the ravine, where ran the Tonse river, a tributary of the Jumna here +in the snow. +</P> + +<P> +The river was covered over in many places by avalanches, and was also +partly frozen; but in many places there were large holes. The ram +bounded over these until my poor dog Karchia again closed with and +seized him behind. With a vigorous effort the ovis ammon shook him +off. A few yards before the steep was a large hole in the Tonse, the +water foaming up through it; into this ovis ammon threw himself, and +was carried under the snow. Heaven knows where. On arriving at the +spot I found my dog baying most piteously, and trying to bite away the +frozen sides, but to no purpose, and I was obliged immediately to get +him chained up, fearing he would have plunged in after the game, when +I should have lost him, and most probably my own life. Having thus +introduced the wild sheep and white bear of Tartary, a few sentences +may not unprofitably be spent in describing the genus homo of the +Snowy Range. The Tartars, as may be imagined, are a very original +race, and in those parts visited by me I found them very primitive and +intensive, always barring the petty larceny propensities. Depending +principally on the sale of their wool for their support, and being +Bhuddhists by religion, they dared not destroy animal life; but when +nature had deprived one of their bullocks or sheep of existence, +either by accident or old age, economy forbids their wasting the +carcass, and it is eagerly devoured by them. Some of the ancient rams +I saw would require a considerable deal of mastication and powerful +digestive organs when summoned to their forefathers and committed to a +Tartar's jaws. +</P> + +<P> +I cannot say that the hill people thrive on the diet, for in +appearance they are a miserable-looking, stunted race, very filthy in +their habits, seldom changing their coarse woollen clothing, and +entertaining a religious horror of cold water. +</P> + +<P> +They have no objection to the good things brought from our side of the +snow, and I have seen them devour salt beef and pork with great gusto. +But what they must delight in, when they can get it, is English brandy +and tobacco. The former they will drink in great quantities, and for +men unaccustomed to liquor it is astonishing how well they resist its +intoxicating properties. I saw one man, a "Siana," the head of a +village, drink off two bottles of pure brandy without apparently +feeling any ill effects from the potation. On questioning him about +his sensations, he said that the only difference he found between the +brandy and water was, that it made his inside comfortably warm, and +his tongue very slippery, of which he gave us proof by chattering and +singing in a most uncouth way. Of all the horrible noises I ever +heard, those which a half-drunken Tartar makes are the most +discordant. The deep nasal and guttural noises he emits would beat +Welsh and Gaelic by a long chalk. +</P> + +<P> +Although petty thefts are common among the Thibetans, valuable +articles may with with safety be left among them—even money they will +never touch. Many an hour have I whiled away among them watching +Buctoo and Jye Sing showing them many articles of my property, the use +or value of which they could not comprehend. Of my guns and rifles, in +particular, they stood in great awe, and for a long time none of them +could be induced to touch one. Our telescopes also caused great +terror, and many were the learned arguments they had as to what +possibly could be the use of the latter. I invariably carried a +favorite "Dolland" across my shoulder, and Buctoo was provided with a +similar instrument, of which he was very proud, and in the use of +which he became very expert. +</P> + +<P> +One day, after a good day's sport, we had all sat down near a +beautiful spring, and I was enjoying a luncheon, when I found that +Buctoo had collected some fifty Tartars about him, who sat in a +circle, listening to his explanation of the use of his telescope. None +of his hearers could for some time be induced to touch it; they were +afraid of its either exploding or metamorphosing them into wild sheep. +The large village Tehong Si was about four miles below our bivouac, +and several of the head men had come up to have a look at us. The +village was just discernible to the naked eye, and Buctoo politely +inquired of one of the chiefs, if he would like to be informed what +was going on in the village below? The chief told him he should, when +Buctoo drew out the glass, on which all the Tartars moved off to a +respectful distance. +</P> + +<P> +After looking at the village, Buctoo persuaded them to come close to +him once more, and duly informed them what he could see in the +village, describing certain parts of it so correctly that they were +astounded. (I must here mention that neither myself nor any of my +servants had been allowed to enter the village.) The Tartars at first +could hardly credit it; but after sundry questions as to the +description of houses on the north side, and again on the southern, +which Buctoo, on carefully examining, correctly described, they became +sadly perplexed. Buctoo once more endeavored to persuade them to take +a look themselves, and, after much coaxing and a little brandy, one of +the head men was induced to take the telescope into his hand. +</P> + +<P> +The figure he cut in doing so, I shall not easily forget. He held it +out at arm's length, grinned at it most horribly, and chattered some +abominable gibberish in Tartaree, that no one understood, appearing to +expect every moment that the glass would bite him. After some minutes +spent in this way, he drew it near him, and by degrees became more +confident. Buctoo then approached him and set it, telling him how to +look through it. He then appeared very suspicious about this movement, +evidently fancying the glass was going to explode. At length he threw +it down, for which Buctoo boxed his ears. He then took it up again, +and it was brought to bear on the village. But the Tartar did us +again; for he shut both eyes. However, after a good deal of +persuasion, he was induced to open one and shut the other, and to peep +through the glass. For a second or two he trembled violently, and then +groaned heavily—threw down the glass, and commenced rolling down the +hill, head over heels, at a most awful pace. The whole batch, some +forty, were seized with the same complaint, and down they went after +their chief, roaring out, "Hi! ha!" at the top of their voice. Break +their necks they could not very easily; but how many of them escaped +serious injury I did not stop to ascertain. Upon seeing them all off, +I fell down heavily, fracturing my sides with laughter. Buctoo was in +the same state, and so were all my servants. We at last saw them, on +reaching a piece of level ground, get on their legs, the chief still +leading, and bolting for the village, at a pace that nothing would +warrant but a tin kettle at their heels. +</P> + +<P> +In about ten minutes we heard the gongs and bells beating and tolling +at a great pace, with frightful shouting from men and women, and this +lasted for two hours, when all became quiet. +</P> + +<P> +Not a Tartar could be got hold of for two days after this. At last, by +sending a small party rather near the village, several men showed +themselves, offering us any thing we wanted, if we would only return +to our proper side of the snow. This they were told we would do, if +they would only show us three or four more days' good sport; but if +not we would remain there six months, and turn them all into wild +sheep. Upon this they had a consultation, when it was decided that +they would show us excellent comfort provided we promised to take our +departure in four days, and never come there again. This was duly +agreed to, and after some very cautious approaches we got them once +more up to our tents. They certainly got their promise, for I had +excellent sport, and was therefore bound to fulfil my part of the +agreement. +</P> + +<P> +On the fourth day arriving, they were invited to come once more to the +tent, and to receive a few trifling rewards for the sport they had +shown. Brandy was first served out, and this soon restored confidence, +when the distribution of a few knives, looking-glasses, beads, etc., +etc., and sundry pieces of red cloth, brought them into good humor. +Every thing was going on as well as could be desired, when some +unfortunate dispute arose among some of my guides, (not my own +servants, but men taken from the last village on our side of the +snow,) and Tartars. They knew each other well, having, at a fair held +at the foot of the pass, a year's intercourse. These men, I have no +doubt, assisted by one of my own men, (and I strongly suspected +Buctoo, although he most solemnly denied it,) played them a sad trick. +I may here note that almost every Tartar carries a pipe, rudely made +of wrought iron, of about the size and shape of the common clay pipe. +Being inveterate smokers, a pipe full of good tobacco is one of the +most convincing arguments you can employ. While I was at dinner, I +ordered some tobacco to be given to them, and it was proposed they +should put that in their pouches, and allow some of my men to charge +their pipes with their own tobacco, of which they begged their +acceptance. +</P> + +<P> +The Tartars, nothing loth, assented, and each man gave his iron pipe +to be charged, which was duly done and returned to each owner. Smoking +then commenced, and on finishing my dinner and coming outside the +tent, I found the Tartars all in a circle, smoking away, and my men, +some ten yards from them, and above them, and talking to them. They +were also smoking. Thinking nothing of this at the time, I took no +notice, and had my chair brought outside, and smoked my segar. In less +than five minutes I was considerably astonished on hearing a salvo as +of a volley of musketry, and iron pipes flying up and down in all +directions. Then a general shout, and off went the Tartars, as if Old +Nick was at their heels, halloing most fearfully. They did not run +far, but brought up about three hundred yards from where they started, +and demanded their pipes back. I asked them what was the matter; when +they said they would never smoke English tobacco again, for we smoked +with tobacco, and shot with tobacco, and <I>Sheitzan</I> must have been the +manufacturer. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Kangaroo Hunting. +</H3> + +<P> +Kangarooing in Tasman's Peninsula is essentially a pedestrian sport. I +am aware that in an open country, and especially in New South Wales, +where the chase is followed on horseback, my assertion may seem like +rank heresy. +</P> + +<P> +I have pursued the sport both mounted and on foot, and if a horse +enables you occasionally, on comparatively unincumbered ground, to see +something more of the run, you must still have pedestrians to hunt the +dogs. After all, decide this point as you will, we esteem it the +poorest variety of the chase. Some excitement must necessarily attend +it, but too much is left to the imagination, and too little of either +the game or the dogs is given to the eye. +</P> + +<P> +It is rarely, except when on horseback, that one has the good fortune +to be in at the death, or to see the kangaroo pulled down. +</P> + +<P> +The ground is usually hilly, the scrub thick, and the grass high. It +is needless to say that on the present occasion we were all on foot. +Forestier's Peninsula is no place for a horse, except the traveller be +jogging along the rugged and little frequented track which leads to +Hobart Town, by a most circuitous route. +</P> + +<P> +Away then we strode, skirting the shore pretty closely, until we came +to a valley which had been partially cleared by one of those extensive +bush conflagrations which are of annual occurrence. +</P> + +<P> +The forest is fired in several places every summer, with a view to +keeping down the scrub, and giving a chance of growth to the grass and +the larger forest trees. These burn for several consecutive days, and +at night the glare from them, lighting up the adjacent horizon, and +the wind at one time whirling along vast clouds of smoke, and again +throwing up sheets of flame and myriads of burning particles, produce +an effect as grand as can be imagined. Here, then, in the glade, we +paused, disposed ourselves in an extended line, slipped four dogs, and +gave the word, "go seek." +</P> + +<P> +Away they trotted with nose to the ground, cautiously hunting, +crossing and recrossing, but occasionally getting not only out of +sight in the long grass, but out of hearing and command. Presently a +sharp bark gave the signal of game started, and the next moment we +catch a glimpse of the kangaroo in mid air, as he bounds down the +declivity in a succession of leaps such as the kangaroos only can +accomplish. +</P> + +<P> +There he goes, his tiny ears laid back along his small deer-like head, +his forefeet gathered up like a penguin's flappers, and his long stout +tail erect in the air. Now bounding aloft, now vanishing as he leaps +into the waving grass. +</P> + +<P> +Two more of the dogs have sighted him, and are silently tearing along +on his track. Every bound increases his distance from his pursuers, he +winds round the base of the hill, to avoid the ascent, but up he must +go; this is the only chance for the dogs, for running up hill is the +kangaroo's weak point. But now we lose sight of both dogs and +kangaroo; a burst of three minutes has sufficed to exhaust our first +wind, and to break one of our shins; for tearing through grass as high +as one's middle and stumbling over charred stumps and fallen trees, +soon reduces one to the "dead beat" predicament. Jerry, alone, thanks +to his hard condition, follows the chase. +</P> + +<P> +All the party are now scattered, and after while reassemble by dint of +continuous "cooees." Whilst swabbing the perspiration off our brow, +one of the dogs makes his appearance, and, trotting slowly back with +panting flanks and lolling tongue, throws himself on his side +exhausted. His mouth is now carefully examined, and two fingers being +inserted, scoop round the fauces. The test is successful; there are +traces of blood and fluff. "Bravo! Rattler! Show him—good dog. Show +him!" Rattler rises with an effort, and lazily strikes into the bush, +to the right. We follow in Indian file, and at about half a mile +distant we come upon the kangaroo lying dead, with the second dog, old +"Ugly," stretched at its side. +</P> + +<P> +The kangaroo usually found in the Peninsula is not the largest +description commonly known in these colonies as the "boomer," or a +"forester," but the brush kangaroo, which rarely exceeds seventy +pounds in weight; forty is more common. There is a still smaller +variety, known as the "wallaby." The brush kangaroo is easily killed +by the dogs; a grip in the throat or loins usually suffices. The +boomer is a more awkward customer, and, if he can take to the water, +he shows fight, and availing himself of his superior height, he +endeavors to drown the dogs as they approach him. The kangaroo is a +graceful animal, but appears to most advantage when only the upper +part of his body is seen. His head is small and deer-shaped, his eyes +soft and lustrous, but his tapering superior extremities rise almost +pyramidally from a heavy and disproportioned base of hind legs and +tail. +</P> + +<P> +The kangaroo dog never mangles his prey although fond of the blood, +with a portion of which he is always rewarded. +</P> + +<P> +Jerry now threw himself on the ground beside the game, and, drawing +his <I>couteau de chasse</I>, commenced the operation of disemboweling. +After ripping up the belly, he thrust in his arm, and drawing out the +liver and a handful of coagulated blood, he invited the dogs to +partake of it. The carcass being gutted, some dry fern is thrust in, +the tail is drawn through the fore legs, and secured with a bit of +whipcord, and then the game is suspended over the shoulder—no +insignificant weight either. If the kangaroo be very heavy, the hind +quarters only are carried, but the skin being of some value, it is not +needlessly destroyed. +</P> + +<P> +There is a peculiarity in the stomach of the kangaroo, which I have +not seen noticed in descriptions of that animal, but of which I have +assured myself by frequent personal observation. On opening the +stomach, even while still warm, the grass found in it is swarming with +small white worms, about a quarter of an inch in length, and not +thicker than a fine thread. +</P> + +<P> +The entire contents of the stomach, even the most recently masticated +grass, and grass seems to be its only food, are equally pervaded with +these worms, which swarm in myriads, even where no signs of +decomposition are perceptible. +</P> + +<P> +Resuming our progress, we presently heard a baying from the dogs, who +had again dispersed to hunt. On nearing the spot whence the noise +proceeded, we found them assembled round the trunk of a large tree, in +the hollow of which was a large wombat, a most unsightly brute, in +appearance partaking somewhat of the bear, the pig, and the badger. An +average sized one weighs sixty pounds. The head is flat, neck thick, +body large, legs short, eyes and ears small: the feet provided with +sharp claws for burrowing, three on the hind foot, and an additional +one on the fore foot. They make deep excavations in the ground, and +live chiefly on roots. The hide is very tough and covered with a +coarse wiry hair, and with this defensive armor, and his formidable +teeth and claws, the wombat is a customer not much relished by the +dogs. It was not till we had stunned our new acquaintance, as he stood +at bay in his den, by repeated blows of our sticks on his head, that +we were able to drag him out, and cut his throat. +</P> + +<P> +The flesh is eatable, and I have heard that the hams are held in some +esteem, but cannot speak from personal experience. On the present +occasion none of our party was ambitious of the honor of carrying our +defunct friend during the day's march that we had before us; so I +contented myself with pocketing his four paws, and leaving the rest of +the carcass for formic epicures. +</P> + +<P> +Our destination for the evening was Eagle Hawk Neck, or rather our +dining quarters were there fixed, for I proposed to be home some time +during the night; and, as we had some twelve miles of fatiguing +walking before us, we now circled round towards Flinders' Bay, whence +we were to follow the foot track to the "Neck." +</P> + +<P> +It may readily be imagined that bush travelling in the Australian +colonies is often an intricate affair; long practice alone can give +one assurance and confidence. Few <I>habitues</I> in the Peninsula think of +entering it without a pocket compass, flint, and steel, and even the +best bushmen have in their day been reduced to the greatest +extremities. +</P> + +<P> +For our own part, our ambition never inclined to the adventurous task +of exploring the bush, content with the subordinate part of trusting +to the superior sagacity of the more experienced; and often have our +wonder and admiration been excited by the unerring judgment of our +guide, when there was neither sun to direct, nor any opening above or +around whereby to obtain a view of the surrounding country. +</P> + +<P> +As we were approaching Flinders' Bay on our return, a kangaroo was +started some distance ahead of us; presently I observed an old dog, +who was wont to "run cunning," suddenly stop close in front of me. The +next moment the game, closely pursued, dropped in a bound, not six +yards from where I stood, and before he could rise again, old "Ugly" +had his prize by the throat. This proved to be a doe, and on examining +her pouch a foetus was found in it, perfectly detached as usual, and +about three inches and a half long. The generation, growth, and +alimentation of the foetus of the kangaroo and other marsupial animals +(ultra interine and detached from the parent, as it appears to be at +all stages,) is a mystery in physiology which has yet to be +unravelled. +</P> + +<P> +A "medico" who was of our party, did not neglect this opportunity for +research. With a view to the investigation of the subject at leisure, +he dropped the foetus into his glove for conveyance home. +</P> + +<P> +Outside the station of Flinders' Bay, we came upon a small limpid +stream, brawling over a rocky bed, which seemed a suitable place to +refresh the inner man with a sandwich, and a thimble full of Cognac. +Segars were then lighted, and, shouldering our game, we resumed our +route. +</P> + +<P> +The sun was low, when we descended the steep hill whence we opened a +view of Eagle Hawk Neck and the Pacific, and after a long and toilsome +ascent of the "Saddle," by a path which abounded more in loose sharp +stones than any which it has been my misfortune to fall in with. +However, refreshment was at hand, which we were quite in condition to +appreciate, for we will back a day's kangarooing against any other +sport, for giving a zest both to victuals and drink. +</P> + +<P> +Our host, C—, was famous for his kangaroo soup; this is made of the +tail of the animal, and when well prepared may vie with any oxtail, +if, indeed, it be not superior, having the advantage of a game flavor. +The flesh of the kangaroo resembles in taste and appearance that of +the hare, though drier and inferior in flavor when roasted. The only +part thus cooked is the hind quarter, which should be boned, stuffed, +and larded, and after all, the play is not worth the candle. Not so, +"kangaroo steamer." To prepare this savory dish, portions of the hind +quarter, after hanging for a week, should be cut into small cubical +pieces; about a third portion of the fat of bacon should be similarly +prepared, and these, together with salt, pepper, and some spice, must +simmer gently in a stewpan for three or four hours. No water must +enter into the composition, but a little mushroom ketchup added, which +served, is an improvement. +</P> + +<P> +Although averse to the diet of bush vermin, so often extolled in these +colonies, and although carefully eschewing all parrot pies, red-bill +ragouts, black swans, kangaroo rats, porcupines, and such vaunted +nastinesses, we strongly contend for the excellence of "kangaroo +steamer," as a most savory and appetizing dish. We cannot reproach it +with a fault, save its tendency to lead one to excess; the only +difficulty is to know when you have had enough. +</P> + +<P> +We were able to do ample justice to the the Alexander Selkirk of his +post, reigning in solitary grandeur, for he had not a single associate +within ten miles, could always boast of a well-stocked larder and +cellar. What with his garden, poultry-yard, and dairy, hunting and +sea-fishing, he was tolerably independent of the tri-weekly visits of +the boat which brought the commissariat supplies. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Forest and Frontiers, by Roualeyn Gordon-Cumming + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOREST AND FRONTIERS *** + +***** This file should be named 8411-h.htm or 8411-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/8/4/1/8411/ + +Produced by Ted Garvin and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Forest and Frontiers + or, Adventures among the Indians + +Author: Roualeyn Gordon-Cumming + +Posting Date: August 14, 2011 [EBook #8411] +Release Date: July, 2005 +First Posted: July 8, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOREST AND FRONTIERS *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + + +FOREST AND FRONTIERS + +OR, ADVENTURES AMONG THE INDIANS + + +By Roualeyn Gordon-Cumming + + + + +_PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED_ + + + + +Chicago + +M. A. Donohue & Company + + + + +Thrilling stories. + + + + +Mr. Cumming's attack on four lions + + +The most daring and adventurous of all hunters is Mr. Roualeyn Gordon +Cumming. Being an officer in the British service at the Cape of Good +Hope, his love of hunting adventures led him to resign his commission +in the army, and devote himself for five years to exploring the +interior of Africa, and hunting wild beasts. We shall quote his own +account of some of his adventures. + +The first incident of his career, to which we invite the reader's +attention, is one which he calls an attack on four patriarchal lions. +It occurred in the interior of Africa, not far from the junction of +the rivers Mariqua and Limpopo. He thus describes it. + +A few days after this, just as Swint had milked the cows, and was +driving them from the wooded peninsula in which we lay, athwart the +open ground, to graze with my other cattle in the forest beyond, he +beheld four majestic lions walking slowly across the valley, a few +hundred yards below my camp, and disappear over the river's bank, at a +favorite drinking place. These mighty monarchs of the waste had been +holding a prolonged repast over the carcases of some zebras killed by +Present, and had now come down the river to slake their thirst. This +being reported, I instantly saddled two horses, and, directing my boys +to lead after me as quickly as possible my small remaining pack of +sore-footed dogs, I rode forth, accompanied by Carey carrying a spare +gun, to give battle to the four grim lions. As I rode out of the +peninsula, they showed themselves on the banks of the river, and, +guessing that their first move would be a disgraceful retreat, I +determined to ride so as to make them think that I had not observed +them, until I should be able to cut off their retreat from the river, +across the open vley, to the endless forest beyond. That point being +gained, I knew that they, still doubtful of my having observed them, +would hold their ground on the river's bank until my dogs came up, +when I could more advantageously make the attack. + +I cantered along, holding as if I meant to pass the lions at a +distance of a quarter of a mile, until I was opposite to them, when I +altered my course, and inclined a little nearer. The lions showed +symptoms of uneasiness; they rose to their feet, and, overhauling us +for half a minute, disappeared over the bank. They reappeared, +however, directly, a little farther down; and finding that their +present position was bare, they walked majestically along the top of +the bank to a spot a few hundred yards lower, where the bank was well +wooded. Here they seemed half inclined to await my attack; two +stretched out their massive arms, and lay down in the grass, and the +other two sat up like dogs upon their haunches. Deeming it probable +that when my dogs came up and I approached they would still retreat +and make a bolt across the vley, I directed Carey to canter forward +and take up the ground in the centre of the vley about four hundred +yards in advance; whereby the lions would be compelled either to give +us battle or swim the river, which, although narrow, I knew they would +be very reluctant to do. + +I now sat in my saddle, anxiously waiting the arrival of my dogs; and +whilst thus momentarily disengaged, I was much struck with the +majestic and truly appalling appearance which these four noble lions +exhibited. They were all full-grown immense males; and I felt, I must +confess, a little nervous, and very uncertain as to what might be the +issue of the attack. When the dogs came up I rode right in towards the +lions. They sprang to their feet, and trotted slowly down along the +bank of the river, once or twice halting and facing about for half a +minute. Immediately below them their was a small determined bend in +the stream, forming a sort of peninsula. Into this bend they +disappeared, and next moment I was upon them with my dogs. They had +taken shelter in a dense angle of the peninsula, well sheltered by +high trees and reeds. Into this retreat the dogs at once boldly +followed them, making a loud barking, which was instantly followed by +the terrible voices of the lions, which turned about and charged to +the edge of the cover. Next moment, however, I heard them plunge into +the river, when I sprang from my horse, and, running to the top of the +bank, I saw three of them ascending the opposite bank, the dogs +following. One of them bounded away across the open plain at top +speed, but the other two, finding themselves followed by the dogs, +immediately turned to bay. + +It was now my turn, so, taking them coolly right and left with my +little rifle, I made the most glorious double shot that a sportsman's +heart could desire, disabling them both in the shoulder before they +were even aware of my position. Then snatching up my other gun from +Carey, who that moment had ridden up to my assistance, I finished the +first lion with a shot about the heart, and brought the second to a +standstill by disabling him in his hind quarters. He quickly crept +into a dense, wide, dark green bush, in which for a long time it was +impossible to obtain a glimpse of him. At length, a clod of earth +falling near his hiding-place, he made a move which disclosed to me +his position, when I finished him with three more shots, all along the +middle of his back. Carey swam across the river to flog off the dogs; +and when these came through to me, I beat up the peninsula in quest of +the fourth lion, which had, however, made off. We then crossed the +river a little higher up, and proceeded to view the noble prizes I had +won. Both lions were well up in their years; I kept the skin and skull +of the finest specimen, and only the nails and tail of the other, one +of whose canine teeth was worn down to the socket with the caries, +which seemed to have affected his general condition. + + + + +Mr. Cumming Hunting Rhinoceroses. + + +Mr. Cumming thus describes his encounter with some rhinoceroses and an +eland, in the country of the Bechuanas. + +It was on the 4th of June, 1844, that I beheld for the first time the +rhinoceros. Having taken some coffee, I rode out unattended, with my +rifle, and before proceeding far I fell in with a huge white +rhinoceros with a large calf, standing in a thorny grove. Getting my +wind she set off at top speed through thick thorny bushes, the calf, +as is invariably the case, taking the lead, the mother guiding its +course by placing her horn, generally about three feet in length, +against its ribs. + +My horse shied very much at first, alarmed at the strange appearance +of "Chukuroo," but by a sharp application of spur and jambok I +prevailed upon him to follow, and presently, the ground improving, I +got alongside, and, firing at the gallop, sent a bullet through her +shoulder. She continued her pace with blood streaming from the wound, +and very soon reached an impracticable thorny jungle, where I could +not follow, and instantly lost her. In half an hour I fell in with the +second rhinoceros, being an old bull of the white variety. +Dismounting, I crept within twenty yards, and saluted him with both +barrels in the shoulder, upon which he made off, uttering a loud +blowing noise, and upsetting every thing that obstructed his progress. + +Shortly after this I found myself on the banks of the stream, beside +which my wagons were outspanned. Following along its margin, I +presently beheld a bull of the borele, or black rhinoceros, standing +within a hundred yards of me. Dismounting from my horse, I secured him +to a tree, and then stalked within twenty yards of the huge beast +under cover of a large strong bush. Borele, hearing me advance, came +on to see what it was, and suddenly protruded his horny nose within a +few yards of me. Knowing well that a front shot would not prove +deadly, I sprang to my feet and ran behind the bush. Upon this the +villain charged, blowing loudly, and chased me round the bush. Had his +activity been equal to his ugliness, my wanderings would have +terminated here, but by my superior agility I had the advantage in the +turn. + +After standing a short time eyeing me through the bush, he got a whiff +of my wind, which at once alarmed him. Uttering a blowing noise, and +erecting his insignificant yet saucy-looking tail, he wheeled about, +leaving me master of the field, when I sent a bullet through his ribs +to teach him manners. Of the rhinoceros there are four varieties in +South Africa, distinguished by the Bechuanas by the names of the +borele or black rhinoceros, the keitloa or two-horned rhinoceros, the +muchocho or common white rhinoceros, and the kobaoba or long-horned +white rhinoceros. Both varieties of the black rhinoceros are extremely +fierce and dangerous, and rush headlong and unprovoked at any object +which attracts their attention. They never attain much fat, and their +flesh is tough, and not much esteemed by the Bechuanas. Their food +consists almost entirely of the thorny branches of the wait-a-bit +thorns. + +Finding that rhinoceros were abundant in the vicinity, I resolved to +halt a day for the purpose of hunting, and after an early breakfast, +on the 6th, I rode south-east with the two Baquaines. They led me +along the bases of the mountains, through woody dells and open glades, +and we eventually reached a grand forest grey with age. Here we found +abundance of spoor of a variety of game, and started several herds of +the more common varieties. At length I observed an old bull eland +standing under a tree. He was the first that I had seen, and was a +noble specimen, standing about six feet high at the shoulder. +Observing us, he made off at a gallop, springing over the trunks of +decayed trees which lay across his path; but very soon he reduced his +pace to a trot. Spurring my horse, another moment saw me riding hard +behind him. Twice in the thickets I lost sight of him, and he very +nearly escaped me; but at length, the ground improving, I came up with +him, and rode within a few yards behind him. Long streaks of foam now +streamed from his mouth, and a profuse perspiration had changed his +sleek grey coat to an ashy blue. Tears trickled from his large dark +eye, and it was plain that the eland's hours were numbered. Pitching +my rifle to my shoulder, I let fly at the gallop, and mortally wounded +him behind; then spurring my horse, I shot past him on his right side, +and discharged my other barrel behind his shoulder, when the eland +staggered for a moment and subsided in the dust. The two Baquaines +soon made their appearance, and seemed delighted at my success. Having +kindled a fire, they cut out steaks, which they roasted on the embers; +I also cooked a steak for myself, spitting it upon a forked branch, +the other end of which I sharpened with my knife and stuck into the +ground. + +The eland is a magnificent animal, by far the largest of all the +antelope tribe, exceeding a large ox in size. It also attains an +extraordinary condition, being often burdened with a very large amount +of fat. Its flesh is most excellent, and is justly esteemed above all +others. It has a peculiar sweetness, and is tender and fit for use the +moment the animal is killed. Like the gemsbok, the eland is +independent of water, and frequents the borders of the great Kalahari +desert in herds varying from ten to a hundred. It is also generally +diffused throughout all the wooded districts of the interior where I +have hunted. Like other varieties of deer and and antelope, the old +males may often be found consorting together apart from the females, +and a troop of these, when in full condition, may be likened to a herd +of stall-fed oxen. + +The eland has less speed than any other variety of antelope; and, by +judicious riding, they may be driven to camp from a great distance. In +this manner I have often ridden the best bull out of the herd, and +brought him within gunshot of my wagons, where I could more +conveniently cut up and preserve the flesh, without the trouble of +sending men and packoxen to fetch it. I have repeatedly seen an eland +drop down dead at the end of a severe chase, owing to his plethoric +habit. The skin of the eland I had just shot emitted, like most other +antelopes, the most delicious perfume of trees and grass. + +Having eaten my steak, I rode to my wagon, where I partook of coffee, +and having mounted a fresh horse, I again set forth accompanied by +Carollus leading a packhorse, to bring home the head of the eland and +a supply of the flesh; I took all my dogs along with me to share in +the banquet. We had not proceeded far when the dogs went ahead on some +scent. Spurring my horse, I followed through some thorny bushes as +best I might, and emerging on an open glade, I beheld two huge white +rhinoceroses trotting along before me. The dogs attacked them with +fury, and a scene of intense excitement ensued. The Old Gray, on +observing them, pricked up his ears, and seemed only half inclined to +follow, but a sharp application of the spur reminded him of his duty, +and I was presently riding within ten yards of the stem of the +largest, and sent a bullet through her back. The Old Grey shied +considerably and became very unmanageable, and on one occasion, in +consequence, the rhinoceros, finding herself hemmed in by a bend in a +watercourse, turned round to charge, I had a very narrow escape. + +Presently, galloping up on one side, I gave her a bad wound in the +shoulder, soon after which she came to bay in the dry bed of a river. +Dismounting from my horse, I commenced loading, but before this was +accomplished she was off once more. I followed her, putting on my caps +as I rode, and coming up alongside, I made a fine shot from the +saddle, firing at the gallop. The ball entered somewhere near her +heart. On receiving this shot she reeled about, while torrents of +blood flowed from her mouth and wounds, and presently she rolled over +and expired, uttering a shrill screaming sound as she died, which +rhinoceroses invariably do while in the agonies of death. + +The chase had led me close in along the northern base of a lofty +detached mountain, the highest in all that country. The mountain is +called, by the Bechuanas, the Mountain of the Eagles. The eland which +I had shot in the morning lay somewhere to the southward of this +mountain, but far in the level forest. Having rounded the mountain, I +began to recognise the ground. + +I had the satisfaction to behold a few vultures soaring over the +forest in advance, and, on proceeding a short distance farther, large +groups of these birds were seated on the grey and weather-beaten +branches of the loftiest old trees of the forest. This was a certain +sign that the eland was not far distant; and on raising my voice and +loudly calling on the name of Carollus, I was instantly answered by +that individual, who, heedless of his master's fate, was actively +employed in cooking for himself a choice steak from the dainty rump of +the eland. That night I slept beneath the blue and starry canopy of +heaven. My sleep was light and sweet, and no rude dreams or hankering +cares disturbed the equanimity of my repose. + +One of Mr. Cumming's most perilous adventures was with a black +Rhinoceros, which gave chase to him, and nearly run turn down. He thus +describes this affair. + +On the 22d, ordering my men to move on to the fountain of Bootlonamy, +I rode forth with Ruyter, [Footnote: This is the name of a favorite +servant of Mr. Cumming.] and held east through a grove of lofty and +wide-spreading mimosas, most of which were more or less damaged by the +gigantic strength of a troop of elephants, which had passed there +about twelve months before. + +Having proceeded about two miles with large herds of game on every +side, I observed a crusty looking old bull borele, or black +rhinoceros, cocking his ears one hundred yards in advance. He had not +observed us; and soon after he walked slowly toward us, and stood +broadside to, eating some wait-a-bit thorns within fifty yards of me. +I fired from my saddle, and sent a bullet in behind his shoulder, upon +which he rushed forward about one hundred yards in tremendous +consternation, blowing like a grampus, and then stood looking about +him. Presently he made off. I followed, but found it hard to come up +with him. When I overtook him I found the blood running freely from +his wound. + +The chase led through a large herd of blue wildebeests, zebras, and +springboks, which gazed at us in utter amazement. At length I fired my +second barrel, but my horse was fidgety, and I missed. I continued +riding alongside of him, expecting in my ignorance that at length he +would come to bay, which rhinoceroses never do; when suddenly he fell +flat on his broadside on the ground, but, recovering his feet, resumed +his course as if nothing had happened. Becoming at last annoyed at the +length of the chase, as I wished to keep my horses fresh for the +elephants, and being indifferent whether I got the rhinoceros or not, +as I observed that his horn was completely worn down by age, and the +violence of his disposition, I determined to bring matters to a +crisis; so, spurring my horse, I dashed ahead, and rode right in his +path. + +Upon this the hideous monster instantly charged me in the most +resolute manner, blowing loudly through his nostrils; and although I +quickly wheeled about to my left, he followed me at such a furious +pace for several hundred yards, with his horrid horny snout within a +few yards of my horse's tail, that my little Bushman, who was looking +on in great alarm, thought his master's destruction inevitable. It was +certainly a very near thing; my horse was extremely afraid, and +exerted his utmost energies on the occasion. The rhinoceros, however, +wheeled about and continued his former course; and I being perfectly +satisfied with the interview which I had already enjoyed with him, had +no desire to cultivate his acquaintance any further, and accordingly +made for camp. + +We left the fountain of Bootlonamy the same day, and marched about six +miles through an old grey forest of mimosas, when we halted for the +night. Large flocks of guinea-fowls roosted in the trees around our +encampment, several of which I shot for my supper. + +On the 23d we inspanned by moonlight, and continued our march through +a thinly wooded level country. It was a lovely morning; the sun rose +in great splendor, and the sky was beautifully overcast with clouds. +Having proceeded about ten miles, the country became thickly covered +with detached forest trees and groves of wait-a-bit thorns. The guides +now informed us that the water, which is called by the Bechuanas, +"Lepeby," was only a short distance in advance; upon which I saddled +steeds, and rode ahead with the Bushman, intending to hunt for an hour +before breakfast. Presently we reached an open glade in the forest, +where I observed a herd of zebras in advance; and on my left stood a +troop of springboks, with two leopards watching them from behind a +bush. I rode on, and soon fell in with a troop of hartebeests, and, a +little after, with a large herd of blue wildebeests and pallahs. I +followed for some distance, when they were reinforced by two other +herds of pallahs and wildebeests. Three black rhinoceroses now trotted +across my path. + +Presently I sprang from my horse, and fired right and left at a +princely bull blue wildebeest. He got both balls, but did not fall, +and I immediately lost sight of him in the dense ranks of his shaggy +companions. The game increased as we proceeded, until the whole forest +seemed alive with a variety of beautifully colored animals. On this +occasion I was very unfortunate; I might have killed any quantity of +game if venison had been my object; but I was trying to get a few very +superior heads of some of the master bucks of the pallahs. Of these I +wounded four select old bucks, but in the dust and confusion caused by +the innumerable quantity of the game I managed to lose them all. + + + + +Encounter with a Lioness. + + +When Mr. Cumming was in that part of the interior of South Africa +inhabited by the tribe called the Griquas, he had a remarkable and +fearful encounter with a lioness. He had been shooting some of the +various kinds of antelopes which abound in that country, under various +names, such as wildebeests, springboks, blesboks, and pallahs, when +the adventure occurred, which he thus describes. + +Suddenly I observed a number of vultures seated on the plain about a +quarter of a mile ahead of us, and close beside them stood a huge +lioness, consuming a blesbok which she had killed. She was assisted in +her repast by about a dozen jackals, which were feasting along with +her in the most friendly manner. + +Directing my followers' attention to the spot, I remarked, "I see the +lion;" to which they replied, "Whar? whar? Yah! Almagtig! dat is he;" +and instantly reining in their steeds and wheeling about they pressed +their heels to their horses' sides, and were preparing to betake +themselves to flight. I asked them what they were going to do. To +which they answered, "We have not yet placed caps on our rifles." This +was true; but while this short conversation was passing, the lioness +had observed us. Raising her full, round face, she overhauled us for a +few seconds, and then set off at a smart canter toward a range of +mountains some miles to the northward; the whole troop of jackals also +started off in another direction; there was, therefore, no time to +think of caps. + +The first move was to bring her to bay, and not a second was to be +lost. Spurring my good and lively steed, and shouting to my men to +follow, I flew across the plain, and, being fortunately mounted on +Colesberg, the flower of my stud, I gained upon her at every stride. +This was to me a joyful moment, and I at once made up my mind that she +or I must die. + +The lioness having had a long start of me, we went over a considerable +extent of ground before I came up with her. She was a large, +full-grown beast, and the bare and level nature of the plain added to +her imposing appearance. Finding that I gained upon her, she reduced her +pace from a canter to a trot, carrying her tail stuck out behind her, +and slewed a little to one side. I shouted loudly to her to halt, as I +wished to speak with her, upon which she suddenly pulled up, and sat +on her haunches like a dog, with her back toward me, not even deigning +to look round. She then appeared to say to herself, "Does this fellow +know who he is after?" + +Having thus sat for half a minute, as if involved in thought, she +sprang to her feet, and, facing about, stood looking at me for a few +seconds, moving her tail slowly from side to side, showing her teeth, +and growling fiercely. She next made a short run forward, making a +loud, rumbling noise like thunder. This she did to intimidate me; but +finding that I did not flinch an inch nor seem to heed her hostile +demonstrations, she quietly stretched out her massive arms, and lay +down on the grass. My Hottentots now coming up, we all three +dismounted, and, drawing our rifles from their holsters, we looked to +see if the powder was up in the nipples, and put on our caps, While +this was doing the lioness sat up, and showed evident symptoms of +uneasiness. She looked first at us, and then behind her, as if to see +if the coast were clear; after which she made a short run toward us, +uttering her deep-drawn, murderous growls. + +Having secured the three horses to one another by their reins, we led +them on as if we intended to pass her, in the hope of obtaining a +broadside. But this she carefully avoided to expose, presenting only +her full front. I had given Stofolus my rifle, with orders to shoot +her if she should spring upon me, but on no account to fire before me. +Kleinboy was to stand ready to hand me my Purdey rifle, in case the +two-grooved Dixon should not prove sufficient. My men as yet had been +steady, but they were in a precious stew, their faces having assumed a +ghastly paleness, and I had a painful feeling that I could place no +reliance on them. + +Now then for it, neck or nothing! She is within sixty yards of us, and +she keeps advancing. We turned the horses' tails to her. I knelt on +one side, and, taking aim at her breast, let fly. The ball cracked +loudly on her tawny hide, and crippled her in the shoulder, upon which +she charged with an appalling roar, and in the twinkling of an eye she +was in the midst of us, At this moment Stofolus's rifle exploded in +his hand, and Kleinboy, whom I had ordered to stand ready by me, +danced about like a duck in a gale of wind. + +The lioness sprang upon Colesberg, and fearfully lacerated his ribs +and haunches with her horrid teeth and claws; the worst wound was on +his haunch, which exhibited a sickening, yawning gash, more than +twelve inches long, almost laying bare the very bone. I was very cool +and steady, and did not feel in the least degree nervous, having +fortunately great confidence in my own shooting; but I must confess, +when the whole affair was over, I felt that it was a very awful +situation, and attended with extreme peril, as I had no friend with me +on whom I could rely. + +When the lioness sprang on Colesberg, I stood out from the horses, +ready with my second barrel for the first chance she should give of a +clear shot. This she quickly did; for, seemingly satisfied with the +revenge She had now taken, she quitted Colesberg, and slewing her tail +to one side, trotted sulkily past within a few paces of me, taking one +step to the left. I pitched my rifle to my shoulder, and in another +second the lioness was stretched on the plain a lifeless corpse. + +In the struggles of death she half turned on her back, and stretched +her neck and fore arms convulsively, when she fell back to her former +position; her mighty arms hung powerless by her side, her lower jaw +fell, blood streamed from her mouth, and she expired. At the moment I +fired my second shot, Stofolus, who hardly knew whether he was alive +or dead, allowed the three horses to escape. These galloped +frantically across the plain, on which he and Kleinboy instantly +started after them, leaving me standing alone, and unarmed, within a +few feet of the lioness, which they from their anxiety to be out of +the way, evidently considered quite capable of doing further mischief. + + + + +Hunting the Blauwbok and Buffalo. + + +Among the various kinds of antelopes which inhabit South Africa, the +blauwbok, or blue buck, called by Mr. Cumming, the blue antelope, is +one of the most remarkable. It is six feet in length, three feet and a +half high to the back, and very compactly made. The horns are more +than two feet in length, round, closely annulated to within six inches +of the tips, bent back in a uniform but moderate curve, and very sharp +at the points. The general color of the hair is gray, with the insides +of the ears, a streak before each eye, the insides of the legs, and a +few hairs along the ridge of the neck, white. The hair on the body +divides on the line of the back, and is rather coarse and open. + +The skin under it on the upper part of the living animal is a black, +which shining through the grey, produces a sort of raven-blue tint. It +is the epidermis only and not the mucous tissue which has this black +color, otherwise the hair would have it; and it fades when the animal +is dead, as is the case with a highly-colored epidermis in almost all +animals. + +This animal was frequently pursued and shot by Mr. Cumming, in his +African hunts, and his flesh was found to be excellent. + +The Cape buffalo, or African buffalo, was a more troublesome object of +chase. This animal, has a most formidable front, and its general +aspect is shaggy and formidable. The horns are the most compact, and +in their substance the heaviest of all the ruminating animals, +excepting only some of those of the antelopes. This animal is +considerably lower than the Indian buffalo; but it is firmer, though +shorter in the legs, rounder in the body; and the beard and short mane +give it a rugged appearance. This is by far the most formidable animal +of the genus. It has never been tamed, and the males are dangerous to +come near. + +Mr. Cumming thus describes one of his encounters with this animal, by +himself and Ruyter, a Bushman, a favorite servant. + +On the forenoon of the 26th, I rode to hunt, accompanied by Ruyter; we +held west, skirting the wooded stony mountains. The natives had here +many years before waged successful war with elephants, four of whose +skulls I found. Presently I came across two sassaybies, one of which I +knocked over; but while I was loading he regained his legs and made +off. We crossed a level stretch of forest, holding a northerly course +for an opposite range of green, well wooded hills and valleys. Here I +came upon a troop of six fine old bull buffaloes, into which I +stalked, and wounded one princely fellow behind the shoulder, bringing +blood from nis mouth; he, however made off with his comrades, and the +ground being very rough we failed to overtake him. They held for the +Ngotwani. After following the spoor for a couple of miles, we dropped +it, as it led right away from camp. + +Returning from this chase, we had an adventure with another old bull +buffalo, which shows the extreme danger of hunting buffaloes without +dogs. We started him in a green hollow among the hills, and his course +inclining for camp, I gave him chase. He crossed the level broad +strath and made for the opposite densely wooded range of mountains. +Along the base of these we followed him, sometimes in view, sometimes +on the spoor, keeping the old fellow at a pace which made him pant. At +length, finding himself much distressed, he had recourse to a singular +stratagem. Doubling round some thick bushes which obscured him from +our view, he found himself beside a small pool of rain water, just +deep enough to cover his body; into this he walked, and facing about, +lay gently down and awaited our on-coming, with nothing but his old +grey face and massive horns above the water, and these concealed from +our view by rank overhanging herbage. + +Our attention was entirely engrossed with the spoor, and thus we rode +boldly on until within a few feet of him, when springing to his feet, +he made a desperate charge after Ruyter, uttering a low, stifling +roar, peculiar to buffaloes, (somewhat similar to the growl of a lion) +and hurled horse and rider to the ground with fearful violence. His +horns laid the poor horse's haunches open to the bone, making the most +fearful ragged wound. + +In an instant Ruyter regained his feet and ran for his life, which the +buffalo observing, gave chase, but most fortunately came down with a +tremendous somersault in the mud, his feet slipping from under him; +thus the Bushman escaped certain destruction. The buffalo rose much +discomfited, and, the wounded horse first catching his eye, he went a +second time at him, but he got out of the way. At this moment I +managed to send one of my patent pacificating pills into his shoulder, +when he instantly quitted the scene of action, and sought shelter in a +dense cover on the mountain side, whither I deemed it imprudent to +follow him. + + + + +Adventures with snakes. + + +The following stories of fascination by snakes, is copied from +"Arthur's Home Gazette." It is no fiction; but is contributed by a +gentleman of Tennessee, who is willing to vouch for the truth of what +he relates. + +It has been a thousand times affirmed, and as often denied, that +certain serpents possess the power--independent of the touch--of +paralyzing their proposed victims. And it seems to be generally +admitted that this is done, if done at all, by the eye; for those +theorists who ascribe it to poison inhaled through the nostrils of the +charmed ones, offer us no example to confirm their theory, or to make +it worthy of a second thought. In extended rambles, alone as well as +with society, I have made the study of serpents a matter of amusement, +and familiarized myself--at least I had done so ten years back--to +handle them without any flesh-shrinking. As I got older, and my nerves +become weakened by long exposure to the seasons and to midnight +studies, more debilitating than Texas "northers," I must confess that +I am more timid; but I can yet join a hunt, or project one in good +"snake weather," with considerable gusto. I have never met with a +snake that could charm me, look he never so keenly, although I have +_faced them_ till they got tired, uncoiled, and beat an inglorious +retreat. And I am sure that I never _smell_ anything about a snake, +calculated to excite any other emotions or _motions_ except _holding +the nose_. And finally I never found a snake or snakelet that I would +turn my heel upon to flee, and for the very good reason that the +animal in question always runs first. + +So, ye manufacturers of snake stories horrific, amusive, or +instructive, put that against your tales of blacksnakes, copperheads, +cotton-mouths, horn-tails, water-mocassins, and the whole tribe else. + +But as to the _fascination_, what of that? + +Why, although I have never been fascinated, or seen a person in that +singular situation, yet I am a firm believer in the art, a believer +against my wishes--because evidence indisputable has been furnished +me, and in abundance. Now I leave out of the question, all the +influences of fright, surprise, etc., also all the humbug stories of +novel writers and romancers in private life, and yet there is a +remainder that I cannot cast out. One or two anecdotes, and then I +come to my principal proof. + +A gentleman of my acquaintance, passing along a bridle path, observed +a mouse running backwards and forwards, upon a fallen log, as if in +great terror. Reining in this horse, he paused full ten minutes, and +until the mouse disappeared on the farther side of the log. Drawing +nearer, and peeping over, his suspicions of Lucifer's guile were +verified--for mousey was within three inches of his open jaw, +"irresistibly attracted," said the narrator, "although he was drawing +back with all his might." The latter part of the tale is fishy--for +the gentleman was twenty feet off, and could not nave seen that--but +he saw the mouse finally disappear in that cavernous gullet; and when +he killed the snake-a large black one--the mouse lay in its stomach, +_without a wound_. How will that do? + +Another, well authenticated. A young man, of some twenty years, +passing along the road to school, on foot, was observed by some of his +companions in the rear to pause suddenly and look down. His fellows +intent on their conversation, were several minutes coming up; but when +they did so they witnessed a veritable case of fascination--for the +young man was looking intently into the eyes of a large rattlesnake, +coiled at his feet; nor could the voices of all his friends arouse +him. Being jerked back with some violence, he instantly recovered his +senses, but seemed to be puzzled to recall the circumstances connected +with his first view of the snake. After a mental effort he explained, +while the cold sweat poured from his face, and his limbs were flaccid +as an infant's, that the sound of a rattle had caused him to stop +short--that a pleasant halo danced before his eyes, and sweet sounds +met his ears--and that from that instant until the conclusion of the +trance, "he was as happy as he ever expected to be!" + +But now for the hardest knock of conviction. I will give it in the +language of the original narrator--premising that opponents to the +theory of serpent attraction must knock under, or flatly contradict +my tale. In the latter event, I shall be compelled to settle the +question as Hodginson did his lawsuit, "by exhibiting the skin and +parading the witnesses." + +"In the month of April, a few years back," commences the witness, "I +took my eldest chap, an eight year old boy, but stout and bold enough +for a twelve year old--and sauntered down to Beech river, to spend the +evening [Footnote: Evening, in this place, signifies from noon until +dark; that's the Southern and Western notion always.] fishing. Finding +a large beech, whose spreading roots formed a natural easy chair, with +arms to it, I threw my line into the stream, and myself into the +cavity, to take the thing deliberately as I generally do on such +occasions. There had been a rise in Beech river sufficient to muddy +the water, and I knew the only chance was for cat (_bull-pouts_ the +Yankees call them,) so I chose a big hook and baited with a chunk of +bacon, big enough for an eight-pounder at least. That hook was a +Limerick, for which I had sent all the way to Porter, of 'The +Spirit'--that hook I was never more to behold. + +"The boy chose for himself a steep place about ten yards below me, and +after sticking his pole in the mud, like a lazy fellow, as he is, +amused himself by counting the stamens in some sorrel-flowers that +grew thick thereabouts. I listened to his chatter for a while as he +vacillated in his numbers--eight--nine--ten--twelve--until my own +thoughts took an interesting turn, and I heard to more of him for +several minutes. Then the sound of his voice again struck one, but a +little distance further down stream, as he tailed out--'Oh, Pa, look!' + +"Being well accustomed to his 'mares' nests,' I did not turn until he +had repeated several times the same words, and it was the singularity +of his tones at last that caused me to do it. His voice was +indescribably plaintive, clear, but low, and each vowel sound was +drawn out at great length, thus--'Oh-h-h-h, Pa-a-a-a, +loo-oo-oo-ook,'--with the diminuendo, soft as the ring of a glass vessel, +when struck. I have heard Kyle, the flutist, while executing some of his +thrilling touches, strike his low notes very much like it. Slewing myself +partly round in my seat, I observed the little fellow standing bent +forward, his hands stretched out before him as if shielding his face from +a bush, while his whole body worked to and fro like the subjects in +certain mesmeric experiments that I nave observed when first they are +brought under 'the influence' of the operator. His face was partly +turned from me, but the cheek, which I saw was pale as death, and his +cloth cap was trembling on the back part of his head, as if forced +there by the workings of the scalp. + +"This was as much as I had time to observe in the first hasty glance. +Astonished at his actions, though not at all alarmed--or the first +thought that occurred to me as that he was trying to catch a young +rabbit--I called out in a half-jocular tone, well, bubby boy, what is +it?' He made no reply, but continued that strange murmur of '--Oh-h-h, +Pa-a-a, loo-oo-ook,' and took a couple of paces forward, not as though +he wished to advance, but more in the style of a person who has leaned +too far forward and moves his feet to recover the perpendicular. I +arose, rather slowly, for it was a mere prompting of curiosity, and +walking towards him, called out in a tone of some authority, 'John, +come here!' Now I can say, without boasting, that my domestic +government is thorough, and my children will promptly obey my commands +in every thing, from the taking of a dose of quinine to the springing +out of bed at daylight of a frosty morning. My surprise, therefore, +was great to observe that the lad only answered my order, twice +repeated, by the same melancholy cry, and another stumble forward. + +"I was now thoroughly aroused. I hastened my own steps, for a horror +came over me as though I was in the presence of a demon. I advanced +directly behind the child, and looking over him, observed a thick bush +of the Early Honeysuckle, (_Azalea nudiflora_.) Into and through this +I glanced, but I observed no object to excite my notice. I had got +within a pace of him, and was in the act of putting my hand with some +force upon his shoulder, when following more precisely the direction +of his eyes, I looked at the foot of the bush, then about six feet +from me, and how shall I describe the sequel! + +"Like an electric shock, a sensation pervaded my whole frame, which, +although I can never forget, I must most imperfectly describe. I was +in a trance--the blood overcharged my brain--a murmuring sound, as of +an Aeolian, filled my ears-drops, like rain, oozed from my face--my +hat, first elevated to the very tips of the hairs, worked backwards +and fell to the ground--in brief, I was regularly, and for the first +and last time in my life, in a state of fascination. + +"No sensation of languor troubled me, for although I felt no +inclination to go forward, yet I seemed to myself perfectly able and +willing to stay where I was, so long as the world lasted. I was +perfectly happy in spite of my bodily excitement. A bright halo of +changeable colors, for all the world like the changeable lights I have +seen displayed in front of the American Museum, New York, filled all +my vision, in the very focus of which gleamed two keen points, like +sparks from the blacksmith's anvil, and they were so vivid that they +seemed to pierce me through and through. + +"How long this continued I cannot say, but I suppose only for a +minute. So far as my own perception of time's flight is concerned, +however, it might have been an age. + +"I was awakened by the harsh crackling of some dry sticks upon which +the boy had stepped as he continued to shuffle forward. The recovery +was as sudden as the attack. In an instant I was disenchanted. The +bush looked familiar, and I heard the fall of water in the stream, but +a thought of imminent danger now possessed my mind; so shouting with a +voice that made the woods ring, I seized the lad around the waist, and +heavy as he was, ran with him quite a quarter of a mile without +stopping. I confess it most frankly that I didn't stop until I fell +exhausted in the public road. To tell the cowardly truth, I should +have ran on until now if I had been able. So we fell down together and +lay for a good while panting. + +"Then I got up and propping myself against a poplar, took little John +on my knee. His nervous system was unstrung. He was weeping bitterly, +and sobbing as if his heart would break. His flesh was cold and +clammy, his pulse was almost still, and he hadn't strength to raise +his hands to his mouth. + +"I had some root ginger in my pocket--I always carry a piece with +me--which I chewed and made him swallow. This revived him. Then I rubbed +him briskly, pinched his skin in divers tender spots, and by these +means and cheerful conversation, got him so that he could stand alone +and answer my questions. I never saw such a fool thing as he was! He +was not at all alarmed, very willingly consented to return with me--for +I'd die but what I'd see it but--thought there ought to be a perch +on his hook by this time, thought it was Sunday, thought there was +snow somewhere, 'twas so cold,--and all such notions as that. + +"Every few minutes he would burst into an uncontrollable flood of +tears, but he couldn't tell for what. + +"You will want to know how I felt all this time. Well, when I got a +minute's leisure from attending to him and could notice my own +feelings, I found that I was snivelling too! that my pulse was small, +my nose had been profusely bleeding, and the blood had drenched me to +the very boot tops, and I felt altogether as exhausted as one does who +has had a month's spell of the chills. + +"We were a precious pair, daddy and son, as we sat under that poplar. +I am sure I never felt so foolish in all my life. Well, back we +started, for my spunk was up; and, beside that, I had left my hat, +handkerchief, dinner, and memorandum book, and was bound to have them. +I felt the most burning curiosity to understand the puzzle while my +mental faculties were completely obfuscated by it. + +"Neither of us said a word of the affair itself, for John didn't seem +to know that he had been frightened, and I was afraid to alarm him by +speaking of it. He asked no questions of any sort, although in general +he is a miniature Paul Pry, expressed no surprise that I was +bareheaded and bloody, or that we had come so far from the fishing +place and left our tackle behind. His face expressed confusion, such +as a child will exhibit when he is waked suddenly by falling out of +bed, and commences grasping around the bedpost preparatory to getting +in again. I knew that something frightful was there, and felt that we +had escaped some great peril, but what the object or what the peril I +had no idea whatever. I am sure, however, that the notion of a snake +never entered my mind, but if any thing tangible, if was of a wild +cat, for the recollection of Cooper's panther story in the Pioneers +occurred to me, and I cut a stout hickory sapling to be prepared. We +arrived with slow steps at the haunted spot, for both were exhausted, +and I felt the value of prudence. There lay my basket by the beech +root, more by token that the hogs had found it and were just devouring +the last morsel of bread and meat so carefully deposited therein. + +"There was my fishing line, but the eight-pounder had become weary and +worn, and carried off my Limerick hook. There was my hat near the +honeysuckle bush, but the phantom itself, with its diamond eyes and +mystic powers, was gone. Frightened probably by the hogs, unromantic +objects in every point of view, he had fled; but I found him within +fifty yards in the form of a _rattlesnake_, full six feet from tip to +tip, and glorying in fourteen full rattles. + +"I had my revenge in every possible form. I looked at him for ten +minutes at a time, but the power was gone, and I only saw two keen, +devilish-looking eyes. Then I punched him till he spent all his venom +on my stick. Then I made him drunk on tobacco juice, ingloriously and +brutally drunk. + +"Getting tired at last, I gave him the _coup de grace_, skinned him, +and returned home. He hangs now in loops over my family bed. Those +eyes that thrilled my heart so strangely are dim with dust. Those +fangs, which in a few minutes more would probably have sent death to +the heart's fountain of my boy, are now in Europe, a part of the +collection admired by countless crowds at the British Museum. The +subject is fast fading from my memory,'mid the cares of life, and had +you not asked me to write it out for you, I should have thought of it +but a little longer. Let it stand as another testimony, and a most +unwilling one, too, of the fascinating powers of serpents on the +human." + +So far my correspondent tells his own tale in language sufficiently +plain and explicit. If any figure him out as a man of feeble frame and +low stature, let them change their fancy at once. + +He is a strong, muscular man, an old bear hunter, one who has fought +Indians in the Florida swamps; a person withal, of unquestionable +veracity, and in all respects the last man to impose on others, or be +imposed upon by anything, fish, flesh, or fowl. + + + + +Contests with Large Snakes + + +The family of snakes called Boidae, including the Boas and Pythons are +huge snakes confined to the hotter regions of the globe, and +formidable from their vast strength and mode of attack. They lurk in +ambush and dart upon their victim, which in an instant is seized and +enveloped in their folds, and crushed to death or strangled. For their +predatory habits they are admirably adapted; their teeth are terrible, +and produce a dreadful wound; the neck is slender, the body increasing +gradually to about the middle in diameter, and then decreasing. The +tail is a grasping instrument, strongly prehensile, and aided by two +hooklike claws, sheathed with horn, externally visible on each side, +beneath, just anterior to the base of the tail. Though externally +nothing beyond these spurs appear, internally is found a series of +bones, representing those of the hinder limbs, but of course +imperfectly developed; yet they are acted upon by powerful muscles, +and can be so used as to form a sort of antagonist to the tail while +grasping any object; they thus become a fulcrum giving additional +force to the grasp, which secured thereby to a fixed point, giving +double power to the animal's energy. + +The emperor boa, or boa constrictor as well as all the others to which +the name boa applies are, according to Cuvier, natives of America. The +engraving represents one of these terrible snakes in the act of +strangling a deer. + +The Aboma (_Boa cenchrea_) has scaly plates on the muzzle, and pits or +dimples upon the plates of the jaws. + +Endowed with powers which in a semicivilized state of society must +operate powerfully on the mind; at ease and freedom alike on the land, +in the water, or among the trees; at once wily, daring, and +irresistible in their attack, graceful in their movements, and +splendid in their coloring--that such creatures, to be both dreaded +and admired, should become the subject of superstitious reverence, is +scarcely to be wondered at. The ancient Mexicans regarded the boa as +sacred; they viewed its actions with religious horror; they crouched +beneath the fiery glances of its eyes; they trembled as they listened +to its long-drawn hiss, and from various signs and movements predicted +the fate of tribes or individuals, or drew conclusions of guilt or +innocence. The supreme idol was represented encircled and guarded by +sculptured serpents, before which were offered human sacrifices. + + + "On a blue throne, with four huge silver snakes, + As if the keepers of the sanctuary, + Circled, with stretching necks and fangs display'd, + Mexitli sate: another graven snake + Belted with scales of gold his monster bulk." + +It is probably of the boa constrictor, the emperor, the devin, that +Hernandez writes, under the name of Temacuilcahuilia, so called from +its powers, the word meaning a fighter with five men. It attacks, he +says, those it meets, and overpowers them with such force, that if it +once coils itself around their necks it strangles and kills them, +unless it bursts itself by the violence of its own efforts; and he +states that the only way of avoiding the attack is for the man to +manage in such a way as to oppose a tree to the animal's constriction, +so that while the serpent supposes itself to be crushing the man, it +may be torn asunder by its own act, and so die. We do not ask our +readers for their implicit faith in this. He adds, that he has himself +seen serpents as thick as a man's thigh, which had been taken young by +the Indians and tamed; they were provided with a cask strewn with +litter in the place of a cavern, where they lived, and were for the +most part quiescent, except at meal-times, when they came forth, and +amicably climbed about the couch or shoulders of their master, who +placidly bore the serpent's embrace. They often coiled tip in folds, +equalling a large sized cartwheel in size, and harmlessly received +their food. + +In most accounts current respecting the mode in which boas and pythons +take their food, the snake, after crushing its prey, is described as +licking the body with its tongue and lubricating it with its saliva, +in order to facilitate the act of deglutition. It has been observed +with justice that few worse instruments for such a purpose than the +slender dark forked tongue of these snakes could have been contrived: +and that, in fact, the saliva does not begin to be poured out +abundantly till required to lubricate the jaws and throat of the +animal straining to engulph the carcass. We have seen these snakes +take their food, but they did not lubricate it, though the vibratory +tongue often touched it; we must, therefore, withhold our credence +from the common assertion. + +The size attained by the boa is often very great, and larger +individuals than any now seen occurred formerly, before their ancient +haunts had been invaded by human colonization. + +The Anaconda, (_Boa Scytale_), called by Linnaeus, Boa Murina, and by +Prince Maximilian, Boa Aquatica, is of an enormous size, from twenty +to thirty feet in length. + +The boa cenchrea has scaly plates on the the muzzle; and dimples upon +the plates at the sides of the jaws. His color is yellowish, with a +row of large brown rings running the whole length of the back, and +variable spots on the sides. These are generally dark, often +containing a whitish semi-lunar mark. This species, according to Seba, +who describes it as Mexican, is the Temacuilcahuilia (or Tamacuilla +Huilia, as Seba writes the word) described by Hernandez. The species +here described, according to Cuvier, grow nearly to the same size, and +haunt the marshy parts of South America. There, adhering by the tail +to some aquatic tree, they suffer the anterior part of the body to +float upon the water, and patiently wait to seize upon the quadrupeds +which come to drink. + +Our engraving represents him in the attitude of watching for a deer +which is seen, in the distance. + +A specimen apparently of the boa scytale called in Venezuela "La +Culebra de Agua," or water serpent, and also "El Traga Venado," or +deer-swallower, which measures nineteen feet and a half in length, was +presented by Sir Robert Ker Porter to the United Service Museum. He +states that "The flesh of this serpent is white and abundant in fat. +The people of the plains never eat it, but make use of the fat as a +remedy for rheumatic pains, ruptures, strains, &c." + +"This serpent," says Sir B. K. Porter, "is not venomous nor known to +injure man (at least not in this part of the New World;) however, the +natives stand in great fear of it, never bathing in waters where it is +known to exist. Its common haunt, or rather domicile, is invariably +near lakes, swamps, and rivers; likewise close wet ravines produced by +inundations of the periodical rains: hence, from its aquatic habits, +its first appellation. Fish and those animals which repair there to +drink, are the objects of its prey. The creature lurks watchfully +under cover of the water, and, whilst the unsuspecting animal is +drinking, suddenly makes a dash at the nose, and with a grip of its +back-raclining double range of teeth never fails to secure the +terrified beast beyond the power of escape." + +It would appear that boas are apt to be carried out to sea by sudden +floods, and are sometimes drifted alive on distant coasts. The Rev. +Lansdown Guilding, writing in the Island of St. Vincent, says, "A +noble specimen of the boa constrictor was lately conveyed to us by the +currents, twisted round the trunk of a large sound cedar tree, which +had probably been washed out of the bank, by the floods of some great +South American river, while its huge folds hang on the branches as it +waited for its prey. The monster was fortunately destroyed after +killing a few sheep, and his skeleton now hangs before me in my study, +putting me in mind how much reason I might have had to fear in my +future rambles through St. Vincent, had this formidable animal been a +pregnant female and escaped to a safe retreat." + +The pythons closely resemble the true boas, but have the subcaudal +plates double; the muzzle is sheathed with plates, and those covering +the mouth of the jaws have pits. These snakes, which equal or exceed +the boas in magnitude, are natives of India, Africa, and Australia. + +Pliny speaks of snakes in India of such a size as to be capable of +swallowing stags and bulls; and Valerius Maximus, quoting a lost +portion of Pliny's work, narrates the alarm into which the troops +under Regulus were thrown by a serpent which had its lair on the banks +of the river Bagradas, between Utica and Carthage, and which +intercepted the passage to the river. It resisted ordinary weapons, +and killed many of the men; till at last it was destroyed by heavy +stones thrown from military engines used in battering walls; its +length is stated as a hundred and twenty feet. Regulus carried its +skin and jaws to Rome, and deposited them in one of the temples, where +they remained till the time of the Numantine war. + +Diodorus Siculus relates the account of the capture of a serpent, not +without loss of life, in Egypt, which measured thirty cubits long; it +was taken to Alexandria. Suetonius speaks of a serpent exhibited at +Rome in front of the Comitium, fifty cubits in length. + +Though we do not refuse credit to these narratives, it must be added +that in modern days we have not seen serpents of such magnitude; yet +they may exist. Bontius observes that some of the Indian pythons +exceed thirty-six feet in length, and says that they swallow wild +boars, adding, "there are those alive who partook with General Peter +Both, of a recently swallowed hog cut out of the belly of a serpent of +this kind." + +These snakes, he observes, are not poisonous, but strangle a man or +other animal by powerful compression. The Ular Sawa, or great Python +of the Sunda Isles, is said to exceed when full-grown, thirty feet in +length; and it is narrated that a "Malay prow being anchored for the +night under the Island of Celebes, one of the crew went ashore, in +search of betel nut, and, as was supposed, fell asleep on the beach, +on his return. In the dead of night, his companions on board were +aroused by dreadful screams; they immediately went ashore, but they +came too late, the cries had ceased--the man had breathed his last in +the folds of an enormous serpent, which they killed. They cut off the +head of the snake and carried it, together with the lifeless body of +their comrade, to the vessel; the right wrists of the corpse bore the +marks of the serpent's teeth, and the disfigured body showed that the +man had been crushed by the constriction of the reptile round the +head, neck, breast, and thigh." + +Mr. McLeod, in his voyage of H.M.S. Alceste, after describing the mode +in which a python on board, sixteen feet in length, crushed and gorged +a goat, the distressing cries of which on being introduced into the +serpent's cage, could not but excite compassion, goes on to say that +during a captivity of some months at Whidah, in the kingdom of +Dahomey, on the coast of Africa, he had opportunities of observing +pythons of more than double that size, and which were capable of +swallowing animals much larger that goats or sheep. "Governor Abson," +he adds, "who had for thirty-seven years resided at Fort William, one +of the African Company's settlements there, describes some desperate +struggles which he had seen, or which had come to his knowledge, +between the snakes and wild beasts as well as the smaller cattle, in +which the former were always victorious. A negro herdsman belonging to +Mr. Abson, and who afterwards limped for many years about the fort, +had been seized by one of these monsters by the thigh; but from his +situation in a wood the serpent in attempting to throw himself around +him got entangled in a tree; and the man being thus preserved from a +state of compression, which would instantly have rendered him quite +powerless, had presence of mind enough to cut with a large knife which +he carried about with him, deep gashes in the neck and throat of his +antagonist, thereby killing him, and disengaging himself from his +frightful situation. He never afterwards, however, recovered the use +of his limb, which had sustained considerable injury from the fangs +and mere force of his jaws." + +Ludolph states that enormous snakes exist in Ethiopia: and Bosman +informs us that entire men have been found in the gullet of serpents +on the Gold coast. In the "Oriental Annual" is the following +narrative, explanatory of a well-known picture by W. Daniell: "A few +years before our visit to Calcutta," says the writer, "the captain of +a country ship while passing the Sunderbunds sent a boat into one of +the creeks to obtain some fresh fruits, which are cultivated by the +few miserable inhabitants of this inhospitable region. Having reached +the shore the crew moored the boat under a bank, and left one of their +party to take care of her." + +During their absence, the lascar who remained in charge of the boat, +overcome by heat, lay down under the seats and fell asleep. While he +was in this happy state of unconsciousness an enormous boa, python, +emerged from the jungle, reached the boat, had already coiled its huge +body round the sleeper, and was in the very act of crushing him to +death, when his companions fortunately returned at this auspicious +moment, and attacking the monster, severed a portion of its tail, +which so disabled it that it no longer retained the power of doing +mischief. The snake was then easily despatched, and was found to +measure, as stated, sixty-two feet and some inches in length. It is +hardly probable that the snake had fairly entwined round the man, for +the sudden compression of the chest, had the snake exerted its +strength, would have been instantly fatal. + +In March, 1841, a singular circumstance occurred at the gardens of the +Zoological Society, which at the time caused no little surprise. A +python, eleven or twelve feet long, and one about nine feet long, were +kept together in a well-secured cage; both had been fed one evening, +the larger one with three guinea pigs and a rabbit; but, as it would +appear, his appetite was unsatiated. The next morning, when the keeper +came to look into the cage, the smaller python was missing--its escape +was impossible--and the question was what had become of it? + +The truth was evident--its larger companion had swallowed it. There it +lay torpid, and bloated to double its ordinary dimensions. How it +accomplished the act is not known, but we may imagine a fearful +struggle to have taken place, as wreathing round each other they +battled for the mastery; unless, indeed, the victim was itself torpid +and incapable of resistance. + +The Tiger Python, (_Python, tigris_), is a native of India and Java, +and is often brought over to England for exhibition. It was, we +believe, from one of these species that Mr. Cops, the keeper of the +lion office was in imminent danger, as narrated by Mr. Broderip. + +The animal was near shedding its skin, and consequently nearly blind, +for the skin of the eye, which is shed with the rest of the slough, +becomes then opaque, when Mr. Cops, wishing it to feed, held a fowl to +its head. The snake darted at the bird, but missed it, seizing the +keeper by the left thumb, and coiled round his arm and neck in a +moment. Mr. Cops, who was alone, did not lose his presence of mind, +and immediately attempted to relieve himself of the powerful +constriction by getting at the snake's head. But the serpent had so +knotted himself on his own head, that Mr. Cops could not reach it, and +had thrown himself on the floor in order to grapple with a better +chance of success, when two other keepers coming in broke the teeth of +the serpent, and with some difficulty relieved Mr. Cops from his +perilous situation. Two broken teeth were extracted from the thumb, +which soon healed, and no material inconvenience was the result of +this frightful adventure. + +Mr. Cumming, to whose exploits we have so frequently referred, gives +the following account of a day's adventures, one of which was an +amusing affair with a large python. + +On the 26th, I rose at earliest dawn to inspect the heads of the three +old buffaloes, they were all enormous old bulls, and one of them +carried a most splendid head. The lions had cleaned out all his +entrails; their spoor [Footnote: Spoor, _i.e.,_ track] was immense. +Having taken some buffalo breast and liver for breakfast, I despatched +Ruyter to the wagons to call the natives to remove the carcasses, +while I and Kleinboy held through the hills to see what game might be +in the next glen which contained water. On my way thither, we started +a fine old buck koodoo, which I shot, putting both barrels into him at +one hundred yards. As I was examining the spoor of the game by the +fountain, I suddenly detected an enormous old rock-snake stealing in +beside a mass of rock beside me. He was truly an enormous snake, and, +having never before dealt with this species of game, I did not exactly +know how to set about capturing him. Being very anxious to preserve +his skin entire, and not wishing to have recourse to my rifle, I cut a +stout and tough stick about eight feet long, and having lightened +myself of my shooting-belt, I commenced the attack. Seizing him by the +tail, I tried to get him out of his place of refuge; but I hauled in +vain; he only drew his large folds firmer together; I could not move +him. At length I got a rheim round one of his folds about the middle +of his body, and Kleinboy and I commenced hauling away in good +earnest. + +The snake, finding the ground too hot for him, relaxed his coils, and, +suddenly bringing round his head to the front, he sprang out at us +like an arrow, with his immense and hideous mouth opened to its +largest dimensions, and before I could get out of the way he was clean +out of his hole, and made a second spring, throwing himself forward +about eight or ten feet, and snapping his horrid fangs within a foot +of my legs. I sprang out of his way, and, getting hold of the green +bough I had cut, returned to the charge. The snake was now gliding +along at top speed: he knew the ground well, and was making for a mass +of broken rocks, where he would have been beyond my reach, but before +he could gain this place of refuge I caught him two or three +tremendous whacks on the head. He, however, held on, and gained a pool +of muddy water, which he was rapidly crossing, when I again belabored +him, and at length reduced his pace to a stand. We then hanged him by +the neck to a bough of a tree, and in about fifteen minutes he seemed +dead, but he again became very troublesome during the operation of +skinning, twisting his body in all manner of ways. This serpent +measured fourteen feet. + + + + +Adventure with Buffalo and Elephant. + + +The Cape Buffalo we have already described, and we now refer to him +again only for the purpose of quoting Mr. Cumming's account of a +spirited fight with one. He thus relates the affair. + +On the evening of the next day I had a glorious row with an old bull +buffalo: he was the only large bull in a fine herd of cows. I found +their spoor while walking ahead of the wagon, and following it up, I +came upon a part of the herd feeding quietly in a dense part of the +forest. I fired my first shot at a cow, which I wounded. The other +half of the herd then came up right in my face, within six yards of +me. They would have trampled on me if I had not sung out in their +faces and turned them. I selected the old bull and sent a bullet into +his shoulder. The herd then crashed along through the jungle to my +right, but he at once broke away from them and took to my left. On +examining his spoor, I found it bloody. I then went to meet my wagons, +which I heard coming on, and, ordering the men to outspan, I took all +my dogs to the spoor. They ran it up in fine style, and in a few +minutes the silence of the forest was disturbed by a tremendous bay. +On running towards the sound I met the old fellow coming on towards +the wagons, with all my dogs after him. I saluted him with a second +ball in the shoulder; he held on and took up a position in the thicket +within forty yards of the wagons, where I finished him. He carried a +most splendid head. + +In another part of his narrative, Mr. Cumming thus describes a +desperate battle with an elephant. + +On the 27th I cast loose my horses at earliest dawn of day, and then I +lay half asleep for two hours, when I arose to consume coffee and +rhinoceros. Having breakfasted, I started with a party of natives to +search for elephants in a southerly direction. We held along the +gravelly bed of a periodical river, in which were abundance of holes +excavated by the elephants in quest of water. Here the spoor of +rhinoceros was extremely plentiful, and in every hole where they had +drunk the print of the horn was visible. We soon found the spoor of an +old bull elephant, which led us into a dense forest, where the ground +was particularly unfavorable for spooring; we, however, threaded it +out for a considerable distance, when it joined the spoor of other +bulls. + +The natives now requested me to halt, while the men went off in +different directions to reconnoitre. In the mean time a tremendous +conflagration was roaring and crackling close to windward of us. It +was caused by the Bakalahari burning the old dry grass to enable the +young to spring up with greater facility, whereby they retained the +game in their dominions. The fire stretched away for many miles on +either side of us, darkening the forest far to leeward with a dense +and impenetrable canopy of smoke. Here we remained for about half an +hour, when one of the men returned, reporting that he had discovered +elephants. This I could scarcely credit, for I fancied that the +extensive fire which raged so fearfully must have driven, not only +elephants, but every living creature out of the district, The native, +however, pointed to his eye, repeating the word "Klow," and signed to +me to follow him. + +My guide led me about a mile through dense forest, when we reached a +little wellwood hill, to whose summit we ascended, whence a view might +have been obtained of the surrounding country, had not volumes of +smoke obscured the scenery far and wide, as though issuing from the +funnels of a thousand steamboats. Here, to my astonishment, my guide +halted, and pointed to the thicket close beneath me, when I instantly +perceived the colossal backs of a herd of bull elephants. There they +stood quietly browsing on the lee side of the hill, while the fire in +its might was raging to windward within two hundred yards of them. + +I directed Johannus to choose an elephant, and promised to reward him +should he prove successful. Galloping furiously down the hill, I +started the elephants with an unearthly yell, and instantly selected +the finest in the herd. Placing myself alongside, I fired both barrels +behind his shoulder, when he instantly turned upon me, and in his +impetuous career charged head foremost against a large bushy tree +which he sent flying before him high in the air with tremendous force, +coming down at the same moment violently on his knees. He then met the +raging fire, when, altering his course, he wheeled to the right-about +As I galloped after him I perceived another noble elephant meeting us +in an opposite direction, and presently the gallant Johannus hove in +sight, following his quarry at a respectful distance. Both elephants +held on together, so I shouted to Johannus, "I will give your elephant +a shot in the shoulder and you must try to finish him." Spurring my +horse, I rode close alongside, and gave the fresh elephant two balls +immediately behind the shoulder, when he parted from mine, Johannus +following; but before many minutes had elapsed that mighty Nimrod +reappeared, having fired one shot and lost his prey. + +In the mean time I was loading and firing as fast as could be, +sometimes at the head, sometimes behind the shoulder, until my +elephant's fore-quarters were a mass of gore, notwithstanding which he +continued to hold stoutly on, leaving the grass and branches of the +forest scarlet in his wake. + +On one occasion he endeavored to escape by charging desperately amid +the thickest of the flames; but this did not avail, and I was soon +once more alongside. I blazed away at this elephant, until I began to +think that he was proof against my weapons. Having fired thirty-five +rounds with my two-grooved rifle, I opened fire upon him with the +Dutch six-pounder; and when forty bullets had perforated his hide, he +began for the first time to evince signs of a dilapidated +constitution. He took up a position in a grove; and as the dogs kept +barking round him, he backed stern foremost amongst the trees, which +yielded before his gigantic strength. Poor old fellow! he had long +braved my deadly shafts, but I plainly saw that it was all over with +him; so I resolved to expend no further ammunition, but hold him in +view until he died. Throughout the chase this elephant repeatedly +cooled his person with large quantities of water, which he ejected +from his trunk over his back and sides; and just as the pangs of death +came over him, he stood trembling violently beside a thorny tree, and +kept pouring water into his bloody mouth until he died, when he +pitched heavily forward, with the whole weight of his fore-quarters +resting on the points of his tusks. + +A most singular occurrence now took place. He lay in this posture for +several seconds, but the amazing pressure of the carcase was more than +the head was able to support. He had fallen with his head so short +under him that the tusks received little assistance from his legs. +Something must give way. The strain on the mighty tusks was fair; they +did not, therefore, yield; but the portion of his head in which his +trunk was imbedded, extending a long way above the eye, yielded and +burst with a muffled crash. The tusk was thus free, and turned right +round in his head, so that a man could draw it out, and the carcase +fell over and rested on its side. This was a very first-rate elephant, +and the tusks he carried were long and perfect. + + + + +Hunting the Orix and the Lion. + + +Mr. Cumming was extremely desirous to fall in with an oryx, and carry +off his fine head with its splendid long horns as a trophy. He thus +describes a long but successful chase for one. + +At at early hour on the morning of the 16th, Paterson and I took the +field, accompanied by our three after-riders, and having ridden +several miles in a northerly direction, we started an oryx, to which +Paterson and his after-rider immediately gave chase. I then rode in an +easterly direction, and shortly fell in with a fine old cow oryx, +which we instantly charged. She stole away at a killing pace, her +black tail streaming in the wind, and her long, sharp horns laid well +back over her shoulders. Aware of her danger, and anxious to gain the +desert, she put forth her utmost speed and strained across the bushy +plain. She led us a tearing chase of upwards of five miles in a +northerly course, Cobus sticking well into her, and I falling far +behind. After a sharp burst of about three miles, Cobus and the grey +disappeared over a ridge about half a mile ahead of me. I mounted a +fresh horse, which had been led by Jacob, and followed. On gaming the +ridge, I perceived the grey disappearing over another ridge, a +fearfully long way ahead. When I reached this point I commanded an +extremely extensive prospect, but no living object was visible on the +desolate plain. + +Whilst deliberating in which direction to ride, I suddenly heard a +pistol-shot, some distance to my left, which I knew to be Cobus's +signal that the oryx was at bay. Having ridden half a mile, I +discovered Cobus dismounted in a hollow, and no oryx in view. He had +succeeded in riding the quarry to a stand, and, I not immediately +appearing, he very injudiciously had at once lost sight of the buck +and left it. + +Having upbraided Cobus in no measured terms for his stupidity, I +sought to retrieve the fortunes of the day by riding in the direction +in which he had left the oryx. The ground here was uneven and +interspersed with low hillocks. We extended our front and rode on up +wind, and, having crossed two or three ridges, I discovered a troop of +bucks a long way ahead. Having made for these, they turned out to be +hartebeests. At this moment I perceived three magnificent oryx a short +distance to my left. On observing us, they cantered along the ridge +towards a fourth oryx, which I at once perceived to be "embossed with +foam and dark with soil," and knew to be the antelope sought for. Once +more we charged her. Our horses had now considerably recovered their +wind, but the poor oryx was much distressed; and after a chase of half +a mile I jumped off my horse and sent a bullet through her ribs, which +brought her to a stand, when I finished her with the other barrel. She +proved a fine old cow with very handsome horns; the spot on which she +fell being so sterile that we could not even obtain the smallest +bushes with which to conceal her from the vultures, we covered her +with my after-rider's saddle-cloth, which consisted of a large +blanket. The head, on which I placed great value, we cut off and bore +along with us. + +On my way home I come across Pater-son's after-rider, "jaging" a troop +of gemsboks, but fearfully to leeward, his illustrious master being +nowhere in sight. An hour after I reached the camp Paterson came in, +in a towering rage, having been unlucky in both his chases. I now +despatched one of my wagons to bring home my oryx. It returned about +twelve o'clock that night, carrying the skin of my gemsbok and also a +magnificent old blue wildebeest (the brindled gnoo,) which the +Hottentots had obtained in an extraordinary manner. He was found with +one of his fore legs caught over his horn, so that he could not run, +and they hamstrung him and cut his throat. He had probably managed to +get himself into this awkward attitude while fighting with some of his +fellows. The vultures had consumed all the flesh of the oryx, and +likewise torn my blanket with which I had covered her. + +Mr. Gumming thus describes an innumerable herd of blesboks which he +encountered in the plains of Africa. + +The game became plentiful in about ten days after we left Colesberg, +but when we came to the Vet River I beheld with astonishment and +delight decidedly one of the most wonderful displays which I had +witnessed during my varied sporting career in Southern Africa. On my +right and left the plain exhibited one purple mass of graceful +blesboks, which extended without a break as far as my eyes could +strain: the depth of their vast legions covered a breadth of about six +hundred yards. On pressing upon them, they cantered along before me, +not exhibiting much alarm, taking care, however, not to allow me to +ride within six hundred yards of them. On, on I rode, intensely +excited with the wondrous scene before me, and hoped at length to get +to windward of at least some portion of the endless living mass which +darkened the plain, but in vain. Like squadrons of dragoons, the +entire breadth of this countless herd held on their forward course as +if aware of my intention, and resolved not to allow one to weather +them. + +At length I determined to play upon their ranks, and, pressing my +horse to his utmost speed, I dashed forward, and, suddenly halting, +sprang from the saddle, and, giving my rifle at least two feet of +elevation, red right and left into one of their darkest masses. A +noble buck dropped to the right barrel, and the second shot told +loudly; no buck however, fell, and, after lying for half a minute the +prostrate blesbok rose, and was quickly lost sight of amongst the +retreating herd. + +In half a minute I was again loaded, and after galloping a few hundred +yards let drive into them, but was still unsuccessful. Excited, and +annoyed at my want of luck, I resolved to follow them up, and blaze +away while a shot remained in the locker, which I did; until, after +riding about eight or ten miles, I found my ammunition expended, and +not a single blesbok bagged, although at least a dozen must have been +wounded. It was now high time to retrace my steps and seek my wagons. +I accordingly took a point, and rode across the trackless country in +the direction for which they were steering. + +I very soon once more fell in with fresh herds of thousands of +blesboks. As it was late in the day, and I being on the right side for +the wind, the blesboks were very tame, and allowed me to ride along +within rifle-shot of them, and those which ran barged resolutely past +me up the wind in long-continued streams. I took a lucky course for +the wagons, and came right upon them, after they had outspanned on the +bank of the Vet River. I could willingly have devoted a month to +blesbok-shooting in this hunter's elysium. + +The following is one of Mr. Cumming's most remarkable lion hunts. + +We trecked up along the banks of the river for the Mariqua, and a +little before sundown fell in with two enormous herds of buffaloes, +one of which, consisting chiefly of bulls, stood under the shady trees +on one side of the bank, whilst the other, composed chiefly of cows +and calves, stood on the opposite side, a little higher up the river. +In all there were at least three hundred. Thinking it probable that if +I hunted them I might kill some old bull with a head perhaps worthy of +my collection, I ordered my men to outspan, and, having saddled +steeds, I gave chase to the herd of bulls, accompanied by Booi and my +dogs. After a short burst they took through the river, whereby I lost +sight of an old bull which carried the finest head in the herd. My +dogs, however, brought a cow to bay as they crossed the river, which I +shot standing in the water, but not before she had killed a +particularly favorite bull-dog, named Pompey. + +I then continued the chase, and again came up with the herd, which was +now considerably scattered: and after a sharp chase, part of which was +through a wait-a-bit thorn cover, I brought eight or nine fine bulls +to bay in lofty reeds at the river's margin, exactly opposite to my +camp; of these I singled out the two best heads, one of which I shot +with five balls, and wounded the other badly, but he made off while I +was engaged with his comrade. + +In the morning I instructed four of my people to cross the river, and +bring over a supply of buffalo meat. These men were very reluctant to +go, fearing a lion might have taken possession of the carcase. On +proceeding to reconnoitre from our side, they beheld the majestic +beast they dreaded walk slowly up the opposite bank from the dead +buffalo, and take up a position on the top of the bank under some +shady thorn-trees. I resolved to give him battle, and rode forth with +my double-barrelled Westly Richards rifle, followed by men leading the +dogs. Present, who was one of the party, carried his _roer_, no doubt +to perform wonders. The wind blew up the river; I accordingly held up +to seek a drift, and crossed a short distance above where the buffalo +lay. As we drew near the spot, I observed the lion sitting on the top +of the bank, exactly where he had been seen last by my people. + +On my right and within two hundred yards of me, was a very extensive +troop of pallahs, which antelope invariably manage to be in the way +when it is not wanted. On this occasion, however, I succeeded in +preventing my dogs from observing them. When the lion saw us coming, +he overhauled us for a moment, and then slunk back for concealment; +being well to leeward of him I ordered the dogs to be slipped, and +galloped forward. On finding that he was attacked, the lion at first +made a most determined bolt for it, followed by all the dogs at a +racing pace; and when they came up with him he would not bay, but +continued his course down the bank of the river, keeping close in +beside the reeds, growling terribly at the dogs, which kept up an +incessant angry barking. + +The bank of the river was intersected by deep watercourses, and the +ground being extremely slippery from the rain which had fallen during +the night, I was unable to overtake him until he came to bay in a +patch of lofty dense reeds which grew on the lower bank, immediately +adjacent to the river's margin. I had brought out eleven of my dogs, +and before I could come up three of them were killed. On reaching the +spot I found it impossible to obtain the slightest glimpse of the +lion, although the ground favored me, I having the upper bank to stand +upon; so, dismounting from my horse, I tried to guess, from his horrid +growling, his exact position, and fired several shots on chance, but +none of these hit him. I then commenced pelting him with lumps of +earth and sticks, there being no stones at hand. This had the effect +of making him change his position, but he still kept in the densest +part of the reeds, where I could do nothing with him. + +Presently my followers came up, who, as a matter of course, at once +established themselves safely in the tops of thorn trees. After about +ten minutes' bullying, the lion seemed to consider his quarters too +hot for him, and suddenly made a rush to escape from his persecutors, +continuing his course down along the edge of the river. The dogs, +however, again gave him chase, and soon brought him to bay in another +dense patch of reeds, just as bad as the last. + +Out of this in a few minutes I managed to start him, when he bolted up +the river, and came to bay in a narrow strip of reeds. Here he lay so +close that for a long time I could not ascertain his whereabouts; at +length, however, he made a charge among the dogs, and, coming forward, +took up a position near the outside of the reeds, where for the first +time I was enabled to give him a shot. My ball entered his body a +little behind the shoulder. On receiving it he charged growling after +the dogs, but not farther than the edge of the reeds, out of which he +was extremely reluctant to move I gave him a second shot, firing for +his head; my ball entered at the edge of his eye, and passed through +the back of the roof of his mouth. + +The lion then sprang up, and, facing about, dashed through the reeds, +and plunged into the river, across he swam, dyeing the waters with his +blood; one black dog, named "Schwart," alone pursued him. A huge +crocodile, attracted by the blood, followed in their wake, but +fortunately did not take my dog, which I much feared he would do. +Present fired at the lion as he swam, and missed him; both my barrels +were empty. Before, however, the lion could reach the opposite bank, I +had one loaded without patch, and just as his feet gained the ground I +made a fine shot at him neck, and turned him over dead on the spot. +Present, Carollus, and Adonis then swam in and brought him through. We +landed him by an old hippopotamus footpath, and the day being damp and +cold, we kindled a fire, beside which we skinned him. + +While this was going forward I had a painful duty to perform, viz. to +load one barrel, and blow out Rascality's brains, whom the lion had +utterly disabled in his after-quarters. Thus ended this protracted and +all but unsuccessful hunt; for when I at length managed to shoot him, +the dogs were quite tired of it, and, the reeds being green, I could +not have set them on fire to force him out. + +The lion proved to be a first-rate one; he was in the prime of life, +and had an exquisitely beautiful coat of hair. His mane was not very +rank; his awful teeth were quite perfect, a thing which in lions of +his age is rather unusual; and he had the finest tuft of hair on the +end of his tail that I had ever seen in a lion. + +In the chase, my after-rider, who fortunately did not carry my rifle, +got a tremendous capsize from bad riding, a common occurrence with +most after-riders who have been employed in my service. The afternoon +was spent in drying the mane of the wet lion, skinning out the feet, +and preserving the skin with alum and arsenical soap. + + + + +Hunting the Giraffe. + + +Mr. Cumming thus describes the giraffe. These gigantic and exquisitely +beautiful animals, which are admirably formed by nature to adorn the +fair forests that clothe the boundless plains of the interior, are +widely distributed throughout the interior of Southern Africa, but are +nowhere to be met with in great numbers. In countries unmolested by +the intrusive foot of man, the giraffe is found generally in herds +varying from twelve to sixteen; but I have not unfrequently met with +herds containing thirty individuals, and on one occasion I counted +forty together; this, however, was owing to chance, and about sixteen +may be reckoned as the average number of a herd. These herds are +composed of giraffes of various sizes, from the young giraffe of nine +or ten feet in height, to the dark chestnut-colored old bull of the +herd, whose exalted head towers above his companions, generally +attaining a height of upwards of eighteen feet. The females are of +lower stature and more delicately formed than the males, their height +averaging from sixteen to seventeen feet. + +Some writers have discovered ugliness and a want of grace in the +giraffe, but I consider that he is one of the most strikingly +beautiful animals in the creation; and when a herd of them is seen +scattered through a grove of the picturesque parasol-topped acacias +which adorn their native plains, and on whose uppermost shoots they +are enabled to browse by the colossal height with which nature has so +admirably endowed them, he must indeed be slow of conception who fails +to discover both grace and dignity in all their movements. + +On the 24th, at the dawn of day, we inspanned, and trekked about five +hours in a northeasterly course, through a boundless open country, +sparingly adorned with dwarfish old tree. In the distance the +long-sought mountains of Bamangwato at length loomed blue before me. We +halted beside a glorious fountain, which at once made me forget all +the cares and difficulties I had encountered in reaching it. + +The name of this fountain was Massouey, but I at once christened it +"the Elephant's own Fountain." This was a very remarkable spot on the +southern borders of endless elephant forests, at which I had at length +arrived. The fountain was deep and strong, situated in a hollow at the +eastern extremity of an extensive vley, and its margin was surrounded +by a level stratum of solid old red sandstone. Here and there lay a +thick layer of soil upon a rock, and this was packed flat with the +fresh spoors of elephants. Around the water's edge the very rock was +worn down by the gigantic feet which for ages had trodden there. + +The soil of the surrounding country was white and yellow sand, but +grass, trees, and bushes were abundant. From the borders of the +fountain a hundred well-trodden elephant foot-paths led away in every +direction, like the radii of a circle. The breadth of the paths was +about three feet; those leading to the northward and east was most +frequented, the country in those directions being well wooded. + +We drew up the wagons on a hillock on the eastern side of the water. +This position commanded a good view of any game that might approach to +drink. I had just cooked my breakfast, and commenced to feed when I +heard my men exclaim, "Almatig keek de ghroote clomp cameel;" and +raising my eyes from my sassayby stew, I beheld a truly beautiful and +very unusual scene. From the margin of the fountain there extended an +open level vley, without tree or bush, that stretched away about a +mile to the northward, where it was bounded by extensive grooves of +wide-spreading mimosas. Up the middle of this vley stalked a troop of +ten colossal giraffes, flanked by two large herds of blue wildebeests +and zebras, with an advance guard of pallahs. They were all coming to +the fountain to drink, and would be within rifle-shot of the wagons +before I could finish my breakfast. I, however, continued to swallow +my food with the utmost expedition, having directed my men to catch +and saddle Colesberg. + +In a few minutes the giraffes were slowly advancing within two hundred +yards, stretching their graceful necks, and gazing in wonder at the +unwonted wagons. Grasping my rifle, I now mounted Colesberg, and rode +slowly toward them. They continued gazing at the wagons until I was +within one hundred yards of them, when, whisking their long tails over +their rumps, they made off at an easy canter. As I pressed upon them +they increased their pace; but Colesberg had much the speed of them, +and before we had proceeded half a mile I was riding by the shoulder +of the dark chestnut old bull, whose head towered above the rest. +Letting fly at the gallop, I wounded him behind the shoulder; soon +after which I broke him from the herd, and presently going ahead of +him, he came to a stand. I then gave him a second bullet, somewhere +near the first. These two shots had taken effect, and he was now in my +power, but I would not lay him low so far from camp; so having waited +until he had regained his breath I drove him half way back toward the +wagons. Here he became obstreperous; so loading one barrel, and +pointing my rifle toward the clouds, I shot him in the throat, when, +rearing high, he fell backward and expired. + +This was a magnificent specimen of the giraffe, measuring upwards of +eighteen feet in height. I stood for nearly half an hour engrossed in +the contemplation of his extreme beauty and gigantic proportions; and +if there had been no elephants, I could have exclaimed, like Duke +Alexander of Gordon, when he killed the famous old stag with seventeen +tine, "Now I can die happy." But I longed for an encounter with the +noble elephants, and I thought little more of the giraffe than if I +had killed a gemsbok or an eland. + +There are various modes of capturing giraffes. The Americans, who seek +them for their menageries, have the Mexican lasso, a long cord which +is thrown over the animal's head; and by casting him to the ground and +surrounding him by a large force of hunters, he is then captured +without difficulty. + +Mr. Cumming thus notices the pitfalls used by the natives of Africa +for taking the giraffe and other animals:--Starvation was written in +the faces of these inhabitants of the forest. In their miserable +villages were a few small gardens, containing watermelons and a little +corn. Occasionally they have the luck to capture some large animal in +a pitfall, when for a season they live in plenty. But as they do not +possess salt, the flesh soon spoils, when they are compelled once more +to roam the forests in quest of fruits and roots, on which, along with +locusts, they in a great measure subsist. In districts where game is +abundant, they often construct their pits on a large scale, and erect +hedges in the form of a crescent, extending to nearly a mile on either +side of the pit. By this means, the game may easily be driven into the +pitfalls which are easily covered over with thin sticks and dry grass; +and thus whole herds of zebras and wildebeests are massacred at once, +which capture is followed by the most disgusting banquets, the poor +starving savages gorging and surfeiting in a manner worthy only of the +vulture or hyaena. They possess no cattle, and, if they did, the +nearest chief would immediately rob them. All parts of the country +abounded with pitfalls made by these and others of the Bakalahari. +Many of these had been dug expressly for the giraffe, and were +generally three feet wide, and ten long; their depth was from nine to +ten feet. They were placed in the path of the giraffe, and in the +vicinity of several of these we detected the bones of giraffes, +indicating the success that had attended their formation. + + + + +M'Dougal and the Indian + + +Several years previous to the Revolution a Scotchman and his wife, +named M'Dougal, emigrated to America. Having but very little money, he +purchased land where it was then sold for almost nothing, in a country +thinly peopled, and on the extreme verge of civilization. + +His first care was to construct a house and clear away some of the +trees around it This done, he spent his whole time, early and late, in +making a garden and cultivating a few fields. By unwearied industry +and with the occasional help of older settlers, he by degrees acquired +a stock of cattle, sheep, and pigs, and was in a rough way, possessed +of a comfortable independence. His greatest discomforts were, distance +from his neighbors, the church, market, and even the mill; but, above +all, the complete separation from his friends; and this he would have +felt still more had he been an idle man. + +One day, Farmer M'Dougal, having a quantity of corn to grind, knowing +that the distance was considerable, and the road none of the +smoothest, set out in the morning at sunrise, hoping he should reach +home again before dark. + +When the farmer was at home he always drove up the cows for his wife +to milk, morning and evening; but now this care devolved on her, and +the careful woman went out in quest of them. Not accustomed to go far +from the house, she found herself in an unknown country, and, with +neither pocket compass nor notched trees to guide, it is not to be +wondered that she wandered long and wearily to very little purpose. +Tall trees seemed to encompass her on every side, or where the view +was more open, she beheld the distant blue hills rising one behind +another; but no village spire or cottage chimney was there to cheer +her on her way, and fatigued with the search, and despairing of +finding the cattle, she resolved while it was yet light, to retrace +her steps homeward. + +But this resolution was more easily formed than executed; she became +completely bewildered; she knew not in which direction to turn, and, +at length, with tears in her eyes, and her mind agitated almost to +distraction, she sunk on the ground. But she had not rested there many +minutes before she was startled by the sound of approaching footsteps, +and, on looking up, she beheld before her an Indian hunter. + +Although Mrs. M'Dougal knew that there were Indians living in the +neighborhood, she had never yet seen one, and her terror was very +great. The Indian, however, knew her; he had seen her before, he knew +where she lived, and he instantly guessed the cause of her distress. +He could speak but a few words of English; but he made signs for her +to follow him. She did so, and after a few minutes' walk, they arrived +at the door of an Indian wigwam. He invited her to enter, but not +being able to persuade her to do so, he darted into the wigwam, and +spoke a few words to his wife, who instantly appeared, and by the +kindness of her manner induced the stranger to enter their humble +abode. Venison was prepared for supper, and Mrs. M'Dougal, though +still alarmed at the novelty of her situation, could not refuse to +partake of the savory meal. + +Seeing that their guest was weary, the Indians removed from their +place two beautiful deer skins, and, by stretching and fixing them +across, divided the wigwam into two apartments. Mats were then spread +in both, and the stranger was made to understand that one division was +for her accommodation. But here again her courage failed her, and to +the most pressing entreaties she replied that she would sit and sleep +by the fire. This determination seemed to puzzle the Indian and his +squaw sadly. They looked at one another, and conversed softly in their +own language; and at length, the squaw taking her guest by the hand, +led her to her couch and became her bedfellow. + +In the morning she awoke greatly refreshed, and anxious to depart +without further delay; but this her new friends would not permit, +until she had eaten of their corn cakes and venison. Then the Indian +accompanied his guest, and soon conducted her to the spot where the +cattle were grazing. These he drove from the wood, on the edge of +which Mrs. M'Dougal descried her husband, who was equally delighted at +seeing her, as her absence from home all night had caused him great +uneasiness. They invited their Indian benefactor to their house, and, +on his departure, presented him with a suit of clothes. + +Three days after, he returned and endeavored, partly by signs, and +partly by broken English, to induce Farmer M'Dougal to follow him into +the forest; but he refused. Time was precious to him, who had to work +hard for every thing he possessed, and the Indian repeated his +entreaties in vain. The poor fellow looked grieved and disappointed; +but a moment after, a sudden thought struck him. He hit on an +expedient which none but an Indian hunter would have thought of. + +Mrs. M'Dougal had a young child, which the Indian's quick eye had not +failed to notice; and, finding that his eloquence was completely +thrown away upon the parents, he approached the cradle, seized the +child, and darted out of the house with the speed of an antelope. The +father and mother instantly followed, calling loudly on him to return; +but he had no such intention. He led them on, now slower, now faster, +and occasionally turning towards them, laughing, and holding up the +child to their view. + +It is needless to go into all the details of this singular journey, +further than to say that the Indian, instead of enticing them to his +own wigwam, as they expected, halted on the margin of a most beautiful +prairie, covered with the richest vegetation, and extending over +several thousand acres. In a moment the child was restored to its +parents, who, wondering what so strange a proceeding could mean, stood +awhile panting for breath, and looking at one another with silent +astonishment. + +The Indian, on the other hand, seemed overjoyed at the success of his +manoeuvre, and never did a human being frisk about and gesticulate +with greater animation. We have heard of a professor of signs, and if +such a person were wanted, the selection would not be a matter of +difficulty, so long as any remnant exists in the aborigines of North +America. All travellers agree in describing their gestures as highly +dignified, and their countenances intelligent; and we have Mr. +M'Dougal's authority for stating that the hero of this tale proved +himself a perfect master of the art of eloquence his broken English +was nearly in these words: + +"You think Indian treacherous; you think him wish steal the child. No, +no; Indian has child of his own. Indian knew you long ago; saw you +when you not see him; saw you hard working man. Some white men bad, +and hurt poor Indian. You not bad; you work hard for your wife and +child; but you choose bad place; you never make rich there. Indian see +your cattle go in forest; think you come and catch them; you not come; +your wife come. Indian find her faint and weary; take her home; wife +fear go in; think Indian kill her! No, no; Indian lead her back; meet +you very sad; then very glad to see her. You kind to Indian; give him +meat and drink, and better clothes than your own. Indian grateful; +wish you come here; not come; Indian very sorry; take the child; know +you follow child. If Indian farm, Indian farm here. Good ground; not +many trees; make road in less than half a moon; Indians help you; +Indians your friends; come, live here." + +M'Dougal immediately saw the advantage that such a change would be to +him, and, taking the Indian's advice, the day was soon fixed for the +removal of the log-house, along with the rest of his goods and +chattels; and the Indian, true to his word, brought a party of his red +brethren to assist in one of the most romantic removals that ever took +place, either in the Old World, or the New. + +In a few days a roomy log-house was raised, and garden marked out in +the most fertile and beautiful part of the prairie. The Indians +continued friendly and faithful, and the good understanding; between +them and the white settlers was a source of great comfort to both +parties. + + + + +Contests with Jaguars + + +Nature, ever provident, has scattered with a bounteous hand her gifts +in the country of the Orinoco, where the jaguar especially abounds. +The savannahs, which are covered with grasses and slender plants, +present a surprising luxuriance and diversity of vegetation; piles of +granite blocks lie here and there, and, at the margins of the plains, +occur deep valleys and ravines, the humid soil of which is covered +with arums, heliconias, llianas. The shelves of primitive rocks, +scarcely elevated above the plain, are partially covered with lichens +and mosses, together with succulent plants and tufts of evergreen +shrubs with shining leaves. The horizon is bounded with mountains +overgrown with forests of laurels, among which clusters of palms rise +to the height of more than a hundred feet, their slender stems +supporting tufts of feathery foliage. To the east of Atures other +mountains appear, the ridge of which is composed of pointed cliffs, +rising like huge pillars above the trees. + +When these columnar masses are situated near the Orinoco, flamingoes, +herons, and other wading birds perch on their summits, and look like +sentinels. In the vicinity of cataracts, the moisture which is +diffused in the air, produces a perpetual verdure, and wherever soil +has accumulated on the plains, it is adorned by the beautiful shrubs +of the mountains. + +Such is one view of the picture, but it has its dark side also; those +flowing waters, which fertilize the soil, abound with alligators: +those charming shrubs and flourishing plants, are the hiding places of +deadly serpents; those laurel forests, the favorite lurking spot of +the fierce jaguar; while the atmosphere, so clear and lovely, abounds +with musquitoes and zancudoes, to such a degree that in the missions +of Orinoco, the first questions in the morning when two people meet, +are, "How did you find the zancudoes during the night? How are we +to-day for the musquitoes?" + +It is in the solitude of this wilderness, that the jaguar, stretched +out motionless and silent, upon one of the lower branches of the +ancient trees, watches for its passing prey; a deer, urged by thirst, +is making its way to the river, and approaches the tree where this +enemy lies in wait. The jaguar's eyes dilate, the ears are thrown +down, and the whole frame becomes flattened against the branch. The +deer, all unconscious of danger, draws near, every limb of the jaguar +quivers with excitement every fibre is stiffened for the spring; then, +with the force of a bow unbent, he darts with a terrific yell upon his +prey, seizes it by the back of the neck, a blow is given by his +powerful paw, and with broken spine the deer falls lifeless to the +earth. The blood is then sucked, and the prey dragged to some favorite +haunt, where it is devoured at leisure. + +Humboldt surprised a jaguar in his retreat. It was near the Joval, +below the mouth of the Cano de la Tigrera, that in the midst of wild +and awful scenery, he saw an enormous jaguar stretched beneath the +shade of a large mimosa. He had just killed a chiguire, an animal +about the size of a pig, which he held with one of his paws, while the +vultures were assembled in flocks around. It was curious to observe +the mixture of boldness and timidity which these birds exhibited; for +although they advanced within two feet of the jaguar, they instantly +shrunk back at the least motion he made. In order to observe more +clearly their proceedings, the travellers went into their little boat, +when the tyrant of the forest withdrew behind the bushes, leaving his +victim, upon which the vultures attempted to devour it, but were soon +put to flight by the jaguar rushing into the midst of them. + +The following night, Humboldt and his party were entertained by a +jaguar hunter, half-naked, and as brown as a Zambo, who prided himself +on being of the European race; and called his wife and daughter, who +were as slightly clothed as himself, Donna Isabella and Donna Manuela. +As this aspiring personage had neither home nor hut, he invited the +strangers to swing their hammocks near his own between two trees, but, +as ill-luck would have it, a thunder storm came on, which wetted them +to the skin; but their troubles did not end here, for Donna Isabella's +cat had perched on one of the trees, and frightened by the +thunderstorm, jumped down upon one of the travellers in his cot; he +naturally supposed that he was attacked by a wild beast, and as smart +a battle took place between the two, as that celebrated feline +engagement of Don Quixotte; the cat, who, perhaps had most reason to +consider himself an ill-used personage, at length bolted, but the +fears of the gentleman had been excited to such degree, that he could +hardly be quieted. The following night was not more propitious to +slumber. The party finding no tree convenient, had stuck their oars in +the sand, and suspended their hammocks upon them. About eleven, there +arose in the immediately adjoining wood, so terrific a noise, that it +was impossible to sleep. The Indians distinguished the cries of +sapagous, alouates, jaguars, cougars, peccaris, sloths, curassows, +paraquas, and other birds, so that there must have been as full a +forest chorus as Mr. Hullah himself could desire. + +When the jaguars approached the edge of the forest, which they +frequently did, a dog belonging to the party began to howl, and seek +refuge under their cots. Sometimes, after a long silence, the cry of +the jaguars came from the tops of the trees, when it was followed by +an outcry among the monkeys. Humboldt supposes the noise thus made by +the inhabitants of the forest during the night, to be the effect of +some contest that had arisen among them. + +On the pampas of Paraguay, great havoc is committed among the herds of +horses by the jaguars, whose strength is quite sufficient to enable +them to drag off one of these animals. Azara caused the body of a +horse, which had been recently killed by a jaguar, to be drawn within +musket-shot of a tree, in which he intended to pass the night, +anticipating that the jaguar would return in the course of it, to its +victim; but while he was gone to prepare for his adventure, behold the +animal swam across a large and deep river, and having seized the horse +with his teeth, dragged it full sixty paces to the river, swam across +again with his prey, and then dragged the carcass into a into a +neighboring wood: and all this in sight of a person, whom Azara had +placed to keep watch. But the jaguars have also an aldermanic gout for +turtles, which they gratify in a very systematic manner, as related by +Humboldt, who was shown large shells of turtles emptied by them. + +They follow the turtles toward the beach, where the laying of eggs is +to take place, surprise them on the sand, and in order to devour them +at their ease, adroitly turn them on their backs; and as they turn +many more than they can devour in one night, the Indians often profit +by their cunning. The jaguar pursues the turtle quite into the water, +and when not very deep, digs up the eggs; they, with the alligator, +the heron, and the gallinago vulture ore the most formidable enemies +the little turtles have. Humboldt justly remarks, When we reflect on +the difficulty that the naturalist finds in getting out the body of +the turtle, without separating the upper and the under shell, we +cannot enough admire the suppleness of the jaguar's paw, which empties +the double armor of the _arraus_, as if the adhering parts of the +muscles had been cut by a surgical instrument. + +The rivers of South America swarm with alligators, and these wage +perpetual war with the jaguars. It is said, that when the jaguar +surprises the alligator asleep on the hot sandbank, he attacks him in +a vulnerable part under the tail, and often kills him, but let the +alligator only get his antagonist into the water, and the tables are +turned, for the jaguar is held under the water until he is drowned. + +The onset of the jaguar is always made from behind, partaking of the +stealthy treacherous character of his tribe; if a herd of animals, or +a party of men be passing, it is the last that is always the object of +his attack. When he has made choice of his victim, he springs upon the +neck, and placing one paw upon the back of the head, while he seizes +the muzzle with the other twists the head round with a sudden jerk +which dislocates the spine, and deprives it instantaneously of life: +sometimes, especially when satiated with food, he is indolent and +cowardly, skulking in the gloomiest depths of the forest, and scared +by the most trifling causes, but when urged by the cravings of hunger, +the largest quadrupeds, and man himself, are attacked with fury and +success. + +Mr. Darwin has given an interesting account of the habits of the +jaguar: the wooded banks of the great South American rivers appear to +be their favorite haunt, but south of the Plata they frequent the +reeds bordering the lakes; wherever they are they seem to require +water. They are particularly abundant on the isles of the Payana, +their common prey being the carpincho, so that it is generally said, +that where carpinchos are plentiful, there is little fear of the +jaguar; possibly, however, a jaguar which has tasted human flesh, may +afterwards become dainty, and like the lions of South Africa, and the +tigers of India, acquire the dreadful character of maneaters, from +preferring that food to all others. + +It is not many years ago since a very large jaguar found his way into +a church in Santa Fe; soon afterward a very corpulent padre entering, +was at once killed by him: His equally stout coadjutor, wondering what +had detained the padre, went to look after him, and also fell a victim +to the jaguar; a third priest, marveling greatly at the unaccountable +absence of the others, sought them, and the jaguar having by this time +acquired a strong clerical taste, made at him also, but he, being +fortunately of the slender order, dodged the animal from pillar to +post, and happily made his escape; the beast was destroyed by being +shot from a corner of the building, which was unroofed, and thus paid +the penalty of his sacrilegious propensities. + +On the Parana, they have even entered vessels by night. One dark +evening the mate of a vessel, hearing a heavy but peculiar footstep on +deck, went up to see what it was, and was immediately met by a jaguar, +who had come on board, seeking what he could devour; a severe struggle +ensued, assistance arrived, and the brute was killed, but the man lost +the use of the arm which had been ground between his teeth. + +The Gauchos say that the jaguar, when wandering about at night, is +much tormented by the foxes yelping as they follow him: this may +perhaps serve to alarm his prey, but must be as teasing to him as the +attentions of swallows are to an owl, who happens to be taking a +daylight promenade; and if owls ever swear, it is under these +circumstances. + +Mr. Darwin, when hunting on the banks of the Uruguay, was shown three +well-known trees to which the jaguars constantly resort, for the +purpose, it is said, of sharpening their claws. Every one must be +familiar with the manner in which cats, with out-stretched legs and +extended claws, will card the legs of chairs and of men; so with the +jaguar; and of these trees the bark was worn quite smooth in front; on +each side there were deep grooves, extending in an oblique line nearly +a yard in length. The scars were of different ages, arid the +inhabitants could always tell when a jaguar was in the neighborhood, +by his recent autograph on one of these trees. + + + + +The Indian Parents. + + +Captain William Wells was a noted hunter and ranger in the western +country. He was captured by the Indians when but a child, and raised +among them. When the Indians defeated the United States troops, who +were under the command of Generals Harmer and St. Clair, Captain Wells +fought among the red men, and distinguished himself by his courage and +skill. But when General Wayne was placed at the head of the United +States forces in the west. + +Captain Wells came over to the side of the whites, and received the +command of a company of rangers, or woodmen, who acted as spies and +scouts for General Wayne. The captain performed many daring exploits, +and caused the Indians to feel that in losing him they had gained a +terrible enemy. + +Captain Wells was desperate in battle, but he often displayed much +kindness and generosity. On one of his excursions with a party of +rangers, through the Indian country, he came to the bank of the river +St. Mary, and discovered some Indians in canoes coming across the +stream. The captain dismounted, and concealed his men near the bank of +the river, while he went to the bank in open view, and called to the +Indians to come over. As he was dressed nearly in the Indian style, +and spoke to them in their own language, the Indians, without +suspicion of danger came across the river. The moment the first canoe +struck the shore, Wells heard the clicking of the locks of his +comrades' rifles, as they prepared to shoot the Indians. But who +should be in the canoe, but his Indian father, mother, and their +children! As his comrades were coming forward with their rifles +cocked, ready to pour in the deadly storm, Wells called upon them to +hold their hands. He then informed them who the Indians were, and +solemnly declared, that the man who would attempt to injure one of +them should receive a ball in his head. He continued, "That family fed +me when I was hungry, clothed me when I was naked, and kindly nursed +me when I was sick. In every respect they were as kind and +affectionate to me as they were to their own children. No one +belonging to them shall be hurt." But four men were with the Indian +party, and they did not attempt hostility. The short, pathetic speech +of Captain Wells found its way to the hearts of his comrades. They +entered into his feelings, threw down their rifles and tomahawks, went +to the canoe, and shook hands with the trembling Indians in the most +friendly manner. + +Captain Wells assured the red men that they had nothing to fear from +him, and after talking with them to dispel their dread, he said, that +General Wayne was approaching with an overwhelming force; that the +best thing that the Indians could do was to make peace; that the white +men did not wish to continue the war. He urged his Indian father to +keep out of danger for the future. The Indians appeared very grateful +for his clemency. After the captain bade them farewell, they pushed +off their canoe, and went down the river as fast as they could paddle. + +Wells's conduct on this occasion proved him to be as generous as he +was brave. This famous ranger was killed near Chicago, at the +commencement of the war of 1812, in an attempt to save an American +garrison. At that time sixty-four whites were attacked by four hundred +red men, and all killed or captured. The Indians were very glad to get +the scalp of Captain Wells. He was as wild a spirit as ever shouldered +a rifle or wielded a tomahawk. + + + + +Attack on Captain Ward's Boat + + +About 1784 and '85, boats ascending the Ohio river were often fired +upon by the Indians, and sometimes the crew were all killed or made +prisoners. A t that time, the whites had no settlements on either side +of the Ohio. But Kentucky contained several very important stations. +In 1785, Captain James Ward descended the river, under circumstances, +which rendered a meeting with the Indians peculiarly to be dreaded. + +The captain with half a dozen others, one of them his nephew, embarked +in a crazy boat, about forty-five long, and eight feet wide, with no +other bulwark than a single pine plank, above each gunnel. The boat +was much encumbered with baggage, and seven horses were on board. +Having seen no enemy for several days, they had become secure and +careless, and permitted the boat to drift within fifty yards of the +Ohio shore. Suddenly several Indians showed themselves on the bank, +and opened heavy fire upon the boat. The astonishment of the crew may +be conceived. Captain Ward and his nephew were at the oars when the +enemy appeared, and the captain knowing that their safety depended +upon their ability to regain the middle of the river, kept his seat +firmly, and exerted his utmost powers at the oar, but his nephew +started up at the sight of the enemy, seized his rifle and was in the +act of levelling it, when he received a ball in the breast, and fell +dead in the bottom of the boat. Unfortunately, his oar fell into the +river, and the Captain having no one to pull against him, rather urged +the boat nearer to the hostile shore than otherwise. He quickly seized +a plank, however, and giving his own oar to another of the crew, he +took the station which his nephew had held, and unhurt by the bullets +which flew around him, continued to exert himself, until the boat had +reached a more respectable distance. He then, for the first time, +looked around him in order to observe the condition of the crew. His +nephew lay in his blood, perfectly lifeless,--the horses had been all +killed or mortally wounded. Some had fallen overboard--others were +struggling violently, and causing their frail bark to dip water so as +to excite the most serious apprehensions. + +But the crew presented the most singular spectacle. A captain, who had +served with reputation in the continental army, seemed now totally +bereft of his faculties. He lay upon his back in the bottom of the +boat, with hands uplifted, and a countenance in which terror was +personified, exclaiming in a tone of despair, "Oh, Lord! Oh, Lord!" A +Dutchman, whose weight might amount at about three hundred pounds, was +busily engaged in endeavoring to find shelter for his bulky person, +which, from the lowness of the gunnels, was a very difficult +undertaking. In spite of his utmost efforts, a portion of his +posterial luxuriance, appeared above the gunnel, and afforded a mark +to the enemy, which brought a constant shower of balls around it. In +vain he shifted his position. The lump still appeared, and the balls +still flew around it, until the Dutchman, losing all patience, raised +his head above the gunnel, and in a tone of querulous remonstrance, +called out, "Oh, now I git tat nonsense, tere,--will you!" Not a shot +was fired from the boat. + +At one time, after they had partly reined the current, Captain Ward +attempted to bring his rifle to bear upon them, but so violent was the +agitation of the boat, from the furious struggles of the horses, that +he could not steady his piece within twenty yards of the enemy, and +quickly laying it aside returned to the oar. The Indians followed them +down the river for more than an hour, but having no canoes, they did +not attempt to board; and as the boat was at length transferred to the +opposite side of the river, they finally abandoned the pursuit and +disappeared. None of the crew, save the young man already mentioned, +were hurt, although the Dutchman's seat of honor served as a target +for the space of an hour, and the continental captain was deeply +mortified at the sudden, and, as he said, "unaccountable" panic which +had seized him. Captain Ward himself was protected by a post, which +had been fastened to the gunnel, and behind which he sat while rowing. + + + + +Massy Herbeson and her Family + + +During the settlement of the interior of Pennsylvania, the Indians +were almost constantly hostile. Houses were burned, fields desolated, +and the poor, hard-working settlers were killed, or carried into a +dreadful captivity. The sufferings of some of these captives can +scarcely be described. The following narrative will give some idea of +savage nature. + +On the 22nd of May, 1792, Massy Herbeson and her children were taken +from their house, within two hundred yards of Reed's blockhouse, and +about twenty-five miles from Pittsburg. Mr. Herbeson, being one of the +spies, was from home; two of the scouts lodged with her that night, +but had left her house about sunrise, in order to go to the +blockhouse, and had left the door standing wide open. Shortly after +the two scouts went away, a number of Indians came into the house, and +drew her out of bed by the feet; the two eldest children, who also lay +in another bed were drawn out in the same manner; a younger child, +about one year old slept with Mrs. Herbeson. The Indians then +scattered the articles about in the house. + +Whilst they were at this work, Mrs. Herbeson went out of the house, +and hallooed to the people in the blockhouse; one of the Indians then +ran up and stopped her mouth, another ran up with his tomahawk drawn, +and a third ran and seized the tomahawk and called her his squaw; this +last Indian claimed her as his, and continued by her. About fifteen of +the Indians then ran down towards the blockhouse and fired their guns +at the block and store-house, in consequence of which one soldier was +killed and another wounded, one having been at the spring, and the +other in coming or looking out of the store-house. Mrs. Herbeson told +the Indians there were about forty men in the blockhouse, and each man +had two guns, the Indians then went to those that were firing at the +blockhouse, and brought them back. + +They then began to drive Mrs. Herbeson and her children away; but a +boy, about three years old, being unwilling to leave the house, they +took it by the heels, and dashed it against the house, then stabbed +and scalped it. They then took Mrs. Herbeson and the two other +children to the top of the hill, where they stopped until they tied up +the plunder they had got. While they were busy about this, Mrs. +Herbeson counted them, and the number amounted to thirty-two, +including two white men, that were with them, painted like the +Indians. Several of the Indians could speak English, and she knew +several of them very well, having often seen them go up and down the +Alleghany river; two of them she knew to be Senecas, and two Munsees, +who had got their guns mended by her husband about two years ago. + +They sent two Indians with her, and the others took their course +towards Puckty. She, the children, and the two Indians had not gone +above two hundred yards, when the Indians caught two of her uncle's +horses, put her and the youngest child on one, and one of the Indians +and the other child on the other. The two Indians then took her and +the children to the Alleghany river, and took them over in bark +canoes, as they could not get the horses to swim the river. After they +had crossed the river, the oldest child, a boy about five years of +age, began to mourn for his brother, when one of the Indians +tomahawked and scalped him. They travelled all day very hard, and that +night arrived at a large camp, covered with bark, which, by +appearance, might hold fifty men. That night they took her about three +hundred yards from the camp, into a large dark bottom, bound her arms, +gave her some bed clothes, and lay down one on each side of her. + +The next morning they took her into a thicket, on the hill side, and +one remained with her till the middle of the day, while the other went +to watch the path, lest some white people should follow them. They +then exchanged places during the remainder of the day. She got a piece +of dry venison, about the size of an egg, that day, and a piece about +the same size the day they were marching; that evening, (Wednesday, +23d) they moved her to a new place, and secured her as the night +before. During the day of the 23'd, she made several attempts to get +the Indian's gun or tomahawk, that was guarding her, and, had she +succeeded, she would have put him to death. She was nearly detected in +trying to get the tomahawk from his belt. + +The next morning one of the Indians went out, as on the day before, to +watch the path. The other lay down and fell asleep. When she found he +was sleeping, she stole her short gown, handkerchief, a child's frock, +and then made her escape; the sun was then about half an hour +high--she took her course from the Alleghany, in order to deceive the +Indians, as they would naturally pursue her that way; that day she +travelled along Conequenessing creek. The next day she altered her +course, and, as she believes, fell upon the waters of Pine Creek, +which empties into the Alleghany. Thinking this not her best course, +she took over some dividing ridges,--lay on a dividing ridge on Friday +night, and on Saturday came to Squaw run--continued down the run until +an Indian, or some other person, shot a deer; she saw the person about +one hundred and fifty yards from her--the deer running and the dog +pursuing it, which, from the appearance, she supposed to be an Indian +dog. + +She then altered her course, but again came to the same run, and +continued down until she got so tired that she was obliged to lie +down, it having rained on her all that day and the night before; she +lay there that night; it rained constantly. On Sunday morning, she +proceeded down the run until she came to the Alleghany river, and +continued down the river till she came opposite to Carter's house, on +the inhabited side, where she made a noise, and James Closier brought +her over the river to Carter's house. + +Such outrages were frequent upon the frontier, in time of war with the +Indians. Many instances of the generosity and hospitality of the red +men are recorded. But when we remember that they made war and the +chase the business of their lives, and that they never would be +content to till the ground, as the neighbors of the whites we cannot +regret that they have disappeared from our vicinity. + + + + +A Nocturnal Adventure with Six Lions + + +Mr. Cumming, whose adventures we have already found so entertaining, +had a method of hunting for wild beasts, and especially lions, which +was quite curious. He dug holes near the fountains or streams, where +the animals were accustomed to resort at night for water, and +concealed himself and his companions in them, to wait for their +approach. The following is a specimen of this kind of adventure. + +On the afternoon of the 4th I deepened my hole and watched the water. +As the sun went down two graceful springboks and a herd of pallah came +and drank, when I shot the best pallah in the troop. At night I +watched the water with Kleinboy: very soon a cow black rhinoceros came +and drank, and got off for the present with two balls in her. A little +afterwards two black rhinoceroses and two white ones came to the +waterside. We both fired together at the finest of the two black +rhinoceroses; she ran three hundred yards, and fell dead. Soon after +this the other black rhinoceros came up again and stood at the +waterside; I gave her one ball after the shoulder; she ran a hundred +yards and fell dead. In half an hour a third old borele appeared, and, +having inspected the two dead ones, he came up to the waterside. We +fired together; he ran two hundred yards and fell dead. I felt +satisfied with our success, and gave it up for the night. + +By the following evening the natives had cleared away the greater part +of the two rhinoceroses which lay right in the way of the game +approaching the water; I, however, enforced their leaving the third +rhinoceros, which had fallen on the bare rising ground, almost +opposite to my hiding-place, in the hope of attracting a lion, as I +intended to watch the water at night. Soon after the twilight had died +away, I went down to my hole with Kleinboy and two natives, who lay +concealed in another hole, with Wolf and Boxer ready to slip, in the +event of wounding a lion. + +On reaching the water I looked towards the carcase of the rhinoceros, +and, to my astonishment, I beheld the ground alive with large +creatures, as though a troop of zebras were approaching the fountain +to drink. Kleinboy remarked to me that a troop of zebras were standing +on the height. I answered, "Yes," but I knew very well that zebras +would not be capering around the carcase of a rhinoceros. I quickly +arranged my blankets, pillow, and guns, in the hole, and then lay down +to feast my eyes on the interesting sight before me. It was bright +moonlight, as clear as I need wish, and within one night of being full +moon. There were six large lions, about twelve or fifteen hyaenas, and +from twenty to thirty jackals, feasting on and around the carcases of +the three rhinoceroses. The lions feasted peacefully, but the hyenas +and jackals fought over every mouthful, and chased one another round +and round the carcases, growling, laughing, screeching, chattering, +and howling without any intermission. The hyaenas did not seem afraid +of the lions, although they always gave way before them; for I +observed that they followed them in the most disrespectful manner, and +stood laughing, one or two on either side, when any lions came after +their comrades to examine pieces of skin or bones which they were +dragging away. I had lain watching this banquet for about four hours, +in the strong hope that, when the lions had feasted, they would come +and drink. Two black and two white rhinoceroses had made their +appearance, but, scared by the smell of the blood, they soon made off. + +At length the lions seemed satisfied. They all walked about with their +heads up, and seemed to be thinking about the water, and in two +minutes one of them turned his face towards me, and came on; he was +immediately followed by the second lion, and in half a minute by the +other four. It was a decided and general move, they were all coming to +drink right bang in my face, within fifteen yards of me. + +I charged the unfortunate, pale, and panting Kleinboy to convert +himself into a stone, and knowing, from old spoor, exactly where they +would drink, I cocked my left barrel, and placed myself and gun in +position. The six lions came steadily on along the ridge, until within +sixty yards of me, when they halted for a minute to reconnoitre. One +of them stretched out his massive arms on the rock and lay down; the +others then came on, and he rose and brought up the rear. They walked, +as I had anticipated, to the old drinking place, and three of them had +put down their heads and were lapping the water loudly, when Kleinboy +thought it necessary to show his ugly head. I turned my head slowly to +rebuke him, and again taming to the lions I found myself discovered. + +An old lioness, who seemed to take the lead, had detected me, and, +with her head high and her eyes fixed full upon me, she was coming +slowly round the corner of the little vley to cultivate further my +acquaintance! This unfortunate proceeding put a stop at once to all +further contemplation. I thought, in my haste, that it was perhaps +most prudent to shoot this lioness, especially as none of the others +had noticed me. I accordingly moved my arm and covered her: she saw me +move and halted, exposing a full broadside, I fired; the ball entered +one shoulder and passed out behind the other. She bounded forward with +repeated growls, and was followed by her five comrades all enveloped +in a cloud of dust; nor did they stop until they had reached the cover +behind me, except one old gentleman, who halted and looked back for a +few seconds, when I fired, but the ball went high. I listened +anxiously for some sound to denote the approaching end of the lioness; +nor listened in vain. I heard her growling and stationary, as if +dying. In one minute her comrades crossed the vley a little below me, +and made towards the rhinoceros. I then slipped Wolf and Boxer on her +scent, and, following them into the river, I found her lying dead +within twenty yards of where the old lion had lain two nights before. +This was a fine old lioness, with perfect teeth, and was certainly a +noble prize; but I felt dissatisfied at not having rather shot a lion, +which I had most certainly done if my Hottentot had not destroyed my +contemplation. + + + + +Attacks on Brookfield and Deerfield. + + +The early settlers of New England did not suffer much from the +hostility of the Indians, until the breaking out of King Philip's war, +in 1675. Philip was the son of Massasoit, who was the friend of the +English from the time of the landing of the pilgrims until the day of +his death. Offended at the manner in which the English behaved towards +his brother, Alexander, Philip resolved upon a war of extermination, +and, for this purpose, he united nearly all the New England tribes. +The war was very destructive to the whites, though it ended in the +total overthrow of the Indian power. + +One of the first places attacked was the town of Brookfield, +Massachusetts. Upon receiving intelligence that Philip had begun +hostilities, the inhabitants all collected in one large house. +Captains Wheeler and Hutchinson went into the country of the Nipmucks, +to treat with them, but they, instigated by Philip, fired upon the +party of whites, killed eight men and mortally wounded Captain +Hutchinson. The rest fled to Brookfield, pursued by the Indians. The +inhabitants were now surrounded by a host of foes, who burned every +house in the place, except the one in which the people and soldiers +were collected. Here they directed their whole force. Upon this house +they poured a storm of musket balls for about two days. Countless +numbers pierced through the walls, yet only one person was killed. +Brands and rags dipped in brimstone were thrust against the house with +long poles. The Indians shot arrows, tipped with fire, upon the roof. +They loaded a cart with flax and tow, and with long poles fastened +together, pushed it against the house. Destruction seemed inevitable, +the house was kindling. The bold and resolute settlers were beginning +to give up all hope, when a sudden and providential fall of rain +quenched the flames. + +The savages yelled with the fury of disappointment, and resorted to +other schemes for the destruction of the house and its inmates. In all +probability, they would have succeeded in effecting their object; but +on the 4th of August, Major Willard, with a party of troops, appeared, +and attacked the besiegers. The conflict was soon decided. The Indians +never could withstand an equal number of whites in a fair field. They +now gave way, after suffering a great loss. The people of Brookfield +were thus happily delivered from their savage foe. But their houses +were burned, and stock destroyed. + +The next place attacked was Deerfield, upon the Connecticut river, +which experienced the horror of Indian atrocity several times during +the course of the war. The town was first attacked in September, 1675, +when most of the houses were burned, and some of the inhabitants +killed. At Deerfield, there were three thousand bushels of wheat in +stock, which it was resolved to bring to the general magazine at +Hadley. Captain Lathrop, with ninety men, guarded the teams employed +in this service. On the way, they were assaulted by about seven +hundred Indians. Few of the whites escaped. They fought bravely, and +killed a great many of the Indians, but were nearly all slain. Captain +Mosely marched from Deerfield to reinforce Captain Lathrop. Arriving +too late, he was compelled to sustain the onset of the whole force of +the enemy, until Major Treat came to his relief, and put the Indians +to flight. + +In the early part of February, a large body of Indians attempted to +surprise Deerfield by night. But the inhabitants were alarmed and +prepared, and after a short conflict succeeded in driving off the +savages. Soon after a party of whites from Deerfield attacked a party +of Indians in a swamp, near that town, and killed one hundred and +twenty of them. But the whites, on their return, were waylaid, and as +they had expended all their ammunition they fell an easy prey. Fifty +were killed and eighty-four wounded. Such were the horrors of King +Philip's war. + + + + +Attack on Mrs. Scraggs's House. + + +On the night of the 11th of April, 1787, the house of the widow +Scraggs, in Bourbon county, Kentucky, was attacked by the Indians. The +widow occupied what is called double cabin, one room of which was +tenanted by the old lady herself, together with two grown sons and a +widowed daughter, who was at that time suckling an infant, while the +other was occupied by two unmarried daughters, from sixteen to twenty +years of age, together with a little girl, not more than half grown. + +The hour was eleven o'clock at night. One of the unmarried daughters +was still busily engaged at the loom, but the other members of the +family, with the exception of one of the sons, had retired to rest. +Some symptoms of an alarming nature had engaged the attention of the +young man for an hour before any thing of a decided character took +place. The cry of owls was heard in the adjoining wood, answering each +other in rather an unusual manner. The horses which were enclosed as +usual in a pound near the house were more than commonly their excited, +and by repeated snorting and galloping, announced the presence of some +object of terror. The young man was often upon the point of awakening +his brother, but was as often restrained by the fear of incurring +ridicule and their reproach of timidity, at that time an unpardonable +blemish in the character of a Kentuckian. At length, hasty steps were +heard in the yard, and quickly afterwards several knocks at the door, +accompanied by the usual exclamation, "who keeps house?" in very good +English. + +The young man, supposing from the language, that some benighted +settlers were at the door, hastily arose and advancing to withdraw the +bar which secured it, when his mother, who had long lived upon the +frontiers, and had probably detected the Indian tone in the demand for +admission, sprung out of bed, and ordered her son not to admit them, +declaring that they were Indians. She instantly awakened her other +son, and the two young men seizing their guns, which were always +charged, prepared to repel the enemy. + +The Indians finding it impossible to enter under their assumed +characters, began to thunder at the door with great violence, but a +single shot from a loophole, compelled them to shift the attack to +some less exposed point; and, unfortunately, they discovered the door +of the other cabin, which contained the three daughters. The rifles of +the brothers could not be brought to bear upon this point, and by +means of several rails taken from the yard fence, the door was forced +from its hinges and the three girls were at the mercy of the savage. +One was immediately secured, but the eldest defended herself +desperately with a knife which she had been using in the loom, and +stabbed one of the Indians to the heart, before she was tomahawked. + +In the meantime the little girl, who had been overlooked by the enemy +in their eagerness to secure the others, ran out into the yard, and +might have effected her escape had she taken advantage of the darkness +and fled, but instead of that the terrified little creature ran round +the house wringing her hands, and crying out that her sisters were +killed. The brothers, unwilling to hear her cries without risking +every thing for her rescue, rushed to the door and were preparing to +sally out to her assistance, when their mother threw herself before +them and calmly declared that the child must be abandoned to its +fate--that the sally would sacrifice the lives of the rest without the +slightest benefit to the little girl. Just then the child uttered a +loud scream, followed by a faint moan, and all was again silent. +Presently the crackling of flames was heard, accompanied by a +triumphant yell from the Indians, announcing that they had set fire to +that division of the house which had been occupied by the daughters, +and of which they had undisputed possession. + +The fire was quickly communicated to part of the building, it became +necessary to abandon it or perish in the flames. In the one case, +there was a possibility that some might escape; in the other, their +fate would be equally certain and terrible. The rapid approach of the +flames cut short their momentary suspense. The door was thrown open, +just as some of the Indians began to enter the house through a breach +made by the fire. The old lady, supported by her eldest son, attempted +to cross the fence at one point, while the other son carried his +sister and her son in another direction. + +The old lady was permitted to reach the stile unmolested, but in the +act of crossing, received several balls in the breast and fell dead. +Her son, providentially, remained unhurt, and by extraordinary agility +effected his escape. The other party succeeded also in reaching the +fence unhurt, but in the act of crossing, were vigorously assailed by +several Indians, who throwing down their guns, rushed upon them with +their tomahawks. The young man defended his sister gallantly, firing +upon the enemy as they approached, and then wielding the butt of his +rifle with a fury that drew the whole attention upon himself, and gave +his sister an opportunity of effecting her escape. He quickly fell, +however, under the tomahawk of his enemies, and was found at daylight, +scalped and mangled in a shocking manner. Of the whole family, +consisting of eight persons, when the attack commenced, only three +escaped. Four were killed upon the spot, and one, the second daughter, +carried off a prisoner. + +The neighborhood was quickly alarmed, and by daylight about thirty men +were assembled under the command of Colonel Edwards. A slight snow had +fallen during the latter part of the night, and the Indian trail could +be pursued at a gallop. It led directly into the mountainous country +bordering on Licking, and afforded evidences of great hurry and +precipitation on the part of the fugitives. Unfortunately, a hound had +been permitted to accompany the whites, and as the trail became fresh +and the scent warm, she followed it with eagerness, baying loudly and +giving the alarm to the Indians. + +The consequences of this imprudence were soon displayed. The enemy +finding the pursuit keen, and perceiving that the strength of the +prisoner began to fail, sunk their tomahawks in her head and left her, +still warm and bleeding upon the snow. As the whites came up, she +retained strength enough to wave her hand in token of recognition, and +appeared desirous of giving them some information, with regard to the +enemy, but her strength was too far gone. Her brother sprung from his +horse, and knelt by her side, endeavoring to stop the effusion of +blood, but in vain. She gave him her hand, muttering some inarticulate +words, and expired within two minutes after the arrival of the party. + +The pursuit was renewed with additional ardor, and in twenty minutes +the enemy was within view. They had taken possession of a steep narrow +ridge and seemed desirous of magnifying their numbers in the eyes of +the whites, as they ran rapidly from tree to tree, and maintained a +steady yell in their most appalling tones. The pursuers, however, were +too experienced to be deceived by so common an artifice, and being +satisfied that the number of the enemy must be inferior to their own, +they dismounted, tied their horses, and flanking out in such a manner +as to enclose the enemy, ascended the ridge as rapidly as was +consistent with a due regard to the shelter of their persons. The +firing quickly commenced, and now for the first time they discovered +that only two Indians were opposed to them. They had voluntarily +sacrificed themselves for the safety of the main body, and had +succeeded in delaying pursuit until their friends had reached the +mountains. One of them was shot dead, and the other was badly wounded, +as was evident from the blood upon his blanket, as well as that which +filled his tracks in the snow for a considerable distance. The pursuit +was recommenced, and urged keenly until night, when the trail entered +a running stream and was lost. On the following morning the snow had +melted, and every trace of the enemy was obliterated. + + + + +Fearful Adventure with a man-eating lion. + + +The following is Mr. Cumming's account of a fearful adventure, in +which he lost one of his most valuable servants: + +On the 29th we arrived at a small village of Bakalahari. These natives +told me that elephants were abundant on the opposite side of the +river. I accordingly resolved to halt here and hunt, and drew my +wagons up on the river's bank, within thirty yards of the water, and +about one hundred yards from the native village. Having outspanned, we +at once set about making for the cattle a kraal of the worst +description of thorn trees. Of this I had now become very particular, +since my severe loss by lions on the first of this month; and my +cattle were, at night, secured by a strong kraal, which enclosed my +two wagons, the horses being made fast to a trektow, stretched to the +two hind-wheels of the wagons. I had yet, however, a fearful lesson to +learn as to the nature and character of the lion, of which I had at +one time entertained so little fear; and on this night a horrible +tragedy was to be acted in my little lonely camp of so very awful and +appalling a nature as to make the blood curdle in our veins. I worked +till near sun down at one side of the kraal with Hendrick, my first +wagon driver--I cutting down the trees with my axe, and he dragging +them to the kraal. When the kraal for the cattle was finished, I +turned my attention to making a pot of barley broth, and lighted a +fire between the wagons and the water, close on the river's bank, +under a dense grove of shady trees, making a sort of kraal around our +sitting place for the evening. + +The Hottentots, without any reason, made their fire about fifty yards +from mine; they according to their usual custom, being satisfied with +the shelter of a large dense bush. The evening passed away cheerfully. +Soon after it was dark we heard elephants breaking the trees in the +forest across the river; and once or twice I strode away into the +darkness some distance from the fireside, to stand and listen to them. +I little, at that moment, deemed of the imminent peril to which I was +exposing my life, nor thought that a blood-thirsty man-eater lion was +crouching near, and only watching his opportunity to spring into the +midst of us, and consign one of our number to a most horrible death. +About three hours after the sun went down I called to my men to come +and take their coffee and supper which was ready for them at my fire; +and after supper three of them returned before their comrades to their +own fireside, and lay down; these were John Stofolus, Hendrick, and +Ruyter. In a few minutes an ox came out by the gate of the kraal and +walked out by the back of it. Hendrick got up and drove him in again, +and then went back to his fireside and lay down. Hendrick and Ruyter +lay on one side of the fire under one blanket, and John Stofolus lay +on the other. At this moment I was sitting taking some barley-broth; +our fire was very small, and the night was pitch-dark and windy. Owing +to our proximity to the native village the wood was very scarce, the +Bakalahari having burnt it all in their fires. + +Suddenly the appalling and murderous voice of an angry blood-thirsty +lion burst upon my ears within a few yards of us, followed by the +shrieking of the Hottentots. Again and again the murderous roar of +attack was repeated. We heard John and Ruyter shriek, "The lion, the +lion!" still, for a few moments, we thought he was chasing one of the +dogs round the kraal; but, the next instant, John Stofolus rushed into +the midst of us, almost speechless with fear and terror, his eyes +bursting from their sockets, and shrieked out, "The lion, the lion! He +has got Hendrick; he dragged him away from the fire beside me. I +struck him with the burning brands upon his head, but he would not let +go his hold. Hendrick is dead! Oh, God! Hendrick is dead! Let us take +fire and seek him!" + +The rest of my people rushed about shrieking and yelling as if they +were mad. I was at once angry with them for their folly, and told them +if they did not stand still and keep quiet the lion would have another +of us; and that very likely there was a troop of them. I ordered the +dogs, which were nearly all fast, to be made loose, and the fire to be +increased as far as could be. I then shouted Hendrick's name, but all +was still. I told my men that Hendrick was dead, and that a regiment +of soldiers could not now help him, and, hunting my dogs forward, I +had every thing brought within the cattle-kraal, when we lighted our +fire and closed the entrance as well as we could. My terrified people +sat round the fire with guns in their hand till the day broke, still +fancying that every moment the lion would return and spring again into +the midst of us. + +When the dogs were first let go, the stupid brutes, as dogs often +prove when most required, instead of going at the lion, rushed +fiercely on one another, and fought desperately for some minutes. +After this, they got his wind, and going at him, disclosed to us his +position; they kept up a continual barking until the day dawned, the +lion occasionally springing after them and driving them in upon the +kraal. The horrible monster lay all night within forty yards of us, +consuming the wretched man whom he had chosen for his prey. He had +dragged him into a little hollow at the back of a thick bush, beside +which the fire was kindled, and there he remained till the day dawned, +careless of our proximity. + +It appeared that when the unfortunate Hendrick rose to drive in the +ox, the lion had watched him to his fireside, and he had scarcely lain +down when the brute sprang upon him and Ruyter, for both lay under one +blanket, with his appalling murderous roar, and, roaring as he lay, +grappled him with his fearful claws, and kept biting him on his breast +and shoulder, all the while feeling for his neck; having got hold of +which, he dragged him away backwards round the bush into the dense +shade. + +As the lion lay upon the unfortunate man he faintly cried, "Help me, +help me! Oh, God! men, help me!" After which the fearful beast got a +hold of his neck, and then all was still, except that his comrades +heard the bones of his neck cracking between the teeth of the lion. +John Stofolus had lain with his back to the fire on the opposite side, +and on hearing the lion he sprang up, and, seizing a large flaming +brand, he had belabored him on the head with the burning wood; but the +brute did not take any notice of him. The Bushman had a narrow escape; +he was not altogether scatheless, the lion having inflicted two gashes +in his seat with his claws. + +The next morning, just as the day began to dawn, we heard the lion +dragging something up the river-side under cover of the bank. We drove +the cattle out of the kraal, and then proceeded to inspect the scene +of the night's awful tragedy. In the hollow, where the lion had lain +consuming his prey, we found one leg of the unfortunate Hendrick, +bitten off below the knee, the shoe still on his foot; the grass and +bushes were all stained with his blood, and fragments of his pea-coat +lay around. + +Poor Hendrick! I knew the fragments of that old coat, and had often +marked them hanging in the dense covers where the elephant had charged +after my unfortunate after-rider. Hendrick was by far the best man I +had about my wagons, of a most cheerful disposition, first-rate wagon +driver, fearless in the field, ever active, willing, and obliging: his +loss to us all was very serious. I felt confounded and utterly sick in +my heart; I could not remain at the wagons, so I resolved to go after +elephants to divert my mind. I had this morning heard them breaking +the trees on the opposite side of the river. I accordingly told the +natives of the village my intentions; and having ordered my people to +devote the day to fortifying the kraal, I started with Piet and Ruyter +as my after-riders. + +It was a very cold day. We crossed the river, and at once took up the +fresh spoor of a troop of bull elephants. These bulls unfortunately +joined a troop of cows, and the bulls were off in a moment, before we +could even see them. One remarkably fine old cow charged the dogs. I +hunted this cow and finished her with two shots from the saddle. Being +anxious to return to my people before night, I did not attempt to +follow the troop. + +My followers were not a little gratified to see me returning, for +terror had taken hold of their minds, and they expected that the lion +would return, and, emboldened by the success of the preceding night, +would prove still more daring in his attack. The lion would most +certainly have returned, but fate had otherwise ordained. My health +had been better in the last three days: my fever was leaving me, but I +was, of course, still very weak. It would still be two hours before +the sun would set, and feeling refreshed by a little rest, and able +for further work, I ordered the steeds to be saddled, and went in +search of the lion. + +I took John and Carey as after-riders, armed, and a party of the +natives followed up the spoor and led the dogs. The lion had dragged +the remains of poor Hendrick along a native footpath that led up the +river's side. We found fragments of his coat all along the spoor, and +at last the mangled coat itself. About six hundred yards from our camp +a dry river's course joined the Limpopo. At this spot was much cover, +and heaps of dry reeds and trees deposited by the Limpopo in some +great flood. The lion had left the footpath and entered this secluded +spot. I at once felt convinced that we were upon him, and ordered the +natives to make loose the dogs. These walked suspiciously forward on +the spoor, and next minute began to spring about, barking angrily, +with all their hair bristling on their backs: a crash upon the dry +reeds immediately followed--it was the lion bounding away. + +Several of the dogs were extremely afraid of him, and kept rushing +continually backwards springing aloft to obtain a view. I now pressed +forward and urged them on; old Argyll and Bles took up his spoor in +gallant style and led on the other dogs. Then commenced a short but +lively and glorious chase, whose conclusion was the only small +satisfaction that I could obtain to answer for the horrors of the +preceding evening. The lion held up the river's bank for a short +distance and took away through some wait-a-bit thorn cover, the best +he could find, but nevertheless open. Here, in two minutes, the dogs +were up with him, and he turned and stood at bay. As I approached, he +stood, his horrid head right to me, with open jaws growling fiercely, +his tail waving from side to side. + +On beholding him my blood boiled with rage. I wished that I could take +him alive and torture him, and setting my teeth, I dashed my steed +forward within thirty yards of him and shouted, "Your time is up, old +fellow." I halted my horse, and, placing my rifle to my shoulder, I +waited for a broadside. This, the next moment, he exposed, when I sent +a bullet through his shoulder and dropped him on the spot. He rose, +however, again, when I finished him with a second in the breast. The +Bakalahari now came up with wonder and delight. I ordered John to cut +off his head and forepaws and bring them to the wagons, and mounting +my horse I galloped home, having been absent about fifteen minutes. +When the Bakalahari women heard that the man-eater was dead, they all +commenced dancing about with joy, calling me _their father_. + + + + +Thrilling Adventures of Mr. Butler. + + +The early history of Kentucky is one continued series of daring and +romantic adventures. Had the founder of that state lived in the days +of chivalric yore, his exploits would have been sung in connection +with those of Arthur and Orlando; and his followers, in the same +region, would certainly have been knights of the Round Table. + +The hero of our story was one of these. Those who desire to inspect +his adventure, by the light of romance, will not be displeased at +learning that his choice of a hunter's life was determined by a +disappointment in the object of his early love. + +He was then only nineteen, yet he fearlessly left his native state, +and sought, amid the uncultivated wilds of Kentucky, the stirring +enjoyment of a western hunter. After rendering valuable service to the +Virginia colony, as a spy and pioneer, he undertook a voyage of +discovery to the country north of the Ohio. It was while thus engaged +that he was taken prisoner by the Indians. + +He was, no doubt, known to the Indians as an active and dangerous +enemy; and they now prepared to avenge themselves upon him. They +condemned him to the fiery torture, painted his body black, and +marched him toward Chilicothe. By way of amusement on the road, he was +manacled hand and foot, tied to an unbridled and unbroken horse, and +driven off amid the shouts and whoops of the savages; poor Butler thus +played the part of an American Mazeppa. The horse, unable to shake +him off galloped with terrific speed toward the wood, jarring and +bruising the rider at every step; but at length, exhausted and +subdued, it returned to camp with its burden, amid the exulting shouts +of the savages. When within a mile of Chilicothe, they took Butler +from the horse, and tied him to a stake, where, for twenty-four hours, +he remained in one position. He was then untied to run the gauntlet. +Six hundred Indians, men, women, and children, armed with clubs and +switches, arranged themselves in two parallel lines, to strike him as +he passed. It was a mile to the council-house, which if he reached, he +was to be spared. A blow started him on this encouraging race; but he +soon broke through the files and had almost reached the council-house, +when he was brought to the ground by a club. In this position he was +severely beaten and again taken into custody. + +These terrible sufferings, instead of satisfying the Indians, only +stimulated them to invent more ingenious tortures. Their cruelty was +not more astonishing than the fortitude of the victim. He ran the +gauntlet thirteen times; he was exposed to insult, privation, and +injury of every kind: sometimes he was tied, sometimes beaten. At +others, he was pinched, dragged on the ground, or deprived for long +periods of sleep. Then, amid jeers and yells, he was marched from +village to village, so that all might be entertained with his +sufferings. Yet, amid each torture, he never failed to improve an +opportunity favorable for escaping, and in one instance would have +effected it, but for some Indians whom he accidentally met returning +to the village. Finally it was resolved to burn him at Lower Sandusky. +The procession, bearing the victim to the stake, passed by the cabin +of Simon Girty, whose name is a counterpart to that of Brandt, in the +annals of Pennsylvania. This man had just returned from an +unsuccessful expedition to the frontier of that state, burning, of +course, with disappointment, and a thirst for revenge. Hearing that a +white prisoner was being carried to the torture, he rushed out, threw +Butler down, and began to beat him. + +The reader will not be apt to imagine that this was in any way +favorable to Butler's escape; yet it was so. He instantly recognised +in the fierce assailant a companion of early days, and as such made +himself known. The heart of the savage relented. He raised up his old +friend, promised to use his influence for him, summoned a council, and +persuaded the Indians to resign Butler to him. Taking the unfortunate +man home, he fed and nursed him until he began to recover. But five +days had scarcely expired, when the Indians relented, seizing their +victim, and marched him to be burned at Lower Sandusky. By a +surprising coincidence, he here met the Indian agent from Detroit, who +interceded and saved him. He was taken to that town, paroled by the +governor, and subsequently escaped through the woods to Kentucky. + + + + +Robert and Samuel M'Afee. + + +Early in May, 1781, M'Afee's station, in the neighborhood of +Harrodsburg, Kentucky, was alarmed by the approach of Indians. On the +morning of the 9th, Samuel M'Afee, accompanied by another man, left +the fort in order to visit a small plantation in the neighborhood, and +at the distance of three hundred yards from the gate, they were fired +upon by a party of Indians in ambush. The man who, accompanied him +instantly fell. An Indian rushed up, dropped his rifle, scalped the +man, and holding up the bleeding trophy, gave a yell of delight. + +M'Afee attempted to regain the fort. While running for that purpose, +he found himself suddenly intercepted by an Indian, who, springing out +of the canebrake, placed himself directly in his path. Each glared +upon the other for an instant, in silence, and both raising their guns +at the moment, pulled the triggers together. The Indian's rifle +snapped, while M'Afee's ball passed directly through his brain. Having +no time to reload his gun, he sprung over the body of his antagonist, +and continued his flight to the fort. When within one hundred yards of +the gate, he was met by his two brothers, Robert and James, who at the +report of the guns, had hurried out to the assistance of their +brother. Samuel hastily informed them of their danger, and exhorted +them to return. James readily complied, but Robert, declared that he +must have a view of the dead Indian. He ran on for that purpose, and +having enjoyed the spectacle, was returning, when he saw five or six +Indians between him and the fort, evidently bent on taking him alive. +All his activity and presence of mind was put in request. He ran from +tree to tree, endeavoring to turn their flank, and reach one of the +gates, and after a variety of turns and doublings, he found himself +pressed by only one Indian. M'Afee turned upon his pursuer, and +compelled him to take shelter behind a tree. Both stood still for a +moment--M'Afee having his gun cocked, and the sight fixed where he +supposed the Indian would thrust out his head in order to have a view +of his antagonist. After waiting a few seconds, the Indian exposed a +part of his head to take sight, when M'Afee fired, and the Indian +fell. While turning, to continue the flight, he was fired on by a +party of six, which compelled him again to tree. But scarcely had he +done so, when he received the fire of three more enemies which made +the bark and dust fly about him. Finding his post dangerous, he ran +for the fort, which he reached in safety, to the inexpressible joy of +his brothers, who had despaired of his return. + + + + +A few days' Sport in Chinese Tartary. + + +Much may have been said, but little has been written, of the yet but +very partially explored part of the world between China and the +Himayla chain. Moorcroft and Gerard, some thirty years ago, visited +some parts bordering on the extreme north-west of the British +possessions in India. Fraser, a few years later, penetrated probably +those parts of it adjoining the central hill sanatoriums of Simla and +Almorah, and he, like his predecessors, was stopped by the jealous +government and its inhabitants. Previous to entering Chinese Tartary +from British India, the traveller has to cross certain of the passes +in the great snowy range, some of them varying in height from sixteen +to eighteen thousand feet above the level of the sea. + +The Barinda, one of the most frequented and best known of these +passes, is variously estimated at from seventeen to eighteen thousand +feet. The months of June, July, and August are generally considered +the best months for crossing. + +The scenery in and around these passes is of the most sublime +description. As I should assuredly fail, however, in describing it, I +must content myself with a narration of some personal adventures which +befel me in an attempt to carry into effect a long cherished +determination to make the acquaintance of the seeta bhaloo (white +bear) and the burul, (white sheep,) found only in these regions. By +the route I took, seventeen marches brought me to the snow. Here our +"roughing" commenced, the Peharrees, or hill men, of our side of the +snow, having a most religious horror of the great snowy range. The air +there they declare is charged with "bis" (poison,) and this is the +only way they can in their original way account for the painful and +distressing effects which the rarefied air in those elevations +produces on the human frame. The first intimation we have that we are +far above the altitude of comfort, is a dull, heavy pain on the +shoulders, as if you were carrying a load above your capacity; then a +very painful sensation on the forehead, as if it had been bandaged +unpleasantly tight, accompanied by a burning sensation of the eyes and +nose, followed by an involuntary bleeding of the latter. + +This last symptom of the effects of high rarefaction, is, to an +Englishman, at least it was to us, always a great relief. It operates +differently upon the natives; they become only more alarmed and +helpless, and, unless hurried through the passes very expeditiously, +invariably perish. On my first trip, I left two unfortunate hill men +in the Sogla Pass. Two more would have perished, had not I taken one +wheelbarrow fashion, by the legs, and dragged him after me, although +very much distressed myself, until we had descended sufficiently to +rest with safety. My head man, Jye Sing, by my direction, took the +other man, and both were saved. + +After getting through the pass, we came upon the inhabited tracks, and +made the acquaintance of the Bhootias. I found them very original, +very dirty, and very honest with regard to every thing except tobacco. +This, neither father nor mother, husband or wife, could help stealing, +whenever they had the opportunity; and the most amusing part of it +was, they never attempted to deny the theft, but stoutly maintained +their right to the article! Numerous were the thrashings inflicted by +Buctoo on them for tobacco thieving, but the thefts did not diminish. + +As my object in coming into these dreary fastnesses was to get on +terms of familiarity with the quadrupedal rather than the bipedal +inhabitants, I will leave the Bhootias, and proceed to describe my +rencontres with the equally civilized four-footed denizens. I had in +my employ Shikarees (gameseekers) of no ordinary class, who, having +been many years with me, were well tutored; although, when first +caught, they were ignorance personified as far as sporting matters +went. Their original incapacity will be easily credited, when I inform +them that my second best man, Buctoo, had followed the sporting +occupation of a village fiddler, before he entered my service, and +knew as much of the capabilities of an English rifle as he did of the +"Pleiades." Jye Sing was a little better informed, for he told me +confidentially, one day, he had seen a gentleman at Subathoo actually +kill quail flying with small shot. His occupation had been that of +findal, or porter, to some families at Simla. Two months' training +turned him out, not only one of the most intelligent, but pluckiest +Shikaree I ever had. + +Having, in my numerous excursions into the hills, obtained some very +vague information from the many villagers I came in contact with, that +they had often heard from parties residing near the snow that there +was an animal to be found there strongly resembling the famous sheep, +(_Ovid Burul_,) I determined upon despatching Jye Sing and Buctoo to +those regions, to obtain all the precise information that might be +available, cautioning them not to return without either having seen +the animal, or bringing me some proof of its existence, and further +promising them a handsome present, if they brought me satisfactory +information. They were absent two months, and returned with some most +marvellous stories about what they had seen and heard, and, as a proof +of the existence of the animal, brought me the horn of a wild sheep +they had picked up in one of the valleys in the snow, after an +avalanche had melted. This physical fragment at once removed all my +doubts, the horn being different from that of any tame sheep. I was +now wound up to the highest pitch of excitement; my marching +establishment was soon put in order, and we started on the following +day. Fifteen forced marches brought me to the foot of the snow, and +also to the last village, called "Ufsul." I found the inhabitants of +this village a most rude and demi-barbarous race, knowing little, and +wishing to know less, of Englishmen, of whom they seemed to have the +greatest dread. However, two days' soft sawdering with a plentiful +supply of hill "buckshee," (spirits,) made them more communicative; +and they at last informed me, if I would promise only to remain a +week, they would show me the wild sheep. This promise, of course, I +gave; and on the following morning at daybreak, (shivering cold it +was,) we started to ascend the snow-capped mountains and glaciers, +which the animal patronized. On the road up I was sorely tempted to +draw my ball and ram down shot, in order to bring down some of the +many woodcocks we were constantly flushing, and which were so +unaccustomed to be disturbed, that they only flew a few yards away; +but I resisted the temptation. + +As we progressed in the region of eternal snow, we began to find +pedestrianism a difficult task. Some parts of the path were very +slippery and hard; others, soft and knee-deep in snow. An idea may be +formed of the height we had to ascend, and the nature of the ground +which we traversed, when I mention that we left our tents at seven +o'clock in the morning, and had not arrived at the "sheep-walk" before +one. + +Now commenced the difficulty. The burrul, from its well-known and +secluded habits, is a most difficult animal to approach. I was at +last, however, rewarded for my labor. About two o'clock we came upon +the fresh marks of the flock; we followed them for some distance, but +coming near a hot spring where they had evidently been grazing, lost +of course all farther track. For the next hour I worked on one +glacier, around another, used my telescope, but could not discern any +object. Suddenly one of the villagers called my attention to something +above me. I looked up and beheld a pair of enormous horns bending +over. None of the body of the animal was then visible. I now +cautiously moved a short distance to the right, when I had the +satisfaction of seeing not only his horns, but a full broadside view +of the first wild sheep I ever saw. He was about one hundred and fifty +yards off. Having elevated the proper sight, I brought my rifle to +bear on the shoulder, took a steady and gradual draw of the trigger, +the rifle cracked, and dead came down the burrul of Thibet. + +Perhaps, up to this time, the burrul had known no other mortal foe +than the white, or whitey-brown bear of the hills--the seeta bhaloo, +as he is called. And this brings me to another part of my sporting +excursion. + +Whether from the scarcity of food, or the amiability of their +dispositions, the seeta bhaloo are to be met with constantly in small +bodies of from five to ten, differing in this respect from their sable +brethren, who are generally found alone, unless a matrimonial alliance +has been formed, when the intrusion of a third party, whether male or +female, ensures a fight. + +The white bear is only carnivorous when pressed by hunger, and in that +state is very destructive to the numerous Tartar flocks of sheep, for +Bruin, with an empty larder is not to be deterred from his ravenous +attacks by men or dogs--a haunch of mutton he will have. His mode of +devouring it differs greatly from that of the tiger or leopard. He +tears the fleece off with his paws, and instead of gnawing and tearing +the flesh, as most carnivorous animals do, he commences sucking it, +and in this way draws off the flesh in shreds, thus occupying four or +five hours in doing what a tiger or leopard would effectually achieve +in half an hour. It is well known among the Tartars, (and I know it +also from experience,) that a bear, after feasting off flesh, is a +very dangerous customer, and will always show fight. If near the +carcass he has captured, he will give very little trouble in looking +for him, indeed, he will almost invariably attack the intruder. + +One day while following up some wild sheep, I came upon two bears very +busily engaged in digging up the snow where an avalanche had fallen. +Being hid from their sight, I determined to wait some little time to +ascertain why they were digging. I accordingly placed myself behind a +rock, and allowed them to work away. In about an hour they had made a +very good opening; and on using my glass I found they had got hold of +something. I now pushed up to them. One immediately showed fight, and +came out to meet me. He made one charge at me, which I received with a +rifle ball, killing him the very first shot. The other bear got away. +On going up to the spot where they had been at work, I found the +exhumed bodies of three wild sheep. They had been carried away and +buried underneath the avalanche, probably as far back as the previous +year, considering the very compact and frozen state the snow was in. +The sheep were in excellent order. We skinned them, and took them to +our tents, and excellent mutton we all had for several days. + +On the melting of the snows, the golden eagle of the Himalaya--a +magnificent bird, often measuring thirteen feet from the tip of one +wing to the other--is one of the best of pointers a sportsman can +follow, to ascertain where any animal has been carried away in an +avalanche. He hovers over the spot, constantly alighting, and then +taking wing again; but if once you observe him pecking with his beak +you may proceed to the spot, and be certain of finding, a very short +distance below the snow, the carcass of a wild sheep, as fresh as it +was on the day on which it was carried away. Many a haunch of good +mutton have I obtained in this way. + +The Himalayan golden eagle is a very carrion crow, never destroying +its own game, and feeding on any dead carcass it may find. + +Many an eagle have I shot feeding on the carcass of an unfortunate +hill bullock, which, either through stupidity or fright, had tumbled +over a precipice; and never, during the many years I shot over all +parts of these hills, do I remember seeing a golden eagle pounce on or +carry away a living prey. + +The Tartar shepherds near the snow informed me that during the lambing +season the eagles were very troublesome. If a ewe dropped a sickly +lamb, and left it, the eagle would attack it, but never attempted to +stoop to carry away a live one, or one that followed its mother. The +Indian golden eagle is identical with the Lammergeyer of the Alps, but +wants the courage of the latter bird. + +A companion and myself had been working hard in the "Sogla," one of +the passes in the snowy range conducting into Chinese Tartary, after +the wild sheep, and found them this day wilder and more wary than on +any previous occasion. It is not generally known that there are two +species of wild sheep--one called the dairuk, and the other (an +enormous animal, at least as far as its horns are concerned) known to +naturalists as the _ovis ammon_. The horns and head of the latter are +as much as a hill man can lift, and singular enough the body is small +indeed, out of all proportion to the horns borne by a full-grown ram. +My companion and self espied on an opposite hill what we at first +(through our telescopes) thought was an enormous pair of horns moving +without any ostensible carriage. At last we observed the body, and I, +in delight, exclaimed, "By Jove, there is the ovis ammon at last." + +After considerable trouble and precious hard work, we worked up to +within the range, when a shot from my rifle brought the ram tumbling +down over the snow. I hoped and believed he was dead, but he was only +wounded. He got up again, and, in spite of the wound, made a very good +gallop over the deep snow. Finding he was too fast for us, we slipped +our dogs, and among them my poor "Karchia." The poor dog, as usual, +was first up with the ram, and seized him. The ram, having still a +good deal in him, broke the hold, and down he went to the bottom of +the ravine, where ran the Tonse river, a tributary of the Jumna here +in the snow. + +The river was covered over in many places by avalanches, and was also +partly frozen; but in many places there were large holes. The ram +bounded over these until my poor dog Karchia again closed with and +seized him behind. With a vigorous effort the ovis ammon shook him +off. A few yards before the steep was a large hole in the Tonse, the +water foaming up through it; into this ovis ammon threw himself, and +was carried under the snow. Heaven knows where. On arriving at the +spot I found my dog baying most piteously, and trying to bite away the +frozen sides, but to no purpose, and I was obliged immediately to get +him chained up, fearing he would have plunged in after the game, when +I should have lost him, and most probably my own life. Having thus +introduced the wild sheep and white bear of Tartary, a few sentences +may not unprofitably be spent in describing the genus homo of the +Snowy Range. The Tartars, as may be imagined, are a very original +race, and in those parts visited by me I found them very primitive and +intensive, always barring the petty larceny propensities. Depending +principally on the sale of their wool for their support, and being +Bhuddhists by religion, they dared not destroy animal life; but when +nature had deprived one of their bullocks or sheep of existence, +either by accident or old age, economy forbids their wasting the +carcass, and it is eagerly devoured by them. Some of the ancient rams +I saw would require a considerable deal of mastication and powerful +digestive organs when summoned to their forefathers and committed to a +Tartar's jaws. + +I cannot say that the hill people thrive on the diet, for in +appearance they are a miserable-looking, stunted race, very filthy in +their habits, seldom changing their coarse woollen clothing, and +entertaining a religious horror of cold water. + +They have no objection to the good things brought from our side of the +snow, and I have seen them devour salt beef and pork with great gusto. +But what they must delight in, when they can get it, is English brandy +and tobacco. The former they will drink in great quantities, and for +men unaccustomed to liquor it is astonishing how well they resist its +intoxicating properties. I saw one man, a "Siana," the head of a +village, drink off two bottles of pure brandy without apparently +feeling any ill effects from the potation. On questioning him about +his sensations, he said that the only difference he found between the +brandy and water was, that it made his inside comfortably warm, and +his tongue very slippery, of which he gave us proof by chattering and +singing in a most uncouth way. Of all the horrible noises I ever +heard, those which a half-drunken Tartar makes are the most +discordant. The deep nasal and guttural noises he emits would beat +Welsh and Gaelic by a long chalk. + +Although petty thefts are common among the Thibetans, valuable +articles may with with safety be left among them--even money they will +never touch. Many an hour have I whiled away among them watching +Buctoo and Jye Sing showing them many articles of my property, the use +or value of which they could not comprehend. Of my guns and rifles, in +particular, they stood in great awe, and for a long time none of them +could be induced to touch one. Our telescopes also caused great +terror, and many were the learned arguments they had as to what +possibly could be the use of the latter. I invariably carried a +favorite "Dolland" across my shoulder, and Buctoo was provided with a +similar instrument, of which he was very proud, and in the use of +which he became very expert. + +One day, after a good day's sport, we had all sat down near a +beautiful spring, and I was enjoying a luncheon, when I found that +Buctoo had collected some fifty Tartars about him, who sat in a +circle, listening to his explanation of the use of his telescope. None +of his hearers could for some time be induced to touch it; they were +afraid of its either exploding or metamorphosing them into wild sheep. +The large village Tehong Si was about four miles below our bivouac, +and several of the head men had come up to have a look at us. The +village was just discernible to the naked eye, and Buctoo politely +inquired of one of the chiefs, if he would like to be informed what +was going on in the village below? The chief told him he should, when +Buctoo drew out the glass, on which all the Tartars moved off to a +respectful distance. + +After looking at the village, Buctoo persuaded them to come close to +him once more, and duly informed them what he could see in the +village, describing certain parts of it so correctly that they were +astounded. (I must here mention that neither myself nor any of my +servants had been allowed to enter the village.) The Tartars at first +could hardly credit it; but after sundry questions as to the +description of houses on the north side, and again on the southern, +which Buctoo, on carefully examining, correctly described, they became +sadly perplexed. Buctoo once more endeavored to persuade them to take +a look themselves, and, after much coaxing and a little brandy, one of +the head men was induced to take the telescope into his hand. + +The figure he cut in doing so, I shall not easily forget. He held it +out at arm's length, grinned at it most horribly, and chattered some +abominable gibberish in Tartaree, that no one understood, appearing to +expect every moment that the glass would bite him. After some minutes +spent in this way, he drew it near him, and by degrees became more +confident. Buctoo then approached him and set it, telling him how to +look through it. He then appeared very suspicious about this movement, +evidently fancying the glass was going to explode. At length he threw +it down, for which Buctoo boxed his ears. He then took it up again, +and it was brought to bear on the village. But the Tartar did us +again; for he shut both eyes. However, after a good deal of +persuasion, he was induced to open one and shut the other, and to peep +through the glass. For a second or two he trembled violently, and then +groaned heavily--threw down the glass, and commenced rolling down the +hill, head over heels, at a most awful pace. The whole batch, some +forty, were seized with the same complaint, and down they went after +their chief, roaring out, "Hi! ha!" at the top of their voice. Break +their necks they could not very easily; but how many of them escaped +serious injury I did not stop to ascertain. Upon seeing them all off, +I fell down heavily, fracturing my sides with laughter. Buctoo was in +the same state, and so were all my servants. We at last saw them, on +reaching a piece of level ground, get on their legs, the chief still +leading, and bolting for the village, at a pace that nothing would +warrant but a tin kettle at their heels. + +In about ten minutes we heard the gongs and bells beating and tolling +at a great pace, with frightful shouting from men and women, and this +lasted for two hours, when all became quiet. + +Not a Tartar could be got hold of for two days after this. At last, by +sending a small party rather near the village, several men showed +themselves, offering us any thing we wanted, if we would only return +to our proper side of the snow. This they were told we would do, if +they would only show us three or four more days' good sport; but if +not we would remain there six months, and turn them all into wild +sheep. Upon this they had a consultation, when it was decided that +they would show us excellent comfort provided we promised to take our +departure in four days, and never come there again. This was duly +agreed to, and after some very cautious approaches we got them once +more up to our tents. They certainly got their promise, for I had +excellent sport, and was therefore bound to fulfil my part of the +agreement. + +On the fourth day arriving, they were invited to come once more to the +tent, and to receive a few trifling rewards for the sport they had +shown. Brandy was first served out, and this soon restored confidence, +when the distribution of a few knives, looking-glasses, beads, etc., +etc., and sundry pieces of red cloth, brought them into good humor. +Every thing was going on as well as could be desired, when some +unfortunate dispute arose among some of my guides, (not my own +servants, but men taken from the last village on our side of the +snow,) and Tartars. They knew each other well, having, at a fair held +at the foot of the pass, a year's intercourse. These men, I have no +doubt, assisted by one of my own men, (and I strongly suspected +Buctoo, although he most solemnly denied it,) played them a sad trick. +I may here note that almost every Tartar carries a pipe, rudely made +of wrought iron, of about the size and shape of the common clay pipe. +Being inveterate smokers, a pipe full of good tobacco is one of the +most convincing arguments you can employ. While I was at dinner, I +ordered some tobacco to be given to them, and it was proposed they +should put that in their pouches, and allow some of my men to charge +their pipes with their own tobacco, of which they begged their +acceptance. + +The Tartars, nothing loth, assented, and each man gave his iron pipe +to be charged, which was duly done and returned to each owner. Smoking +then commenced, and on finishing my dinner and coming outside the +tent, I found the Tartars all in a circle, smoking away, and my men, +some ten yards from them, and above them, and talking to them. They +were also smoking. Thinking nothing of this at the time, I took no +notice, and had my chair brought outside, and smoked my segar. In less +than five minutes I was considerably astonished on hearing a salvo as +of a volley of musketry, and iron pipes flying up and down in all +directions. Then a general shout, and off went the Tartars, as if Old +Nick was at their heels, halloing most fearfully. They did not run +far, but brought up about three hundred yards from where they started, +and demanded their pipes back. I asked them what was the matter; when +they said they would never smoke English tobacco again, for we smoked +with tobacco, and shot with tobacco, and _Sheitzan_ must have been the +manufacturer. + + + + +Kangaroo Hunting. + + +Kangarooing in Tasman's Peninsula is essentially a pedestrian sport. I +am aware that in an open country, and especially in New South Wales, +where the chase is followed on horseback, my assertion may seem like +rank heresy. + +I have pursued the sport both mounted and on foot, and if a horse +enables you occasionally, on comparatively unincumbered ground, to see +something more of the run, you must still have pedestrians to hunt the +dogs. After all, decide this point as you will, we esteem it the +poorest variety of the chase. Some excitement must necessarily attend +it, but too much is left to the imagination, and too little of either +the game or the dogs is given to the eye. + +It is rarely, except when on horseback, that one has the good fortune +to be in at the death, or to see the kangaroo pulled down. + +The ground is usually hilly, the scrub thick, and the grass high. It +is needless to say that on the present occasion we were all on foot. +Forestier's Peninsula is no place for a horse, except the traveller be +jogging along the rugged and little frequented track which leads to +Hobart Town, by a most circuitous route. + +Away then we strode, skirting the shore pretty closely, until we came +to a valley which had been partially cleared by one of those extensive +bush conflagrations which are of annual occurrence. + +The forest is fired in several places every summer, with a view to +keeping down the scrub, and giving a chance of growth to the grass and +the larger forest trees. These burn for several consecutive days, and +at night the glare from them, lighting up the adjacent horizon, and +the wind at one time whirling along vast clouds of smoke, and again +throwing up sheets of flame and myriads of burning particles, produce +an effect as grand as can be imagined. Here, then, in the glade, we +paused, disposed ourselves in an extended line, slipped four dogs, and +gave the word, "go seek." + +Away they trotted with nose to the ground, cautiously hunting, +crossing and recrossing, but occasionally getting not only out of +sight in the long grass, but out of hearing and command. Presently a +sharp bark gave the signal of game started, and the next moment we +catch a glimpse of the kangaroo in mid air, as he bounds down the +declivity in a succession of leaps such as the kangaroos only can +accomplish. + +There he goes, his tiny ears laid back along his small deer-like head, +his forefeet gathered up like a penguin's flappers, and his long stout +tail erect in the air. Now bounding aloft, now vanishing as he leaps +into the waving grass. + +Two more of the dogs have sighted him, and are silently tearing along +on his track. Every bound increases his distance from his pursuers, he +winds round the base of the hill, to avoid the ascent, but up he must +go; this is the only chance for the dogs, for running up hill is the +kangaroo's weak point. But now we lose sight of both dogs and +kangaroo; a burst of three minutes has sufficed to exhaust our first +wind, and to break one of our shins; for tearing through grass as high +as one's middle and stumbling over charred stumps and fallen trees, +soon reduces one to the "dead beat" predicament. Jerry, alone, thanks +to his hard condition, follows the chase. + +All the party are now scattered, and after while reassemble by dint of +continuous "cooees." Whilst swabbing the perspiration off our brow, +one of the dogs makes his appearance, and, trotting slowly back with +panting flanks and lolling tongue, throws himself on his side +exhausted. His mouth is now carefully examined, and two fingers being +inserted, scoop round the fauces. The test is successful; there are +traces of blood and fluff. "Bravo! Rattler! Show him--good dog. Show +him!" Rattler rises with an effort, and lazily strikes into the bush, +to the right. We follow in Indian file, and at about half a mile +distant we come upon the kangaroo lying dead, with the second dog, old +"Ugly," stretched at its side. + +The kangaroo usually found in the Peninsula is not the largest +description commonly known in these colonies as the "boomer," or a +"forester," but the brush kangaroo, which rarely exceeds seventy +pounds in weight; forty is more common. There is a still smaller +variety, known as the "wallaby." The brush kangaroo is easily killed +by the dogs; a grip in the throat or loins usually suffices. The +boomer is a more awkward customer, and, if he can take to the water, +he shows fight, and availing himself of his superior height, he +endeavors to drown the dogs as they approach him. The kangaroo is a +graceful animal, but appears to most advantage when only the upper +part of his body is seen. His head is small and deer-shaped, his eyes +soft and lustrous, but his tapering superior extremities rise almost +pyramidally from a heavy and disproportioned base of hind legs and +tail. + +The kangaroo dog never mangles his prey although fond of the blood, +with a portion of which he is always rewarded. + +Jerry now threw himself on the ground beside the game, and, drawing +his _couteau de chasse_, commenced the operation of disemboweling. +After ripping up the belly, he thrust in his arm, and drawing out the +liver and a handful of coagulated blood, he invited the dogs to +partake of it. The carcass being gutted, some dry fern is thrust in, +the tail is drawn through the fore legs, and secured with a bit of +whipcord, and then the game is suspended over the shoulder--no +insignificant weight either. If the kangaroo be very heavy, the hind +quarters only are carried, but the skin being of some value, it is not +needlessly destroyed. + +There is a peculiarity in the stomach of the kangaroo, which I have +not seen noticed in descriptions of that animal, but of which I have +assured myself by frequent personal observation. On opening the +stomach, even while still warm, the grass found in it is swarming with +small white worms, about a quarter of an inch in length, and not +thicker than a fine thread. + +The entire contents of the stomach, even the most recently masticated +grass, and grass seems to be its only food, are equally pervaded with +these worms, which swarm in myriads, even where no signs of +decomposition are perceptible. + +Resuming our progress, we presently heard a baying from the dogs, who +had again dispersed to hunt. On nearing the spot whence the noise +proceeded, we found them assembled round the trunk of a large tree, in +the hollow of which was a large wombat, a most unsightly brute, in +appearance partaking somewhat of the bear, the pig, and the badger. An +average sized one weighs sixty pounds. The head is flat, neck thick, +body large, legs short, eyes and ears small: the feet provided with +sharp claws for burrowing, three on the hind foot, and an additional +one on the fore foot. They make deep excavations in the ground, and +live chiefly on roots. The hide is very tough and covered with a +coarse wiry hair, and with this defensive armor, and his formidable +teeth and claws, the wombat is a customer not much relished by the +dogs. It was not till we had stunned our new acquaintance, as he stood +at bay in his den, by repeated blows of our sticks on his head, that +we were able to drag him out, and cut his throat. + +The flesh is eatable, and I have heard that the hams are held in some +esteem, but cannot speak from personal experience. On the present +occasion none of our party was ambitious of the honor of carrying our +defunct friend during the day's march that we had before us; so I +contented myself with pocketing his four paws, and leaving the rest of +the carcass for formic epicures. + +Our destination for the evening was Eagle Hawk Neck, or rather our +dining quarters were there fixed, for I proposed to be home some time +during the night; and, as we had some twelve miles of fatiguing +walking before us, we now circled round towards Flinders' Bay, whence +we were to follow the foot track to the "Neck." + +It may readily be imagined that bush travelling in the Australian +colonies is often an intricate affair; long practice alone can give +one assurance and confidence. Few _habitues_ in the Peninsula think of +entering it without a pocket compass, flint, and steel, and even the +best bushmen have in their day been reduced to the greatest +extremities. + +For our own part, our ambition never inclined to the adventurous task +of exploring the bush, content with the subordinate part of trusting +to the superior sagacity of the more experienced; and often have our +wonder and admiration been excited by the unerring judgment of our +guide, when there was neither sun to direct, nor any opening above or +around whereby to obtain a view of the surrounding country. + +As we were approaching Flinders' Bay on our return, a kangaroo was +started some distance ahead of us; presently I observed an old dog, +who was wont to "run cunning," suddenly stop close in front of me. The +next moment the game, closely pursued, dropped in a bound, not six +yards from where I stood, and before he could rise again, old "Ugly" +had his prize by the throat. This proved to be a doe, and on examining +her pouch a foetus was found in it, perfectly detached as usual, and +about three inches and a half long. The generation, growth, and +alimentation of the foetus of the kangaroo and other marsupial animals +(ultra interine and detached from the parent, as it appears to be at +all stages,) is a mystery in physiology which has yet to be +unravelled. + +A "medico" who was of our party, did not neglect this opportunity for +research. With a view to the investigation of the subject at leisure, +he dropped the foetus into his glove for conveyance home. + +Outside the station of Flinders' Bay, we came upon a small limpid +stream, brawling over a rocky bed, which seemed a suitable place to +refresh the inner man with a sandwich, and a thimble full of Cognac. +Segars were then lighted, and, shouldering our game, we resumed our +route. + +The sun was low, when we descended the steep hill whence we opened a +view of Eagle Hawk Neck and the Pacific, and after a long and toilsome +ascent of the "Saddle," by a path which abounded more in loose sharp +stones than any which it has been my misfortune to fall in with. +However, refreshment was at hand, which we were quite in condition to +appreciate, for we will back a day's kangarooing against any other +sport, for giving a zest both to victuals and drink. + +Our host, C--, was famous for his kangaroo soup; this is made of the +tail of the animal, and when well prepared may vie with any oxtail, +if, indeed, it be not superior, having the advantage of a game flavor. +The flesh of the kangaroo resembles in taste and appearance that of +the hare, though drier and inferior in flavor when roasted. The only +part thus cooked is the hind quarter, which should be boned, stuffed, +and larded, and after all, the play is not worth the candle. Not so, +"kangaroo steamer." To prepare this savory dish, portions of the hind +quarter, after hanging for a week, should be cut into small cubical +pieces; about a third portion of the fat of bacon should be similarly +prepared, and these, together with salt, pepper, and some spice, must +simmer gently in a stewpan for three or four hours. No water must +enter into the composition, but a little mushroom ketchup added, which +served, is an improvement. + +Although averse to the diet of bush vermin, so often extolled in these +colonies, and although carefully eschewing all parrot pies, red-bill +ragouts, black swans, kangaroo rats, porcupines, and such vaunted +nastinesses, we strongly contend for the excellence of "kangaroo +steamer," as a most savory and appetizing dish. We cannot reproach it +with a fault, save its tendency to lead one to excess; the only +difficulty is to know when you have had enough. + +We were able to do ample justice to the the Alexander Selkirk of his +post, reigning in solitary grandeur, for he had not a single associate +within ten miles, could always boast of a well-stocked larder and +cellar. What with his garden, poultry-yard, and dairy, hunting and +sea-fishing, he was tolerably independent of the tri-weekly visits of +the boat which brought the commissariat supplies. + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Forest and Frontiers, by Roualeyn Gordon-Cumming + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOREST AND FRONTIERS *** + +***** This file should be named 8411.txt or 8411.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/8/4/1/8411/ + +Produced by Ted Garvin and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Henty + +Release Date: July, 2005 [EBook #8411] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on July 8, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOREST & FRONTIERS *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + +FOREST AND FRONTIERS + +OR, ADVENTURES AMONG THE INDIANS + +By George A. Henty + + + +Thrilling stories. + +Mr. Cumming's attack on four lions + + + +The most daring and adventurous of all hunters is Mr. Roualeyn Gordon +Cumming. Being an officer in the British service at the Cape of Good +Hope, his love of hunting adventures led him to resign his commission +in the army, and devote himself for five years to exploring the +interior of Africa, and hunting wild beasts. We shall quote his own +account of some of his adventures. + +The first incident of his career, to which we invite the reader's +attention, is one which he calls an attack on four patriarchal lions. +It occurred in the interior of Africa, not far from the junction of +the rivers Mariqua and Limpopo. He thus describes it. + +A few days after this, just as Swint had milked the cows, and was +driving them from the wooded peninsula in which we lay, athwart the +open ground, to graze with my other cattle in the forest beyond, he +beheld four majestic lions walking slowly across the valley, a few +hundred yards below my camp, and disappear over the river's bank, at a +favorite drinking place. These mighty monarchs of the waste had been +holding a prolonged repast over the carcases of some zebras killed by +Present, and had now come down the river to slake their thirst. This +being reported, I instantly saddled two horses, and, directing my boys +to lead after me as quickly as possible my small remaining pack of +sore-footed dogs, I rode forth, accompanied by Carey carrying a spare +gun, to give battle to the four grim lions. As I rode out of the +peninsula, they showed themselves on the banks of the river, and, +guessing that their first move would be a disgraceful retreat, I +determined to ride so as to make them think that I had not observed +them, until I should be able to cut off their retreat from the river, +across the open vley, to the endless forest beyond. That point being +gained, I knew that they, still doubtful of my having observed them, +would hold their ground on the river's bank until my dogs came up, +when I could more advantageously make the attack. + +I cantered along, holding as if I meant to pass the lions at a +distance of a quarter of a mile, until I was opposite to them, when I +altered my course, and inclined a little nearer. The lions showed +symptoms of uneasiness; they rose to their feet, and, overhauling us +for half a minute, disappeared over the bank. They reappeared, +however, directly, a little farther down; and finding that their +present position was bare, they walked majestically along the top of +the bank to a spot a few hundred yards lower, where the bank was well +wooded. Here they seemed half inclined to await my attack; two +stretched out their massive arms, and lay down in the grass, and the +other two sat up like dogs upon their haunches. Deeming it probable +that when my dogs came up and I approached they would still retreat +and make a bolt across the vley, I directed Carey to canter forward +and take up the ground in the centre of the vley about four hundred +yards in advance; whereby the lions would be compelled either to give +us battle or swim the river, which, although narrow, I knew they would +be very reluctant to do. + +I now sat in my saddle, anxiously waiting the arrival of my dogs; and +whilst thus momentarily disengaged, I was much struck with the +majestic and truly appalling appearance which these four noble lions +exhibited. They were all full-grown immense males; and I felt, I must +confess, a little nervous, and very uncertain as to what might be the +issue of the attack. When the dogs came up I rode right in towards the +lions. They sprang to their feet, and trotted slowly down along the +bank of the river, once or twice halting and facing about for half a +minute. Immediately below them their was a small determined bend in +the stream, forming a sort of peninsula. Into this bend they +disappeared, and next moment I was upon them with my dogs. They had +taken shelter in a dense angle of the peninsula, well sheltered by +high trees and reeds. Into this retreat the dogs at once boldly +followed them, making a loud barking, which was instantly followed by +the terrible voices of the lions, which turned about and charged to +the edge of the cover. Next moment, however, I heard them plunge into +the river, when I sprang from my horse, and, running to the top of the +bank, I saw three of them ascending the opposite bank, the dogs +following. One of them bounded away across the open plain at top +speed, but the other two, finding themselves followed by the dogs, +immediately turned to bay. + +It was now my turn, so, taking them coolly right and left with my +little rifle, I made the most glorious double shot that a sportsman's +heart could desire, disabling them both in the shoulder before they +were even aware of my position. Then snatching up my other gun from +Carey, who that moment had ridden up to my assistance, I finished the +first lion with a shot about the heart, and brought the second to a +standstill by disabling him in his hind quarters. He quickly crept +into a dense, wide, dark green bush, in which for a long time it was +impossible to obtain a glimpse of him. At length, a clod of earth +falling near his hiding-place, he made a move which disclosed to me +his position, when I finished him with three more shots, all along the +middle of his back. Carey swam across the river to flog off the dogs; +and when these came through to me, I beat up the peninsula in quest of +the fourth lion, which had, however, made off. We then crossed the +river a little higher up, and proceeded to view the noble prizes I had +won. Both lions were well up in their years; I kept the skin and skull +of the finest specimen, and only the nails and tail of the other, one +of whose canine teeth was worn down to the socket with the caries, +which seemed to have affected his general condition. + +Mr. Cumming Hunting Rhinoceroses. + + +Mr. Cumming thus describes his encounter with some rhinoceroses and an +eland, in the country of the Bechuanas. + +It was on the 4th of June, 1844, that I beheld for the first time the +rhinoceros. Having taken some coffee, I rode out unattended, with my +rifle, and before proceeding far I fell in with a huge white +rhinoceros with a large calf, standing in a thorny grove. Getting my +wind she set off at top speed through thick thorny bushes, the calf, +as is invariably the case, taking the lead, the mother guiding its +course by placing her horn, generally about three feet in length, +against its ribs. + +My horse shied very much at first, alarmed at the strange appearance +of "Chukuroo," but by a sharp application of spur and jambok I +prevailed upon him to follow, and presently, the ground improving, I +got alongside, and, firing at the gallop, sent a bullet through her +shoulder. She continued her pace with blood streaming from the wound, +and very soon reached an impracticable thorny jungle, where I could +not follow, and instantly lost her. In half an hour I fell in with the +second rhinoceros, being an old bull of the white variety. +Dismounting, I crept within twenty yards, and saluted him with both +barrels in the shoulder, upon which he made off, uttering a loud +blowing noise, and upsetting every thing that obstructed his progress. + +Shortly after this I found myself on the banks of the stream, beside +which my wagons were outspanned. Following along its margin, I +presently beheld a bull of the borele, or black rhinoceros, standing +within a hundred yards of me. Dismounting from my horse, I secured him +to a tree, and then stalked within twenty yards of the huge beast +under cover of a large strong bush. Borele, hearing me advance, came +on to see what it was, and suddenly protruded his horny nose within a +few yards of me. Knowing well that a front shot would not prove +deadly, I sprang to my feet and ran behind the bush. Upon this the +villain charged, blowing loudly, and chased me round the bush. Had his +activity been equal to his ugliness, my wanderings would have +terminated here, but by my superior agility I had the advantage in the +turn. + +After standing a short time eyeing me through the bush, he got a whiff +of my wind, which at once alarmed him. Uttering a blowing noise, and +erecting his insignificant yet saucy-looking tail, he wheeled about, +leaving me master of the field, when I sent a bullet through his ribs +to teach him manners. Of the rhinoceros there are four varieties in +South Africa, distinguished by the Bechuanas by the names of the +borele or black rhinoceros, the keitloa or two-horned rhinoceros, the +muchocho or common white rhinoceros, and the kobaoba or long-horned +white rhinoceros. Both varieties of the black rhinoceros are extremely +fierce and dangerous, and rush headlong and unprovoked at any object +which attracts their attention. They never attain much fat, and their +flesh is tough, and not much esteemed by the Bechuanas. Their food +consists almost entirely of the thorny branches of the wait-a-bit +thorns. + +Finding that rhinoceros were abundant in the vicinity, I resolved to +halt a day for the purpose of hunting, and after an early breakfast, +on the 6th, I rode south-east with the two Baquaines. They led me +along the bases of the mountains, through woody dells and open glades, +and we eventually reached a grand forest grey with age. Here we found +abundance of spoor of a variety of game, and started several herds of +the more common varieties. At length I observed an old bull eland +standing under a tree. He was the first that I had seen, and was a +noble specimen, standing about six feet high at the shoulder. +Observing us, he made off at a gallop, springing over the trunks of +decayed trees which lay across his path; but very soon he reduced his +pace to a trot. Spurring my horse, another moment saw me riding hard +behind him. Twice in the thickets I lost sight of him, and he very +nearly escaped me; but at length, the ground improving, I came up with +him, and rode within a few yards behind him. Long streaks of foam now +streamed from his mouth, and a profuse perspiration had changed his +sleek grey coat to an ashy blue. Tears trickled from his large dark +eye, and it was plain that the eland's hours were numbered. Pitching +my rifle to my shoulder, I let fly at the gallop, and mortally wounded +him behind; then spurring my horse, I shot past him on his right side, +and discharged my other barrel behind his shoulder, when the eland +staggered for a moment and subsided in the dust. The two Baquaines +soon made their appearance, and seemed delighted at my success. Having +kindled a fire, they cut out steaks, which they roasted on the embers; +I also cooked a steak for myself, spitting it upon a forked branch, +the other end of which I sharpened with my knife and stuck into the +ground. + +The eland is a magnificent animal, by far the largest of all the +antelope tribe, exceeding a large ox in size. It also attains an +extraordinary condition, being often burdened with a very large amount +of fat. Its flesh is most excellent, and is justly esteemed above all +others. It has a peculiar sweetness, and is tender and fit for use the +moment the animal is killed. Like the gemsbok, the eland is +independent of water, and frequents the borders of the great Kalahari +desert in herds varying from ten to a hundred. It is also generally +diffused throughout all the wooded districts of the interior where I +have hunted. Like other varieties of deer and and antelope, the old +males may often be found consorting together apart from the females, +and a troop of these, when in full condition, may be likened to a herd +of stall-fed oxen. + +The eland has less speed than any other variety of antelope; and, by +judicious riding, they may be driven to camp from a great distance. In +this manner I have often ridden the best bull out of the herd, and +brought him within gunshot of my wagons, where I could more +conveniently cut up and preserve the flesh, without the trouble of +sending men and packoxen to fetch it. I have repeatedly seen an eland +drop down dead at the end of a severe chase, owing to his plethoric +habit. The skin of the eland I had just shot emitted, like most other +antelopes, the most delicious perfume of trees and grass. + +Having eaten my steak, I rode to my wagon, where I partook of coffee, +and having mounted a fresh horse, I again set forth accompanied by +Carollus leading a packhorse, to bring home the head of the eland and +a supply of the flesh; I took all my dogs along with me to share in +the banquet. We had not proceeded far when the dogs went ahead on some +scent. Spurring my horse, I followed through some thorny bushes as +best I might, and emerging on an open glade, I beheld two huge white +rhinoceroses trotting along before me. The dogs attacked them with +fury, and a scene of intense excitement ensued. The Old Gray, on +observing them, pricked up his ears, and seemed only half inclined to +follow, but a sharp application of the spur reminded him of his duty, +and I was presently riding within ten yards of the stem of the +largest, and sent a bullet through her back. The Old Grey shied +considerably and became very unmanageable, and on one occasion, in +consequence, the rhinoceros, finding herself hemmed in by a bend in a +watercourse, turned round to charge, I had a very narrow escape. + +Presently, galloping up on one side, I gave her a bad wound in the +shoulder, soon after which she came to bay in the dry bed of a river. +Dismounting from my horse, I commenced loading, but before this was +accomplished she was off once more. I followed her, putting on my caps +as I rode, and coming up alongside, I made a fine shot from the +saddle, firing at the gallop. The ball entered somewhere near her +heart. On receiving this shot she reeled about, while torrents of +blood flowed from her mouth and wounds, and presently she rolled over +and expired, uttering a shrill screaming sound as she died, which +rhinoceroses invariably do while in the agonies of death. + +The chase had led me close in along the northern base of a lofty +detached mountain, the highest in all that country. The mountain is +called, by the Bechuanas, the Mountain of the Eagles. The eland which +I had shot in the morning lay somewhere to the southward of this +mountain, but far in the level forest. Having rounded the mountain, I +began to recognise the ground. + +I had the satisfaction to behold a few vultures soaring over the +forest in advance, and, on proceeding a short distance farther, large +groups of these birds were seated on the grey and weather-beaten +branches of the loftiest old trees of the forest. This was a certain +sign that the eland was not far distant; and on raising my voice and +loudly calling on the name of Carollus, I was instantly answered by +that individual, who, heedless of his master's fate, was actively +employed in cooking for himself a choice steak from the dainty rump of +the eland. That night I slept beneath the blue and starry canopy of +heaven. My sleep was light and sweet, and no rude dreams or hankering +cares disturbed the equanimity of my repose. + +One of Mr. Cumming's most perilous adventures was with a black +Rhinoceros, which gave chase to him, and nearly run turn down. He thus +describes this affair. + +On the 22d, ordering my men to move on to the fountain of Bootlonamy, +I rode forth with Ruyter, [Footnote: This is the name of a favorite +servant of Mr. Cumming.] and held east through a grove of lofty and +wide-spreading mimosas, most of which were more or less damaged by the +gigantic strength of a troop of elephants, which had passed there +about twelve months before. + +Having proceeded about two miles with large herds of game on every +side, I observed a crusty looking old bull borele, or black +rhinoceros, cocking his ears one hundred yards in advance. He had not +observed us; and soon after he walked slowly toward us, and stood +broadside to, eating some wait-a-bit thorns within fifty yards of me. +I fired from my saddle, and sent a bullet in behind his shoulder, upon +which he rushed forward about one hundred yards in tremendous +consternation, blowing like a grampus, and then stood looking about +him. Presently he made off. I followed, but found it hard to come up +with him. When I overtook him I found the blood running freely from +his wound. + +The chase led through a large herd of blue wildebeests, zebras, and +springboks, which gazed at us in utter amazement. At length I fired my +second barrel, but my horse was fidgety, and I missed. I continued +riding alongside of him, expecting in my ignorance that at length he +would come to bay, which rhinoceroses never do; when suddenly he fell +flat on his broadside on the ground, but, recovering his feet, resumed +his course as if nothing had happened. Becoming at last annoyed at the +length of the chase, as I wished to keep my horses fresh for the +elephants, and being indifferent whether I got the rhinoceros or not, +as I observed that his horn was completely worn down by age, and the +violence of his disposition, I determined to bring matters to a +crisis; so, spurring my horse, I dashed ahead, and rode right in his +path. + +Upon this the hideous monster instantly charged me in the most +resolute manner, blowing loudly through his nostrils; and although I +quickly wheeled about to my left, he followed me at such a furious +pace for several hundred yards, with his horrid horny snout within a +few yards of my horse's tail, that my little Bushman, who was looking +on in great alarm, thought his master's destruction inevitable. It was +certainly a very near thing; my horse was extremely afraid, and +exerted his utmost energies on the occasion. The rhinoceros, however, +wheeled about and continued his former course; and I being perfectly +satisfied with the interview which I had already enjoyed with him, had +no desire to cultivate his acquaintance any further, and accordingly +made for camp. + +We left the fountain of Bootlonamy the same day, and marched about six +miles through an old grey forest of mimosas, when we halted for the +night. Large flocks of guinea-fowls roosted in the trees around our +encampment, several of which I shot for my supper. + +On the 23d we inspanned by moonlight, and continued our march through +a thinly wooded level country. It was a lovely morning; the sun rose +in great splendor, and the sky was beautifully overcast with clouds. +Having proceeded about ten miles, the country became thickly covered +with detached forest trees and groves of wait-a-bit thorns. The guides +now informed us that the water, which is called by the Bechuanas, +"Lepeby," was only a short distance in advance; upon which I saddled +steeds, and rode ahead with the Bushman, intending to hunt for an hour +before breakfast. Presently we reached an open glade in the forest, +where I observed a herd of zebras in advance; and on my left stood a +troop of springboks, with two leopards watching them from behind a +bush. I rode on, and soon fell in with a troop of hartebeests, and, a +little after, with a large herd of blue wildebeests and pallahs. I +followed for aome distance, when they were reinforced by two other +herds of pallahs and wildebeests. Three black rhinoceroses now trotted +across my path. + +Presently I sprang from my horse, and fired right and left at a +princely bull blue wildebeest. He got both balls, but did not fall, +and I immediately lost sight of him in the dense ranks of his shaggy +companions. The game increased as we proceeded, until the whole forest +seemed alive with a variety of beautifully colored animals. On this +occasion I was very unfortunate; I might have killed any quantity of +game if venison had been my object; but I was trying to get a few very +superior heads of some of the master bucks of the pallahs. Of these I +wounded four select old bucks, but in the dust and confusion caused by +the innumerable quantity of the game I managed to lose them all. + +Encounter with a Lioness. + +When Mr. Cumming was in that part of the interior of South Africa +inhabited by the tribe called the Griquas, he had a remarkable and +fearful encounter with a lioness. He had been shooting some of the +various kinds of antelopes which abound in that country, under various +names, such as wildebeests, springboks, blesboks, and pallahs, when +the adventure occurred, which he thus describes. + +Suddenly I observed a number of vultures seated on the plain about a +quarter of a mile ahead of us, and close beside them stood a huge +lioness, consuming a blesbok which she had killed. She was assisted in +her repast by about a dozen jackals, which were feasting along with +her in the most friendly manner. + +Directing my followers' attention to the spot, I remarked, "I see the +lion;" to which they replied, "Whar? whar? Yah! Almagtig! dat is he;" +and instantly reining in their steeds and wheeling about they pressed +their heels to their horses' sides, and were preparing to betake +themselves to flight. I asked them what they were going to do. To +which they answered, "We have not yet placed caps on our rifles." This +was true; but while this short conversation was passing, the lioness +had observed us. Raising her full, round face, she overhauled us for a +few seconds, and then set off at a smart canter toward a range of +mountains some miles to the northward; the whole troop of jackals also +started off in another direction; there was, therefore, no time to +think of caps. + +The first move was to bring her to bay, and not a second was to be +lost. Spurring my good and lively steed, and shouting to my men to +follow, I flew across the plain, and, being fortunately mounted on +Colesberg, the flower of my stud, I gained upon her at every stride. +This was to me a joyful moment, and I at once made up my mind that she +or I must die. + +The lioness having had a long start of me, we went over a considerable +extent of ground before I came up with her. She was a large, full- +grown beast, and the bare and level nature of the plain added to her +imposing appearance. Finding that I gained upon her, she reduced her +pace from a canter to a trot, carrying her tail stuck out behind her, +and slewed a little to one side. I shouted loudly to her to halt, as I +wished to speak with her, upon which she suddenly pulled up, and sat +on her haunches like a dog, with her back toward me, not even deigning +to look round. She then appeared to say to herself, "Does this fellow +know who he is after?" + +Having thus sat for half a minute, as if involved in thought, she +sprang to her feet, and, facing about, stood looking at me for a few +seconds, moving her tail slowly from side to side, showing her teeth, +and growling fiercely. She next made a short run forward, making a +loud, rumbling noise like thunder. This she did to intimidate me; but +finding that I did not flinch an inch nor seem to heed her hostile +demonstrations, she quietly stretched out her massive arms, and lay +down on the grass. My Hottentots now coming up, we all three +dismounted, and, drawing our rifles from their holsters, we looked to +see if the powder was up in the nipples, and put on our caps, While +this was doing the lioness sat up, and showed evident symptoms of +uneasiness. She looked first at us, and then behind her, as if to see +if the coast were clear; after wnich she made a short run toward us, +uttering her deep-drawn, murderous growls. + +Having secured the three horses to one another by their reins, we led +them on as if we intended to pass her, in the hope of obtaining a +broadside. But this she carefully avoided to expose, presenting only +her full front. I had given Stofolus my rifle, with orders to shoot +her if she should spring upon me, but on no account to fire before me. +Kleinboy was to stand ready to hand me my Purdey rifle, in case the +two-grooved Dixon should not prove sufficient. My men as yet had been +steady, but they were in a precious stew, their faces having assumed a +ghastly paleness, and I had a painful feeling that I could place no +reliance on them. + +Now then for it, neck or nothing! She is within sixty yards of us, and +she keeps advancing. We turned the horses' tails to her. I knelt on +one side, and, taking aim at her breast, let fly. The ball cracked +loudly on her tawny hide, and crippled her in the shoulder, upon which +she charged with an appalling roar, and in the twinkling of an eye she +was in the midst of us, At this moment Stofolus's rifle exploded in +his hand, and Kleinboy, whom I had ordered to stand ready by me, +danced about like a duck in a gale of wind. + +The lioness sprang upon Colesberg, and fearfully lacerated his ribs +and haunches with her horrid teeth and claws; the worst wound was on +his haunch, which exhibited a sickening, yawning gash, more than +twelve inches long, almost laying bare the very bone. I was very cool +and steady, and did not feel in the least degree nervous, having +fortunately great confidence in my own shooting; but I must confess, +when the whole affair was over, I felt that it was a very awful +situation, and attended with extreme peril, as I had no friend with me +on whom I could rely. + +When the lioness sprang on Colesberg, I stood out from the horses, +ready with my second barrel for the first chance she should give of a +clear shot. This she quickly did; for, seemingly satisfied with the +revenge She had now taken, she quitted Colesberg, and slewing her tail +to one side, trotted sulkily past within a few paces of me, taking one +step to the left. I pitched my rifle to my shoulder, and in another +second the lioness was stretched on the plain a lifeless corpse. + +In the struggles of death she half turned on her back, and stretched +her neck and fore arms convulsively, when she fell back to her former +position; her mighty arms hung powerless by her side, her lower jaw +fell, blood streamed from her mouth, and she expired. At the moment I +fired my second shot, Stofolus, who hardly knew whether he was alive +or dead, allowed the three horses to escape. These galloped +frantically across the plain, on which he and Kleinboy instantly +started after them, leaving me standing alone, and unarmed, within a +few feet of the lioness, which they from their anxiety to be out of +the way, evidently considered quite capable of doing further mischief. + +Hunting the Blauwbok and Buffalo. + + +Among the various kinds of antelopes which inhabit South Africa, the +blauwbok, or blue buck, called by Mr. Cumming, the blue antelope, is +one of the most remarkable. It is six feet in length, three feet and a +half high to the back, and very compactly made. The horns are more +than two feet in length, round, closely annulated to within six inches +of the tips, bent back in a uniform but moderate curve, and very sharp +at the points. The general color of the hair is gray, with the insides +of the ears, a streak before each eye, the insides of the legs, and a +few hairs along the ridge of the neck, white. The hair on the body +divides on the line of the back, and is rather coarse and open. + +The skin under it on the upper part of the living animal is a black, +which shining through the grey, produces a sort of raven-blue tint. It +is the epidermis only and not the mucous tissue which has this black +color, otherwise the hair would have it; and it fades when the animal +is dead, as is the case with a highly-colored epidermis in almost all +animals. + +This animal was frequently pursued and shot by Mr. Cumming, in his +African hunts, and his flesh was found to be excellent. + +The Cape buffalo, or African buffalo, was a more troublesome object of +chase. This animal, has a most formidable front, and its general +aspect is shaggy and formidable. The horns are the most compact, and +in their substance the heaviest of all the ruminating animals, +excepting only some of those of the antelopes. This animal is +considerably lower than the Indian buffalo; but it is firmer, though +shorter in the legs, rounder in the body; and the beard and short mane +give it a rugged appearance. This is by far the most formidable animal +of the genus. It has never been tamed, and the males are dangerous to +come near. + +Mr. Cumming thus describes one of his encounters with this animal, by +himself and Ruyter, a Bushman, a favorite servant. + +On the forenoon of the 26th, I rode to hunt, accompanied by Ruyter; we +held west, skirting the wooded stony mountains. The natives had here +many years before waged successful war with elephants, four of whose +skulls I found. Presently I came across two sassaybies, one of which I +knocked over; but while I was loading he regained his legs and made +off. We crossed a level stretch of forest, holding a northerly course +for an opposite range of green, well wooded hills and valleys. Here I +came upon a troop of six fine old bull buffaloes, into which I +stalked, and wounded one princely fellow behind the shoulder, bringing +blood from nis mouth; he, however made off with his comrades, and the +ground being very rough we failed to overtake him. They held for the +Ngotwani. After following the spoor for a couple of miles, we dropped +it, as it led right away from camp. + +Returning from this chase, we had an adventure with another old bull +buffalo, which shows the extreme danger of hunting buffaloes without +dogs. We started him in a green hollow among the hills, and his course +inclining for camp, I gave him chase. He crossed the level broad +strath and made for the opposite densely wooded range of mountains. +Along the base of these we followed him, sometimes in view, sometimes +on the spoor, keeping the old fellow at a pace which made him pant. At +length, finding himself much distressed, he had recourse to a singular +stratagem. Doubling round some thick bushes which obscured him from +our view, he found himself beside a small pool of rain water, just +deep enough to cover his body; into this he walked, and facing about, +lay gently down and awaited our on-coming, with nothing but his old +grey face and massive horns above the water, and these concealed from +our view by rank overhanging herbage. + +Our attention was entirely engrossed with the spoor, and thus we rode +boldly on until within a few feet of him, when springing to his feet, +he made a desperate charge after Ruyter, uttering a low, stifling +roar, peculiar to buffaloes, (somewhat similar to the growl of a lion) +and hurled horse and rider to the ground with fearful violence. His +horns laid the poor horse's haunches open to the bone, making the most +fearful ragged wound. + +In an instant Ruyter regained his feet and ran for his life, which the +buffalo observing, gave chase, but most fortunately came down with a +tremendous somersault in the mud, his feet slipping from under him; +thus the Bushman escaped certain destruction. The buffalo rose much +discomfited, and, the wounded horse first catching his eye, he went a +second time at him, but he got out of the way. At this moment I +managed to send one of my patent pacificating pills into his shoulder, +when he instantly quitted the scene of action, and sought shelter in a +dense cover on the mountain side, whither I deemed it imprudent to +follow him. + +Adventures with snakes. + + +The following stories of fascination by snakes, is copied from +"Arthur's Home Gazette." It is no fiction; but is contributed by a +gentleman of Tennessee, who is willing to vouch for the truth of what +he relates. + +It has been a thousand times affirmed, and as often denied, that +certain serpents possess the power--independent of the touch--of +paralyzing their proposed victims. And it seems to be generally +admitted that this is done, if done at all, by the eye; for those +theorists who ascribe it to poison inhaled through the nostrils of the +charmed ones, offer us no example to confirm their theory, or to make +it worthy of a second thought. In extended rambles, alone as well as +with society, I have made the study of serpents a matter of amusement, +and familiarized myself--at least I had done so ten years back--to +handle them without any llesh-shrinking. As I got older, and my nerves +become weakened by long exposure to the seasons and to midnight +studies, more debilitating than Texas "northers," I must confess that +I am more timid; but I can yet join a hunt, or project one in good +"snake weather," with considerable gusto. I have never met with a +snake that could charm me, look he never so keenly, although I have +_faced them_ till they got tired, uncoiled, and beat an inglorious +retreat. And I am sure that I never _smell_ anything about a snake, +calculated to excite any other emotions or _motions_ except _holding +the nose_. And finally I never found a snake or snakelet that I would +turn my heel upon to flee, and for the very good reason that the +animal in question always runs first. + +So, ye manufacturers of snake stories horrific, amusive, or +instructive, put that against your tales of blacksnakes, copperheads, +cotton-mouths, horn-tails, water-mocassins, and the whole tribe else. + +But as to the _fascination_, what of that? + +Why, although I have never been fascinated, or seen a person in that +singular situation, yet I am a firm believer in the art, a believer +against my wishes--because evidence indisputable has been furnished +me, and in abundance. Now I leave out of the question, all the +influences of fright, surprise, etc., also all the humbug stories of +novel writers and romancers in private life, and yet there is a +remainder that I cannot cast out. One or two anecdotes, and then I +come to my principal proof. + +A gentleman of my acquaintance, passing along a bridle path, observed +a mouse running backwards and forwards, upon a fallen log, as if in +great terror. Reining in this horse, he paused full ten minutes, and +until the mouse disappeared on the farther side of the log. Drawing +nearer, and peeping over, his suspicions of Lucifer's guile were +verified--for mousey was within three inches of his open jaw, +"irresistibly attracted," said the narrator, "although he was drawing +back with all his might." The latter part of the tale is fishy--for +the gentleman was twenty feet off, and could not nave seen that--but +he saw the mouse finally disappear in that cavernous gullet; and when +he killed the snake-a large black one--the mouse lay in its stomach, +_without a wound_. How will that do? + +Another, well authenticated. A young man, of some twenty years, +passing along the road to school, on foot, was observed by some of his +companions in the rear to pause suddenly and look down. His fellows +intent on their conversation, were several minutes coming up; but when +they did so they witnessed a veritable case of fascination--for the +young man was looking intently into the eyes of a large rattlesnake, +coiled at his feet; nor could the voices of all his friends arouse +him. Being jerked back with some violence, he instantly recovered his +senses, but seemed to be puzzled to recall the circumstances connected +with his first view of the snake. After a mental effort he explained, +while the cold sweat poured from his face, and his limbs were flaccid +as an infant's, that the sound of a rattle had caused him to stop +short--that a pleasant halo danced before his eyes, and sweet sounds +met his ears--and that from that instant until the conclusion of the +trance, "he was as happy as he ever expected to be!" + +But now for the hardest knock of conviction. I will give it in the +language of the original narrator--premising that opponents to the +theory of serpent attraction auist knock under, or flatly contradict +my tale. In the latter event, I shall be compelled to settle the +question as Hodginson did his lawsuit, "by exhibiting the skin and +parading the witnesses." + +"In the month of April, a few years back," commences the witness, "I +took my eldest chap, an eight year old boy, but stout and bold enough +for a twelve year old--and sauntered down to Beech river, to spend the +evening [Footnote: Evening, in this place, signifies from noon until +dark; that's the Southern and Western notion always.] fishing. Finding +a large beech, whose spreading roots formed a natural easy chair, with +arms to it, I threw my line into the stream, and myself into the +cavity, to take the thing deliberately as I generally do on such +occasions. There had been a rise in Beech river sufficient to muddy +the water, and I knew the only chance was for cat (_bull-pouts_ the +Yankees call them,) so I chose a big hook and baited with a chunk of +bacon, big enough for an eight-pounder at least. That hook was a +Limerick, for which I had sent all the way to Porter, of 'The Spirit' +--that hook I was never more to behold. + +"The boy chose for himself a steep place about ten yards below me, and +after sticking his pole in the mud, like a lazy fellow, as he is, +amused himself by counting the stamens in some sorrel-flowers that +grew thick thereabouts. I listened to his chatter for a while as he +vacillated in his numbers--eight--nine--ten--twelve--until my own +thoughts took an interesting turn, and I heard to more of him for +several minutes. Then the sound of his voice again struck one, but a +little distance further down stream, as he tailed out--'Oh, Pa, look!' + +"Being well accustomed to his 'mares' nests,' I did not turn until he +had repeated several times the same words, and it was the singularity +of his tones at last that caused me to do it. His voice was +indescribably plaintive, clear, but low, and each vowel sound was +drawn out at great length, thus--' Oh-h-h-h, Pa-a-a-a, loo-oo-oo-ook, +--with the diminuendo, soft as the ring of a glass vessel, when struck. +I have heard Kyle, the flutist, while executing some of his thrilling +touches, strike his low notes very much like it. Slewing myself partly +round in my seat, I observed the little fellow standing bent forward, +his hands stretched out before him as if shielding his face from a +bush, while his whole body worked to and fro like the subjects in +certain mesmeric experiments that I nave observed when first they are +brought under 'the influence' of the operator. His face was partly +turned from me, but the cheek, which I saw was pale as death, and his +cloth cap was trembling on the back part of his head, as if forced +there by the workings of the scalp. + +"This was as much as I had time to oberve in the first hasty glance. +Astonished at his actions, though not at all alarmed--or the first +thought that occurred to me as that he was trying to catch a young +rabbit--I called out in a half-jocular tone, well, bubby boy, what is +it?' He made no reply, but continued that strange murmur of '--Oh-h-h, +Pa-a-a, loo-oo-ook,' and took a couple of paces forward, not as though +he wished to advance, but more in the style of a person who has leaned +too far forward and moves his feet to recover the perpendicular. I +arose, rather slowly, for it was a mere prompting of curiosity, and +walking towards him, called out in a tone of some authority, 'John, +come here!' Now I can say, without boasting, that my domestic +government is thorough, and my children will promptly obey my commands +in every thing, from the taking of a dose of quinine to the springing +out of bed at daylight of a frosty morning. My surprise, therefore, +was great to observe that the lad only answered my order, twice +repeated, by the same melancholy cry, and another stumble forward. + +"I was now thoroughly aroused. I hastened my own steps, for a horror +came over me as though I was in the presence of a demon. I advanced +directly behind the child, and looking over him, observed a thick bush +of the Early Honeysuckle, (_Azalea nudiflora_.) Into and through this +I glanced, but I observed no object to excite my notice. I had got +within a pace of him, and was in the act of putting my hand with some +force upon his shoulder, when following more precisely the direction +of his eyes, I looked at the foot of the bush, then about six feet +from me, and how shall I describe the sequel! + +"Like an electric shock, a sensation pervaded my whole frame, which, +although I can never forget, I must most imperfectly describe. I was +in a trance--the blood overcharged my brain--a murmuring sound, as of +an Aeolian, filled my ears-drops, like rain, oozed from my face--my +hat, first elevated to the very tips of the hairs, worked backwards +and fell to the ground--in brief, I was regularly, and for the first +and last time in my life, in a state of fascination. + +"No sensation of languor troubled me, for although I felt no +inclination to go forward, yet I seemed to myself perfectly able and +willing to stay where I was, so long as the world lasted. I was +perfectly happy in spite of my bodily excitement. A bright halo of +changeable colors, for all the world like the changeable lights I have +seen displayed in front of the American Museum, New York, filled all +my vision, in the very focus of which gleamed two keen points, like +sparks from the blacksmith's anvil, and they were so vivid that they +seemed to pierce me through and through. + +"How long this continued I cannot say, but I suppose only for a +minute. So far as my own perception of time's flight is concerned, +however, it might have been an age. + +"I was awakened by the harsh crackling of some dry sticks upon which +the boy had stepped as he continued to shuffle forward. The recovery +was as sudden as the attack. In an instant I was disenchanted. The +bush looked familiar, and I heard the fall of water in the stream, but +a thought of imminent danger now possessed my mind; so shouting with a +voice that made the woods ring, I seized the lad around the waist, and +heavy as he was, ran with him quite a quarter of a mile without +stopping. I confess it most frankly that I didn't stop until I fell +exhausted in the public road. To tell the cowardly truth, I should +have ran on until now if I had been able. So we fell down together and +lay for a good while panting. + +"Then I got up and propping myself against a poplar, took little John +on my knee. His nervous system was unstrung. He was weeping bitterly, +and sobbing as if his heart would break. His flesh was cold and +clammy, his pulse was almost still, and he hadn't strength to raise +his hands to his mouth. + +"I had some root ginger in my pocket--I always carry a piece with me-- +which I chewed and made him swallow. This revived him. Then I rubbed +him briskly, pinched his skin in divers tender spots, and by these +means and cheerful conversation, got him so that he could stand alone +and answer my questions. I never saw such a fool thing as he was! He +was not at all alarmed, very willingly consented to return with me-- +for I'd die but what I'd see it but--thought there ought to be a perch +on his hook by this time, thought it was Sunday, thought there was +snow somewhere, 'twas so cold,--and all such notions as that. + +"Every few minutes he would burst into an uncontrollable flood of +tears, but he couldn't tell for what. + +"You will want to know how I felt all this time. Well, when I got a +minute's leisure from attending to him and could notice my own +feelings, I found that I was snivelling too! that my pulse was small, +my nose had been profusely bleeding, and the blood had drenched me to +the very boot tops, and I felt altogether as exhausted as one does who +has had a month's spell of the chills. + +"We were a precious pair, daddy and son, as we sat under that poplar. +I am sure I never felt so foolish in all my life. Well, back we +started, for my spunk was up; and, beside that, I had left my hat, +handkerchief, dinner, and memorandum book, and was bound to have them. +I felt the most burning curiosity to understand the puzzle while my +mental faculties were completely obfuscated by it. + +"Neither of us said a word of the affair itself, for John didn't seem +to know that he had been frightened, and I was afraid to alarm him by +speaking of it. He asked no questions of any sort, although in general +he is a miniature Paul Pry, expressed no surprise that I was +bareheaded and bloody, or that we had come so far from the fishing +place and left our tackle behind. His face expressed confusion, such +as a child will exhibit when he is waked suddenly by falling out of +bed, and commences grasping around the bedpost preparatory to getting +in again. I knew that something frightful was there, and felt that we +had escaped some great peril, but what the object or what the peril I +had no idea whatever. I am sure, however, that the notion of a snake +never entered my mind, but if any thing tangible, if was of a wild +cat, for the recollection of Cooper's panther story in the Pioneers +occurred to me, and I cut a stout hickory sapling to be prepared. We +arrived with slow steps at the haunted spot, for both were exhausted, +and I felt the value of prudence. There lay my basket by the beech +root, more by token that the hogs had found it and were just devouring +the last morsel of bread and meat so carefully deposited therein. + +"There was my fishing line, but the eight-pounder had become weary and +worn, and carried off my Limerick hook. There was my hat near the +honeysuckle bush, but the phantom itself, with its diamond eyes and +mystic powers, was gone. Frightened probably by the hogs, unromantic +objects in every point of view, he had fled; but I found him within +fifty yards in the form of a _rattlesnake_, full six feet from tip to +tip, and glorying in fourteen full rattles. + +"I had my revenge in every possible form. I looked at him for ten +minutes at a time, but the power was gone, and I only saw two keen, +devilish-looking eyes. Then I punched him till he spent all his venom +on my stick. Then I made him drunk on tobacco juice, ingloriously and +brutally drunk. + +"Getting tired at last, I gave him the _coup de grace_, skinned him, +and returned home. He hangs now in loops over my family bed. Those +eyes that thrilled my heart so strangely are dim with dust. Those +fangs, which in a few minutes more would probably have sent death to +the heart's fountain of my boy, are now in Europe, a part of the +collection admired by countless crowds at the British Museum. The +subject is fast fading from my memory,'mid the cares of life, and had +you not asked me to write it out for you, I should have thought of it +but a little longer. Let it stand as another testimony, and a most +unwilling one, too, of the fascinating powers of serpents on the +human." + +So far my correspondent tells his own tale in language sufficiently +plain and explicit. If any figure him out as a man of feeble frame and +low stature, let them change their fancy at once. + +He is a strong, muscular man, an old bear hunter, one who has fought +Indians in the Florida swamps; a person withal, of unquestionable +veracity, and in all respects the last man to impose on others, or be +imposed upon by anything, fish, flesh, or fowl. + +Contests with Large Snakes + + +The family of snakes called Boidae, including the Boas and Pythons are +huge snakes confined to the hotter regions of the globe, and +formidable from their vast strength and mode of attack. They lurk in +ambush and dart upon their victim, which in an instant is seized and +enveloped in their folds, and crushed to death or strangled. For their +predatory habits they are admirably adapted; their teeth are terrible, +and produce a dreadful wound; the neck is slender, the body increasing +gradually to about the middle in diameter, and then decreasing. The +tail is a grasping instrument, strongly prehensile, and aided by two +hooklike claws, sheathed with horn, externally visible on each side, +beneath, just anterior to the base of the tail. Though externally +nothing beyond these spurs appear, internally is found a series of +bones, representing those of the hinder limbs, but of course +imperfectly developed; yet they are acted upon by powerful muscles, +and can be so used as to form a sort of antagonist to the tail while +grasping any object; they thus become a fulcrum giving additional +force to the grasp, which secured thereby to a fixed point, giving +double power to the animal's energy. + +The emperor boa, or boa constrictor as well as all the others to which +the name boa applies are, according to Cuvier, natives of America. The +engraving represents one of these terrible snakes in the act of +strangling a deer. + +The Aboma (_Boa cenchrea_) has scaly plates on the muzzle, and pits or +dimples upon the plates of the jaws. + +Endowed with powers which in a semicivilized state of society must +operate powerfully on the mind; at ease and freedom alike on the land, +in the water, or among the trees; at once wily, daring, and +irresistible in their attack, graceful in their movements, and +splendid in their coloring--that such creatures, to be both dreaded +and admired, should become the subject of superstitious reverence, is +scarcely to be wondered at. The ancient Mexicans regarded the boa as +sacred; they viewed its actions with religious horror; they crouched +beneath the fiery glances of its eyes; they trembled as they listened +to its long-drawn hiss, and from various signs and movements predicted +the fate of tribes or individuals, or drew conclusions of guilt or +innocence. The supreme idol was represented encircled and guarded by +sculptured serpents, before which were offered human sacrifices. + + + "On a blue throne, with four huge silver snakes, + As if the keepers of the sanctuary, + Circled, with stretching necks and fangs display'd, + Mexitli sate: another graven snake + Belted with scales of gold his monster bulk." + +It is probably of the boa constrictor, the emperor, the devin, that +Hernandez writes, under the name of Temacuilcahuilia, so called from +its powers, the word meaning a fighter with five men. It attacks, he +says, those it meets, and overpowers them with such force, that if it +once coils itself around their necks it strangles and kills them, +unless it bursts itself by the violence of its own efforts; and he +states that the only way of avoiding the attack is for the man to +manage in such a way as to oppose a tree to the animal's constriction, +so that while the serpent supposes itself to be crushing the man, it +may be torn asunder by its own act, and so die. We do not ask our +readers for their implicit faith in this. He adds, that he has himself +seen serpents as thick as a man's thigh, which had been taken young by +the Indians and tamed; they were provided with a cask strewn with +litter in the place of a cavern, where they lived, and were for the +most part quiescent, except at meal-times, when they came forth, and +amicably climbed about the couch or shoulders of their master, who +placidly bore the serpent's embrace. They often coiled tip in folds, +equalling a large sized cartwheel in size, and harmlessly received +their food. + +In most accounts current respecting the mode in which boas and pythons +take their food, the snake, after crushing its prey, is described as +licking the body with its tongue and lubricating it with its saliva, +in order to facilitate the act of deglutition. It has been observed +with justice that few worse instruments for such a purpose than the +slender dark forked tongue of these snakes could have been contrived: +and that, in fact, the saliva does not begin to be poured out +abundantly till required to lubricate the jaws and throat of the +animal straining to engulph the carcass. We have seen these snakes +take their food, but they did not lubricate it, though the vibratory +tongue often touched it; we must, therefore, withhold our credence +from the common assertion. + +The size attained by the boa is often very great, and larger +individuals than any now seen occurred formerly, before their ancient +haunts had been invaded by human colonization. + +The Anaconda, (_Boa Scytale_), called by Linnaeus, Boa Murina, and by +Prince Maximilian, Boa Aquatica, is of an enormous size, from twenty +to thirty feet in length. + +The boa cenchrea has scaly plates on the the muzzle; and dimples upon +the plates at the sides of the jaws. His color is yellowish, with a +row of large brown rings running the whole length of the back, and +variable spots on the sides. These are generally dark, often +containing a whitish semi-lunar mark. This species, according to Seba, +who describes it as Mexican, is the Temacuilcahuilia (or Tamacuilla +Huilia, as Seba writes the word) described by Hernandez. The species +here described, according to Cuvier, grow nearly to the same size, and +haunt the marshy parts of South America. There, adhering by the tail +to some aquatic tree, they suffer the anterior part of the body to +float upon the water, and patiently wait to seize upon the quadrupeds +which come to drink. + +Our engraving represents him in the attitude of watching for a deer +which is seen, in the distance. + +A specimen apparently of the boa scytale called in Venezuela "La +Culebra de Agua," or water serpent, and also "El Traga Venado," or +deer-swallower, which measures nineteen feet and a half in length, was +presented by Sir Robert Ker Porter to the United Service Museum. He +states that "The flesh of this serpent is white and abundant in fat. +The people of the plains never eat it, but make use of the fat as a +remedy for rheumatic pains, ruptures, strains, &c." + +"This serpent," says Sir B. K. Porter, "is not venomous nor known to +injure man (at least not in this part of the New World;) however, the +natives stand in great fear of it, never bathing in waters where it is +known to exist. Its common haunt, or rather domicile, is invariably +near lakes, swamps, and rivers; likewise close wet ravines produced by +inundations of the periodical rains: hence, from its aquatic habits, +its first appellation. Fish and those animals which repair there to +drink, are the objects of its prey. The creature lurks watchfully +under cover of the water, and, whilst the unsuspecting animal is +drinking, suddenly makes a dash at the nose, and with a grip of its +back-raclining double range of teeth never fails to secure the +terrified beast beyond the power of escape." + +It would appear that boas are apt to be carried out to sea by sudden +floods, and are sometimes drifted alive on distant coasts. The Rev. +Lansdown Guilding, writing in the Island of St. Vincent, says, "A +noble specimen of the boa constrictor was lately conveyed to us by the +currents, twisted round the trunk of a large sound cedar tree, which +had probably been washed out of the bank, by the floods of some great +South American river, while its huge folds hang on the branches as it +waited for its prey. The monster was fortunately destroyed after +killing a few sheep, and his skeleton now hangs before me in my study, +putting me in mind how much reason I might have had to fear in my +future rambles through St. Vincent, had this formidable animal been a +pregnant female and escaped to a safe retreat." + +The pythons closely resemble the true boas, but have the subcaudal +plates double; the muzzle is sheathed with plates, and those covering +the mouth of the jaws have pits. These snakes, which equal or exceed +the boas in magnitude, are natives of India, Africa, and Australia. + +Pliny speaks of snakes in India of such a size as to be capable of +swallowing stags and bulls; and Valerius Maximus, quoting a lost +portion of Pliny's work, narrates the alarm into which the troops +under Regulus were thrown by a serpent which had its lair on the banks +of the river Bagradas, between Utica and Carthage, and which +intercepted the passage to the river. It resisted ordinary weapons, +and killed many of the men; till at last it was destroyed by heavy +stones thrown from military engines used in battering walls; its +length is stated as a hundred and twenty feet. Regulus carried its +skin and jaws to Rome, and deposited them in one of the temples, where +they remained till the time of the Numantine war. + +Diodorus Siculus relates the account of the capture of a serpent, not +without loss of life, in Egypt, which measured thirty cubits long; it +was taken to Alexandria. Suetonius speaks of a serpent exhibited at +Rome in front of the Comitium, fifty cubits in length. + +Though we do not refuse credit to these narratives, it must be added +that in modern days we have not seen serpents of such magnitude; yet +they may exist. Bontius observes that some of the Indian pythons +exceed thirty-six feet in length, and says that they swallow wild +boars, adding, "there are those alive who partook with General Peter +Both, of a recently swallowed hog cut out of the belly of a serpent of +this kind." + +These snakes, he observes, are not poisonous, but strangle a man or +other animal by powerful compression. The Ular Sawa, or great Python +of the Sunda Isles, is said to exceed when full-grown, thirty feet in +length; and it is narrated that a "Malay prow being anchored for the +night under the Island of Celebes, one of the crew went ashore, in +search of betel nut, and, as was supposed, fell asleep on the beach, +on his return. In the dead of night, his companions on board were +aroused by dreadful screams; they immediately went ashore, but they +came too late, the cries had ceased--the man had breathed his last in +the folds of an enormous serpent, which they killed. They cut off the +head of the snake and carried it, together with the lifeless body of +their comrade, to the vessel; the right wrists of the corpse bore the +marks of the serpent's teeth, and the disfigured body showed that the +man had been crushed by the constriction of the reptile round the +head, neck, breast, and thigh." + +Mr. McLeod, in his voyage of H.M.S. Alceste, after describing the mode +in which a python on board, sixteen feet in length, crushed and gorged +a goat, the distressing cries of which on being introduced into the +serpent's cage, could not but excite compassion, goes on to say that +during a captivity of some months at Whidah, in the kingdom of +Dahomey, on the coast of Africa, he had opportunities of observing +pythons of more than double that size, and which were capable of +swallowing animals much larger that goats or sheep. "Governor Abson," +he adds, "who had for thirty-seven years resided at Fort William, one +of the African Company's settlements there, describes some desperate +struggles which he had seen, or which had come to his knowledge, +between the snakes and wild beasts as well as the smaller cattle, in +which the former were always victorious. A negro herdsman belonging to +Mr. Abson, and who afterwards limped for many years about the fort, +had been seized by one of these monsters by the thigh; but from his +situation in a wood the serpent in attempting to throw himself around +him got entangled in a tree; and the man being thus preserved from a +state of compression, which would instantly have rendered him quite +powerless, had presence of mind enough to cut with a large knife which +he carried about with him, deep gashes in the neck and throat of his +antagonist, thereby killing him, and disengaging himself from his +frightful situation. He never afterwards, however, recovered the use +of his limb, which had sustained considerable injury from the fangs +and mere force of his jaws." + +Ludolph states that enormous snakes exist in Ethiopia: and Bosman +informs us that entire men have been found in the gullet of serpents +on the Gold coast. In the "Oriental Annual" is the following +narrative, explanatory of a well-known picture by W. Daniell: "A few +years before our visit to Calcutta," says the writer, "the captain of +a country ship while passing the Sunderbunds sent a boat into one of +the creeks to obtain some fresh fruits, which are cultivated by the +few miserable inhabitants of this inhospitable region. Having reached +the shore the crew moored the boat under a bank, and left one of their +party to take care of her." + +During their absence, the lascar who remained in charge of the boat, +overcome by heat, lay down under the seats and fell asleep. While he +was in this happy state of unconsciousness an enormous boa, python, +emerged from the jungle, reached the boat, had already coiled its huge +body round the sleeper, and was in the very act of crushing him to +death, when his companions fortunately returned at this auspicious +moment, and attacking the monster, severed a portion of its tail, +which so disabled it that it no longer retained the power of doing +mischief. The snake was then easily despatched, and was found to +measure, as stated, sixty-two feet and some inches in length. It is +hardly probable that the snake had fairly entwined round the man, for +the sudden compression of the chest, had the snake exerted its +strength, would have been instantly fatal. + +In March, 1841, a singular circumstance occurred at the gardens of the +Zoological Society, which at the time caused no little surprise. A +python, eleven or twelve feet long, and one about nine feet long, were +kept together in a well-secured cage; both had been fed one evening, +the larger one with three guinea pigs and a rabbit; but, as it would +appear, his appetite was unsatiated. The next morning, when the keeper +came to look into the cage, the smaller python was missing--its escape +was impossible--and the question was what had become of it? + +The truth was evident--its larger companion had swallowed it. There it +lay torpid, and bloated to double its ordinary dimensions. How it +accomplished the act is not known, but we mav imagine a fearful +struggle to have taken place, as wreathing round each other they +battled for the mastery; unless, indeed, the victim was itself torpid +and incapable of resistance. + +The Tiger Python, (_Python, tigris_), is a native of India and Java, +and is often brought over to England for exhibition. It was, we +believe, from one of these species that Mr. Cops, the keeper of the +lion office was in imminent danger, as narrated by Mr. Broderip. + +The animal was near shedding its skin, and consequently nearly blind, +for the skin of the eye, which is shed with the rest of the slough, +becomes then opaque, when Mr. Cops, wishing it to feed, held a fowl to +its head. The snake darted at the bird, but missed it, seizing the +keeper by the left thumb, and coiled round his arm and neck in a +moment. Mr. Cops, who was alone, did not lose his presence of mind, +and immediately attempted to relieve himself of the powerful +constriction by getting at the snake's head. But the serpent had so +knotted himself on his own head, that Mr. Cops could not reach it, and +had thrown himself on the floor in order to grapple with a better +chance of success, when two other keepers coming in broke the teeth of +the serpent, and with some difficulty relieved Mr. Cops from his +perilous situation. Two broken teeth were extracted from the thumb, +which soon healed, and no material inconvenience was the result of +this frightful adventure. + +Mr. Cumming, to whose exploits we have so frequently referred, gives +the following account of a day's adventures, one of which was an +amusing affair with a large python. + +On the 26th, I rose at earliest dawn to inspect the heads of the three +old buffaloes, they were all enormous old bulls, and one of them +carried a most splendid head. The lions had cleaned out all his +entrails; their spoor [Footnote: Spoor, _i.e.,_ track] was immense. +Having taken some buffalo breast and liver for breakfast, I despatched +Ruyter to the wagons to call the natives to remove the carcasses, +while I and Kleinboy held through the hills to see what game might be +in the next glen which contained water. On my way thither, we started +a fine old buck koodoo, which I shot, putting both barrels into him at +one hundred yards. As I was examining the spoor of the game by the +fountain, I suddenly detected an enormous old rock-snake stealing in +beside a mass of rock beside me. He was truly an enormous snake, and, +having never before dealt with this species of game, I did not exactly +know how to set about capturing him. Being very anxious to preserve +his skin entire, and not wishing to have recourse to my rifle, I cut a +stout and tough stick about eight feet long, and having lightened +myself of my shooting-belt, I commenced the attack. Seizing him by the +tail, I tried to get him out of his place of refuge; but I hauled in +vain; he only drew his large folds firmer together; I could not move +him. At length I got a rheim round one of his folds about the middle +of his body, and Kleinboy and I commenced hauling away in good +earnest. + +The snake, finding the ground too hot for him, relaxed his coils, and, +suddenly bringing round his head to the front, he sprang out at us +like an arrow, with his immense and hideous mouth opened to its +largest dimensions, and before I could get out of the way he was clean +out of his hole, and made a second spring, throwing himself forward +about eight or ten feet, and snapping his horrid fangs within a foot +of my legs. I sprang out of his way, and, getting hold of the green +bough I had cut, returned to the charge. The snake was now gliding +along at top speed: he knew the ground well, and was making for a mass +of broken rocks, where he would have been beyond my reach, but before +he could gain this place of refuge I caught him two or three +tremendous whacks on the head. He, however, held on, and gained a pool +of muddy water, which he was rapidly crossing, when I again belabored +him, and at length reduced his pace to a stand. We then hanged him by +the neck to a bough of a tree, and in about fifteen minutes he seemed +dead, but he again became very troublesome during the operation of +skinning, twisting his body in all manner of ways. This serpent +measured fourteen feet. + +Adventure with Buffalo and Elephant. + + +The Cape Buffalo we have already described, and we now refer to him +again only for the purpose of quoting Mr. Cumming's account of a +spirited fight with one. He thus relates the affair. + +On the evening of the next day I had a glorious row with an old bull +buffalo: he was the only large bull in a fine herd of cows. I found +their spoor while walking ahead of the wagon, and following it up, I +came upon a part of the herd feeding quietly in a dense part of the +forest. I fired my first shot at a cow, which I wounded. The other +half of the herd then came up right in my face, within six yards of +me. They would have trampled on me if I had not sung out in their +faces and turned them. I selected the old bull and sent a bullet into +his shoulder. The herd then crashed along through the jungle to my +right, but he at once broke away from them and took to my left. On +examining his spoor, I found it bloody. I then went to meet my wagons, +which I heard coming on, and, ordering the men to outspan, I took all +my dogs to the spoor. They ran it up in fine style, and in a few +minutes the silence of the forest was disturbed by a tremendous bay. +On running towards the sound I met the old fellow coming on towards +the wagons, with all my dogs after him. I saluted him with a second +ball in the shoulder; he held on and took up a position in the thicket +within forty yards of the wagons, where I finished him. He carried a +most splendid head. + +In another part of his narrative, Mr. Cumming thus describes a +desperate battle with an elephant. + +On the 27th I cast loose my horses at earliest dawn of day, and then I +lay half asleep for two hours, when I arose to consume coffee and +rhinoceros. Having breakfasted, I started with a party of natives to +search for elephants in a southerly direction. We held along the +gravelly bed of a periodical river, in which were abundance of holes +excavated by the elephants in quest of water. Here the spoor of +rhinoceros was extremely plentiful, and in every hole where they had +drunk the print of the horn was visible. We soon found the spoor of an +old bull elephant, which led us into a dense forest, where the ground +was particularly unfavorable for spooring; we, however, threaded it +out for a considerable distance, when it joined the spoor of other +bulls. + +The natives now requested me to halt, while the men went off in +different directions to reconnoitre. In the mean time a tremendous +conflagration was roaring and crackling close to windward of us. It +was caused by the Bakalahari burning the old dry grass to enable the +young to spring up with greater facility, whereby they retained the +game in their dominions. The fire stretched away for many miles on +either side of us, darkening the forest far to leeward with a dense +and impenetrable canopy of smoke. Here we remained for about half an +hour, when one of the men returned, reporting that he had discovered +elephants. This I could scarcely credit, for I fancied that the +extensive fire which raged so fearfully must have driven, not only +elephants, but every living creature out of the district, The native, +however, pointed to his eye, repeating the word "Klow," and signed to +me to follow him. + +My guide led me about a mile through dense forest, when we reached a +little wellwood hill, to whose summit we ascended, whence a view might +have been obtained of the surrounding country, had not volumes of +smoke obscured the scenery far and wide, as though issuing from the +funnels of a thousand steamboats. Here, to my astonishment, my guide +halted, and pointed to the thicket close beneath me, when I instantly +perceived the colossal backs of a herd of bull elephants. There they +stood quietly browsing on the lee side of the hill, while the fire in +its might was raging to windward within two hundred yards of them. + +I directed Johannus to choose an elephant, and promised to reward him +should he prove successful. Galloping furiously down the hill, I +started the elephants with an unearthly yell, and instantly selected +the finest in the herd. Placing myself alongside, I fired both barrels +behind his shoulder, when he instantly turned upon me, and in his +impetuous career charged head foremost against a large bushy tree +which he sent flying before him high in the air with tremendous force, +coming down at the same moment violently on his knees. He then met the +raging fire, when, altering his course, he wheeled to the right-about +As I galloped after him I perceived another noble elephant meeting us +in an opposite direction, and presently the gallant Johannus hove in +sight, following his quarry at a respectful distance. Both elephants +held on together, so I shouted to Johannus, "I will give your elephant +a shot in the shoulder and you must try to finish him." Spurring my +horse, I rode close alongside, and gave the fresh elephant two balls +immediately behind the shoulder, when he parted from mine, Johannus +following; but before many minutes had elapsed that mighty Nimrod +reappeared, having fired one shot and lost his prey. + +In the mean time I was loading and firing as fast as could be, +sometimes at the head, sometimes behind the shoulder, until my +elephant's fore-quarters were a mass of gore, notwithstanding which he +continued to hold stoutly on, leaving the grass and branches of the +forest scarlet in his wake. + +On one occasion he endeavored to escape by charging desperately amid +the thickest of the flames; but this did not avail, and I was soon +once more alongside. I blazed away at this elephant, until I began to +think that he was proof against my weapons. Having fired thirty-five +rounds with my two-grooved rifle, I opened fire upon him with the +Dutch six-pounder; and when forty bullets had perforated his hide, he +began for the first time to evince signs of a dilapidated +constitution. He took up a position in a grove; and as the dogs kept +barking round him, he backed stern foremost amongst the trees, which +yielded before his gigantic strength. Poor old fellow! he had long +braved my deadly shafts, but I plainly saw that it was all over with +him; so I resolved to expend no further ammunition, but hold him in +view until he died. Throughout the chase this elephant repeatedly +cooled his person with large quantities of water, which he ejected +from his trunk over his back and sides; and just as the pangs of death +came over him, he stood trembling violently beside a thorny tree, and +kept pouring water into his bloody mouth until he died, when he +pitched heavily forward, with the whole weight of his fore-quarters +resting on the points of his tusks. + +A most singular occurrence now took place. He lay in this posture for +several seconds, but the amazing pressure of the carcase was more than +the head was able to support. He had fallen with his head so short +under him that the tusks received little assistance from his legs. +Something must give way. The strain on the mighty tusks was fair; they +did not, therefore, yield; but the portion of his head in which his +trunk was imbedded, extending a long way above the eye, yielded and +burst with a muffled crash. The tusk was thus free, and turned right +round in his head, so that a man could draw it out, and the carcase +fell over and rested on its side. This was a very first-rate elephant, +and the tusks he carried were long and perfect. + +Hunting the Orix and the Lion. + + +Mr. Cumming was extremely desirous to fall in with an oryx, and carry +off his fine head with its splendid long horns as a trophy. He thus +describes a long but successful chase for one. + +At at early hour on the morning of the 16th, Paterson and I took the +field, accompanied by our three after-riders, and having ridden +several miles in a northerly direction, we started an oryx, to which +Paterson and his after-rider immediately gave chase. I then rode in an +easterly direction, and shortly fell in with a fine old cow oryx, +which we instantly charged. She stole away at a killing pace, her +black tail streaming in the wind, and her long, sharp horns laid well +back over her shoulders. Aware of her danger, and anxious to gain the +desert, she put forth her utmost speed and strained across the bushy +plain. She led us a tearing chase of upwards of five miles in a +northerly course, Cobus sticking well into her, and I falling far +behind. After a sharp burst of about three miles, Cobus and the grey +disappeared over a ridge about half a mile ahead of me. I mounted a +fresh horse, which had been led by Jacob, and followed. On gaming the +ridge, I perceived the grey disappearing over another ridge, a +fearfully long way ahead. When I reached this point I commanded an +extremely extensive prospect, but no living object was visible on the +desolate plain. + +Whilst deliberating in which direction to ride, I suddenly heard a +pistol-shot, some distance to my left, which I knew to be Cobus's +signal that the oryx was at bay. Having ridden half a mile, I +discovered Cobus dismounted in a hollow, and no oryx in view. He had +succeeded in riding the quarry to a stand, and, I not immediately +appearing, he very injudiciously had at once lost sight of the buck +and left it. + +Having upbraided Cobus in no measured terms for his stupidity, I +sought to retrieve the fortunes of the day by riding in the direction +in which he had left the oryx. The ground here was uneven and +interspersed with low hillocks. We extended our front and rode on up +wind, and, having crossed two or three ridges, I discovered a troop of +bucks a long way ahead. Having made for these, they turned out to be +hartebeests. At this moment I perceived three magnificent oryx a short +distance to my left. On observing us, they cantered along the ridge +towards a fourth oryx, which I at once perceived to be "embossed with +foam and dark with soil," and knew to be the antelope sought for. Once +more we charged her. Our horses had now considerably recovered their +wind, but the poor oryx was much distressed; and after a chase of half +a mile I jumped off my horse and sent a bullet through her ribs, which +brought her to a stand, when I finished her with the other barrel. She +proved a fine old cow with very handsome horns; the spot on which she +fell being so sterile that we could not even obtain the smallest +bushes with which to conceal her from the vultures, we covered her +with my after-rider's saddle-cloth, which consisted of a large +blanket. The head, on which I placed great value, we cut off and bore +along with us. + +On my way home I come across Pater-son's after-rider, "jaging" a troop +of gemsboks, but fearfully to leeward, his illustrious master being +nowhere in sight. An hour after I reached the camp Paterson came in, +in a towering rage, having been unlucky in both his chases. I now +despatched one of my wagons to bring home my oryx. It returned about +twelve o'clock that night, carrying the skin of my gemsbok and also a +magnificent old blue wildebeest (the brindled gnoo,) which the +Hottentots had obtained in an extraordinary manner. He was found with +one of his fore legs caught over his horn, so that he could not run, +and they hamstrung him and cut his throat. He had probably managed to +get himself into this awkward attitude while fighting with some of his +fellows. The vultures had consumed all the flesh of the oryx, and +likewise torn my blanket with which I had covered her. + +Mr. Gumming thus describes an innumerable herd of blesboks which he +encountered in the plains of Africa. + +The game became plentiful in about ten days after we left Colesberg, +but when we came to the Vet River I beheld with astonishment and +delight decidedly one of the most wonderful displays which I had +witnessed during my varied sporting career in Southern Africa. On my +right and left the plain exhibited one purple mass of graceful +blesboks, which extended without a break as far as my eyes could +strain: the depth of their vast legions covered a breadth of about six +hundred yards. On pressing upon them, they cantered along before me, +not exhibiting much alarm, taking care, however, not to allow me to +ride within six hundred yards of them. On, on I rode, intensely +excited with the wondrous scene before me, and hoped at length to get +to windward of at least some portion of the endless living mass which +darkened the plain, but in vain. Like squadrons of dragoons, the +entire breadth of this countless herd held on their forward course as +if aware of my intention, and resolved not to allow one to weather +them. + +At length I determined to play upon their ranks, and, pressing my +horse to his utmost speed, I dashed forward, and, suddenly halting, +sprang from the saddle, and, giving my rifle at least two feet of +elevation, red right and left into one of their darkest masses. A +noble buck dropped to the right barrel, and the second shot told +loudly; no buck however, fell, and, after lying for half a minute the +prostrate blesbok rose, and was quickly lost sight of amongst the +retreating herd. + +In half a minute I was again loaded, and after galloping a few hundred +yards let drive into them, but was still unsuccessful. Excited, and +annoyed at my want of luck, I resolved to follow them up, and blaze +away while a shot remained in the locker, which I did; until, after +riding about eight or ten miles, I found my ammunition expended, and +not a single blesbok bagged, although at least a dozen must have been +wounded. It was now high time to retrace my steps and seek my wagons. +I accordingly took a point, and rode across the trackless country in +the direction for which they were steering. + +I very soon once more fell in with fresh herds of thousands of +blesboks. As it was late in the day, and I being on the right side for +the wind, the blesboks were very tame, and allowed me to ride along +within rifle-shot of them, and those which ran barged resolutely past +me up the wind in long-continued streams. I took a lucky course for +the wagons, and came right upon them, after they had outspanned on the +bank of the Vet River. I could willingly have devoted a month to +blesbok-shooting in this hunter's elysium. + +The following is one of Mr. Cumming's most remarkable lion hunts. + +We trecked up along the banks of the river for the Mariqua, and a +little before sundown fell in with two enormous herds of buffaloes, +one of which, consisting chiefly of bulls, stood under the shady trees +on one side of the bank, whilst the other, composed chiefly of cows +and calves, stood on the opposite side, a little higher up the river. +In all there were at least three hundred. Thinking it probable that if +I hunted them I might kill some old bull with a head perhaps worthy of +my collection, I ordered my men to outspan, and, having saddled +steeds, I gave chase to the herd of bulls, accompanied by Booi and my +dogs. After a short burst they took through the river, whereby I lost +sight of an old bull which carried the finest head in the herd. My +dogs, however, brought a cow to bay as they crossed the river, which I +shot standing in the water, but not before she had killed a +particularly favorite bull-dog, named Pompey. + +I then continued the chase, and again came up with the herd, which was +now considerably scattered: and after a sharp chase, part of which was +through a wait-a-bit thorn cover, I brought eight or nine fine bulls +to bay in lofty reeds at the river's margin, exactly opposite to my +camp; of these I singlep out the two best heads, one of which I shot +with five balls, and wounded the other badly, but he made off while I +was engaged with his comrade. + +In the morning I instructed four of my people to cross the river, and +bring over a supply of buffalo meat. These men were very reluctant to +go, fearing a lion might have taken possession of the carcase. On +proceeding to reconnoitre from our side, they beheld the majestic +beast they dreaded walk slowly up the opposite bank from the dead +buffalo, and take up a position on the top of the bank under some +shady thorn-trees. I resolved to give him battle, and rode forth with +my double-barrelled Westly Richards rifle, followed by men leading the +dogs. Present, who was one of the party, carried his _roer_, no doubt +to perform wonders. The wind blew up the river; I accordingly held up +to seek a drift, and crossed a short distance above where the buffalo +lay. As we drew near the spot, I observed the lion sitting on the top +of the bank, exactly where he had been seen last by my people. + +On my right and within two hundred yards of me, was a very extensive +troop of pallahs, which antelope invariably manage to be in the way +when it is not wanted. On this occasion, however, I succeeded in +preventing my dogs from observing them. When the lion saw us coming, +he overhauled us for a moment, and then slunk back for concealment; +being well to leeward of him I ordered the dogs to be slipped, and +galloped forward. On finding that he was attacked, the lion at first +made a most determined bolt for it, followed by all the dogs at a +racing pace; and when they came up with him he would not bay, but +continued his course down the bank of the river, keeping close in +beside the reeds, growling terribly at the dogs, which kept up an +incessant angry barking. + +The bank of the river was intersected by deep watercourses, and the +ground being extremely slippery from the rain which had fallen during +the night, I was unable to overtake him until he came to bay in a +patch of lofty dense reeds which grew on the lower bank, immediately +adjacent to the river's margin. I had brought out eleven of my dogs, +and before I could come up three of them were killed. On reaching the +spot I found it impossible to obtain the slightest glimpse of the +lion, although the ground favored me, I having the upper bank to stand +upon; so, dismounting from my horse, I tried to guess, from his horrid +growling, his exact position, and fired several shots on chance, but +none of these hit him. I then commenced pelting him with lumps of +earth and sticks, there being no stones at hand. This had the effect +of making him change his position, but he still kept in the densest +part of the reeds, where I could do nothing with him. + +Presently my followers came up, who, as a matter of course, at once +established themselves safely in the tops of thorn trees. After about +ten minutes' bullying, the lion seemed to consider his quarters too +hot for him, and suddenly made a rush to escape from his persecutors, +continuing his course down along the edge of the river. The dogs, +however, again gave him chase, and soon brought him to bay in another +dense patch of reeds, just as bad as the last. + +Out of this in a few minutes I managed to start him, when he bolted up +the river, and came to bay in a narrow strip of reeds. Here he lay so +close that for a long time I could not ascertain his whereabouts; at +length, however, he made a charge among the dogs, and, coming forward, +took up a position near the outside of the reeds, where for the first +time I was enabled to give him a shot. My ball entered his body a +little behind the shoulder. On receiving it he charged growling after +the dogs, but not farther than the edge of the reeds, out of which he +was extremely reluctant to move I gave him a second shot, firing for +his head; my ball entered at the edge of his eye, and passed through +the back of the roof of his mouth. + +The lion then sprang up, and, facing about, dashed through the reeds, +and plunged into the river, across he swam, dyeing the waters with his +blood; one black dog, named "Schwart," alone pursued him. A huge +crocodile, attracted by the blood, followed in their wake, but +fortunately did not take my dog, which I much feared he would do. +Present fired at the lion as he swam, and missed him; both my barrels +were empty. Before, however, the lion could reach the opposite bank, I +had one loaded without patch, and just as his feet gained the ground I +made a fine shot at him neck, and turned him over dead on the spot. +Present, Carollus, and Adonis then swam in and brought him through. We +landed him by an old hippopotamus footpath, and the day being damp and +cold, we kindled a fire, beside which we skinned him. + +While this was going forward I had a painful duty to perform, viz. to +load one barrel, and blow out Rascality's brains, whom the lion had +utterly disabled in his after-quarters. Thus ended this protracted and +all but unsuccessful hunt; for when I at length managed to shoot him, +the dogs were quite tired of it, and, the reeds being green, I could +not have set them on fire to force him out. + +The lion proved to be a first-rate one; he was in the prime of life, +and had an exquisitely beautiful coat of hair. His mane was not very +rank; his awful teeth were quite perfect, a thing which in lions of +his age is rather unusual; and he had the finest tuft of hair on the +end of his tail that I had ever seen in a lion. + +In the chase, my after-rider, who fortunately did not carry my rifle, +got a tremendous capsize from bad riding, a common occurrence with +most after-riders who have been employed in my service. The afternoon +was spent in drying the mane of the wet lion, skinning out the feet, +and preserving the skin with alum and arsenical soap. + +Hunting the Giraffe. + + +Mr. Cumming thus describes the giraffe. These gigantic and exquisitely +beautiful animals, which are admirably formed by nature to adorn the +fair forests that clothe the boundless plains of the interior, are +widely distributed throughout the interior of Southern Africa, but are +nowhere to be met with in great numbers. In countries unmolested by +the intrusive foot of man, the giraffe is found generally in herds +varying from twelve to sixteen; but I have not unfrequently met with +herds containing thirty individuals, and on one occasion I counted +forty together; this, however, was owing to chance, and about sixteen +may be reckoned as the average number of a herd. These herds are +composed of giraffes of various sizes, from the young giraffe of nine +or ten feet in height, to the dark chestnut-colored old bull of the +herd, whose exalted head towers above his companions, generally +attaining a height of upwards of eighteen feet. The females are of +lower stature and more delicately formed than the males, their height +averaging from sixteen to seventeen feet. + +Some writers have discovered ugliness and a want of grace in the +giraffe, but I consider that he is one of the most strikingly +beautiful animals in the creation; and when a herd of them is seen +scattered through a grove of the picturesque parasol-topped acacias +which adorn their native plains, and on whose uppermost shoots they +are enabled to browse by the colossal height with which nature has so +admirably endowed them, he must indeed be slow of conception who fails +to discover both grace and dignity in all their movements. + +On the 24th, at the dawn of day, we inspanned, and trekked about five +hours in a northeasterly course, through a boundless open country, +sparingly adorned with dwarfish old tree. In the distance the long- +sought mountains of Bamangwato at length loomed blue before me. We +halted beside a glorious fountain, which at once made me forget all +the cares and difficulties I had encountered in reaching it. + +The name of this fountain was Massouey, but I at once christened it +"the Elephant's own Fountain." This was a very remarkable spot on the +southern borders of endless elephant forests, at which I had at length +arrived. The fountain was deep and strong, situated in a hollow at the +eastern extremity of an extensive vley, and its margin was surrounded +by a level stratum of solid old red sandstone. Here and there lay a +thick layer of soil upon a rock, and this was packed flat with the +fresh spoors of elephants. Around the water's edge the very rock was +worn down by the gigantic feet which for ages had trodden there. + +The soil of the surrounding country was white and yellow sand, but +grass, trees, and bushes were abundant. From the borders of the +fountain a hundred well-trodden elephant foot-paths led away in every +direction, like the radii of a circle. The breadth of the paths was +about three feet; those leading to the northward and east was most +frequented, the country in those directions being well wooded. + +We drew up the wagons on a hillock on the eastern side of the water. +This position commanded a good view of any game that might approach to +drink. I had just cooked my breakfast, and commenced to feed when I +heard my men exclaim, "Almatig keek de ghroote clomp cameel;" and +raising my eyes from my sassayby stew, I beheld a truly beautiful and +very unusual scene. From the margin of the fountain there extended an +open level vley, without tree or bush, that stretched away about a +mile to the northward, where it was bounded by extensive grooves of +wide-spreading mimosas. Up the middle of this vley stalked a troop of +ten colossal giraffes, flanked by two large herds of blue wildebeests +and zebras, with an advance guard of pallahs. They were all coming to +the fountain to drink, and would be within rifle-shot of the wagons +before I could finish my breakfast. I, however, continued to swallow +my food with the utmost expedition, having directed my men to catch +and saddle Colesberg. + +In a few minutes the giraffes were slowly advancing within two hundred +yards, stretching their graceful necks, and gazing in wonder at the +unwonted wagons. Grasping my rifle, I now mounted Colesberg, and rode +slowly toward them. They continued gazing at the wagons until I was +within one hundred yards of them, when, whisking their long tails over +their rumps, they made off at an easy canter. As I pressed upon them +they increased their pace; but Colesberg had much the speed of them, +and before we had proceeded half a mile I was riding by the shoulder +of the dark chestnut old bull, whose head towered above the rest. +Letting fly at the gallop, I wounded him behind the shoulder; soon +after which I broke him from the herd, and presently going ahead of +him, he came to a stand. I then gave him a second bullet, somewhere +near the first. These two shots had taken effect, and he was now in my +power, but I would not lay him low so far from camp; so having waited +until he had regained his breath I drove him half way back toward the +wagons. Here he became obstreperous; so loading one barrel, and +pointing my rifle toward the clouds, I shot him in the throat, when, +rearing high, he fell backward and expired. + +This was a magnificent specimen of the giraffe, measuring upwards of +eighteen feet in height. I stood for nearly half an hour engrossed in +the contemplation of his extreme beauty and gigantic proportions; and +if there had been no elephants, I could have exclaimed, like Duke +Alexander of Gordon, when he killed the famous old stag with seventeen +tine, "Now I can die happy." But I longed for an encounter with the +noble elephants, and I thought little more of the giraffe than if I +had killed a gemsbok or an eland. + +There are various modes of capturing giraffes. The Americans, who seek +them for their menageries, have the Mexican lasso, a long cord which +is thrown over the animal's head; and by casting him to the ground and +surrounding him by a large force of hunters, he is then captured +without difficulty. + +Mr. Cumming thus notices the pitfalls used by the natives of Africa +for taking the giraffe and other animals:--Starvation was written in +the faces of these inhabitants of the forest. In their miserable +villages were a few small gardens, containing watermelons and a little +corn. Occasionally they have the luck to capture some large animal in +a pitfall, when for a season they live in plenty. But as they do not +possess salt, the flesh soon spoils, when they are compelled once more +to roam the forests in quest of fruits and roots, on which, along with +locusts, they in a great measure subsist. In districts where game is +abundant, they often construct their pits on a large scale, and erect +hedges in the form of a crescent, extending to nearly a mile on either +side of the pit. By this means, the game may easily be driven into the +pitfalls which are easily covered over with thin sticks and dry grass; +and thus whole herds of zebras and wildebeests are massacred at once, +which capture is followed by the most disgusting banquets, the poor +starving savages gorging and surfeiting in a manner worthy only of the +vulture or hyaena. They possess no cattle, and, if they did, the +nearest chief would immediately rob them. All parts of the country +abounded with pitfalls made by these and others of the Bakalahari. +Many of these had been dug expressly for the giraffe, and were +generally three feet wide, and ten long; their depth was from nine to +ten feet. They were placed in the path of the giraffe, and in the +vicinity of several of these we detected the bones of giraffes, +indicating the success that had attended their formation. + +M'Dougal and the Indian + +Several years previous to the Revolution a Scotchman and his wife, +named M'Dougal, emigrated to America. Having but very little money, he +purchased land where it was then sold for almost nothing, in a country +thinly peopled, and on the extreme verge of civilization. + +His first care was to construct a house and clear away some of the +trees around it This done, he spent his whole time, early and late, in +making a garden and cultivating a few fields. By unwearied industry +and with the occasional help of older settlers, he by degrees acquired +a stock of cattle, sheep, and pigs, and was in a rough way, possessed +of a comfortable independence. His greatest discomforts were, distance +from his neighbors, the church, market, and even the mill; but, above +all, the complete separation from his friends; and this he would have +felt still more had he been an idle man. + +One day, Farmer M'Dougal, having a quantity of corn to grind, knowing +that the distance was considerable, and the road none of the +smoothest, set out in the morning at sunrise, hoping he should reach +home again before dark. + +When the farmer was at home he always drove up the cows for his wife +to milk, morning and evening; but now this care devolved on her, and +the careful woman went out in quest of them. Not accustomed to go far +from the house, she found herself in an unknown country, and, with +neither pocket compass nor notched trees to guide, it is not to be +wondered that she wandered long and wearily to very little purpose. +Tall trees seemed to encompass her on every side, or where the view +was more open, she beheld the distant blue hills rising one behind +another; but no village spire or cottage chimney was there to cheer +her on her way, and fatigued with the search, and despairing of +finding the cattle, she resolved while it was yet light, to retrace +her steps homeward. + +But this resolution was more easily formed than executed; she became +completely bewildered; she knew not in which direction to turn, and, +at length, with tears in her eyes, and her mind agitated almost to +distraction, she sunk on the ground. But she had not rested there many +minutes before she was startled by the sound of approaching footsteps, +and, on looking up, she beheld before her an Indian hunter. + +Although Mrs. M'Dougal knew that there were Indians living in the +neighborhood, she had never yet seen one, and her terror was very +great. The Indian, however, knew her; he had seen her before, he knew +where she lived, and he instantly guessed the cause of her distress. +He could speak but a few words of English; but he made signs for her +to follow him. She did so, and after a few minutes' walk, they arrived +at the door of an Indian wigwam. He invited her to enter, but not +being able to persuade her to do so, he darted into the wigwam, and +spoke a few words to his wife, who instantly appeared, and by the +kindness of her manner induced the stranger to enter their humble +abode. Venison was prepared for supper, and Mrs. M'Dougal, though +still alarmed at the novelty of her situation, could not refuse to +partake of the savory meal. + +Seeing that their guest was weary, the Indians removed from their +place two beautiful deer skins, and, by stretching and fixing them +across, divided the wigwam into two apartments. Mats were then spread +in both, and the stranger was made to understand that one division was +for her accommodation. But here again her courage failed her, and to +the most pressing entreaties she replied that she would sit and sleep +by the fire. This determination seemed to puzzle the Indian and his +squaw sadly. They looked at one another, and conversed softly in their +own language; and at length, the squaw taking her guest by the hand, +led her to her couch and became her bedfellow. + +In the morning she awoke greatly refreshed, and anxious to depart +without further delay; but this her new friends would not permit, +until she had eaten of their corn cakes and venison. Then the Indian +accompanied his guest, and soon conducted her to the spot where the +cattle were grazing. These he drove from the wood, on the edge of +which Mrs. M'Dougal descried her husband, who was equally delighted at +seeing her, as her absence from home all night had caused him great +uneasiness. They invited their Indian benefactor to their house, and, +on his departure, presented him with a suit of clothes. + +Three days after, he returned and endeavored, partly by signs, and +partly by broken English, to induce Farmer M'Dougal to follow him into +the forest; but he refused. Time was precious to him, who had to work +hard for every thing he possessed, and the Indian repeated his +entreaties in vain. The poor fellow looked grieved and disappointed; +but a moment after, a sudden thought struck him. He hit on an +expedient which none but an Indian hunter would have thought of. + +Mrs. M'Dougal had a young child, which the Indian's quick eye had not +failed to notice; and, finding that his eloquence was completely +thrown away upon the parents, he approached the cradle, seized the +child, and darted out of the house with the speed of an antelope. The +father and mother instantly followed, calling loudly on him to return; +but he had no such intention. He led them on, now slower, now faster, +and occasionally turning towards them, laughing, and holding up the +child to their view. + +It is needless to go into all the details of this singular journey, +further than to say that the Indian, instead of enticing them to his +own wigwam, as they expected, halted on the margin of a most beautiful +prairie, covered with the richest vegetation, and extending over +several thousand acres. In a moment the child was restored to its +parents, who, wondering what so strange a proceeding could mean, stood +awhile panting for breath, and looking at one another with silent +astonishment. + +The Indian, on the other hand, seemed overjoyed at the success of his +manoeuvre, and never did a human being frisk about and gesticulate +with greater animation. We have heard of a professor of signs, and if +such a person were wanted, the selection would not be a matter of +difficulty, so long as any remnant exists in the aborigines of North +America. All travellers agree in describing their gestures as highly +dignified, and their countenances intelligent; and we have Mr. +M'Dougal's authority for stating that the hero of this tale proved +himself a perfect master of the art of eloquence his broken English +was nearly in these words: + +"You think Indian treacherous; you think him wish steal the child. No, +no; Indian has child of his own. Indian knew you long ago; saw you +when you not see him; saw you hard working man. Some white men bad, +and hurt poor Indian. You not bad; you work hard for your wife and +child; but you choose bad place; you never make rich there. Indian see +your cattle go in forest; think you come and catch them; you not come; +your wife come. Indian find her faint and weary; take her home; wife +fear go in; think Indian kill her! No, no; Indian lead her back; meet +you very sad; then very glad to see her. You kind to Indian; give him +meat and drink, and better clothes than your own. Indian grateful; +wish you come here; not come; Indian very sorry; take the child; know +you follow child. If Indian farm, Indian farm here. Good ground; not +many trees; make road in less than half a moon; Indians help you; +Indians your friends; come, live here." + +M'Dougal immediately saw the advantage that such a change would be to +him, and, taking the Indian's advice, the day was soon fixed for the +removal of the log-house, along with the rest of his goods and +chattels; and the Indian, true to his word, brought a party of his red +brethren to assist in one of the most romantic removals that ever took +place, either in the Old World, or the New. + +In a few days a roomy log-house was raised, and garden marked out in +the most fertile and beautiful part of the prairie. The Indians +continued friendly and faithful, and the good understanding; between +them and the white settlers was a source of great comfort to both +parties. + +Contests with Jaguars + +Nature, ever provident, has scattered with a bounteous hand her gifts +in the country of the Orinoco, where the jaguar especially abounds. +The savannahs, which are covered with grasses and slender plants, +present a surprising luxuriance and diversity of vegetation; piles of +granite blocks lie here and there, and, at the margins of the plains, +occur deep valleys and ravines, the humid soil of which is covered +with arums, heliconias, llianas. The shelves of primitive rocks, +scarcely elevated above the plain, are partially covered with lichens +and mosses, together with succulent plants and tufts of evergreen +shrubs with shining leaves. The horizon is bounded with mountains +overgrown with forests of laurels, among which clusters of palms rise +to the height of more than a hundred feet, their slender stems +supporting tufts of feathery foliage. To the east of Atures other +mountains appear, the ridge of which is composed of pointed cliffs, +rising like huge pillars above the trees. + +When these columnar masses are situated near the Orinoco, flamingoes, +herons, and other wading birds perch on their summits, and look like +sentinels. In the vicinity of cataracts, the moisture which is +diffused in the air, produces a perpetual verdure, and wherever soil +has accumulated on the plains, it is adorned by the beautiful shrubs +of the mountains. + +Such is one view of the picture, but it has its dark side also; those +flowing waters, which fertilize the soil, abound with alligators: +those charming shrubs and flourishing plants, are the hiding places of +deadly serpents; those laurel forests, the favorite lurking spot of +the fierce jaguar; while the atmosphere, so clear and lovely, abounds +with musquitoes and zancudoes, to such a degree that in the missions +of Orinoco, the first questions in the morning when two people meet, +are, "How did you find the zancudoes during the night? How are we +to-day for the musquitoes?" + +It is in the solitude of this wilderness, that the jaguar, stretched +out motionless and silent, upon one of the lower branches of the +ancient trees, watches for its passing prey; a deer, urged by thirst, +is making its way to the river, and approaches the tree where this +enemy lies in wait. The jaguar's eyes dilate, the ears are thrown +down, and the whole frame becomes flattened against the branch. The +deer, all unconscious of danger, draws near, every limb of the jaguar +quivers with excitement every fibre is stiffened for the spring; then, +with the force of a bow unbent, he darts with a terrific yell upon his +prey, seizes it by the back of the neck, a blow is given by his +powerful paw, and with broken spine the deer falls lifeless to the +earth. The blood is then sucked, and the prey dragged to some favorite +haunt, where it is devoured at leisure. + +Humboldt surprised a jaguar in his retreat. It was near the Joval, +below the mouth of the Cano de la Tigrera, that in the midst of wild +and awful scenery, he saw an enormous jaguar stretched beneath the +shade of a large mimosa. He had just killed a chiguire, an animal +about the size of a pig, which he held with one of his paws, while the +vultures were assembled in flocks around. It was curious to observe +the mixture of boldness and timidity which these birds exhibited; for +although they advanced within two feet of the jaguar, they instantly +shrunk back at the least motion he made. In order to observe more +clearly their proceedings, the travellers went into their little boat, +when the tyrant of the forest withdrew behind the bushes, leaving his +victim, upon which the vultures attempted to devour it, but were soon +put to flight by the jaguar rushing into the midst of them. + +The following night, Humboldt and his party were entertained by a +jaguar hunter, half-naked, and as brown as a Zambo, who prided himself +on being of the European race; and called his wife and daughter, who +were as slightly clothed as himself, Donna Isabella and Donna Manuela. +As this aspiring personage had neither home nor hut, he invited the +strangers to swing their hammocks near his own between two trees, but, +as ill-luck would have it, a thunder storm came on, which wetted them +to the skin; but their troubles did not end here, for Donna Isabella's +cat had perched on one of the trees, and frightened by the +thunderstorm, jumped down upon one of the travellers in his cot; he +naturally supposed that he was attacked by a wild beast, and as smart +a battle took place between the two, as that celebrated feline +engagement of Don Quixotte; the cat, who, perhaps had most reason to +consider himself an ill-used personage, at length bolted, but the +fears of the gentleman had been excited to such degree, that he could +hardly be quieted. The following night was not more propitious to +slumber. The party finding no tree convenient, had stuck their oars in +the sand, and suspended their hammocks upon them. About eleven, there +arose in the immediately adjoining wood, so terrific a noise, that it +was impossible to sleep. The Indians distinguished the cries of +sapagous, alouates, jaguars, cougars, peccaris, sloths, curassows, +paraquas, and other birds, so that there must have been as full a +forest chorus as Mr. Hullah himself could desire. + +When the jaguars approached the edge of the forest, which they +frequently did, a dog belonging to the party began to howl, and seek +refuge under their cots. Sometimes, after a long silence, the cry of +the jaguars came from the tops of the trees, when it was followed by +an outcry among the monkeys. Humboldt supposes the noise thus made by +the inhabitants of the forest during the night, to be the effect of +some contest that had arisen among them. + +On the pampas of Paraguay, great havoc is committed among the herds of +horses by the jaguars, whose strength is quite sufficient to enable +them to drag off one of these animals. Azara caused the body of a +horse, which had been recently killed by a jaguar, to be drawn within +musket-shot of a tree, in which he intended to pass the night, +anticipating that the jaguar would return in the course of it, to its +victim; but while he was gone to prepare for his adventure, behold the +animal swam across a large and deep river, and having seized the horse +with his teeth, dragged it full sixty paces to the river, swam across +again with his prey, and then dragged the carcass into a into a +neighboring wood: and all this in sight of a person, whom Azara had +placed to keep watch. But the jaguars have also an aldermanic gout for +turtles, which they gratify in a very systematic manner, as related by +Humboldt, who was shown large shells of turtles emptied by them. + +They follow the turtles toward the beach, where the laying of eggs is +to take place, surprise them on the sand, and in order to devour them +at their ease, adroitly turn them on their backs; and as they turn +many more than they can devour in one night, the Indians often profit +by their cunning. The jaguar pursues the turtle quite into the water, +and when not very deep, digs up the eggs; they, with the alligator, +the heron, and the gallinago vulture ore the most formidable enemies +the little turtles have. Humboldt justly remarks, When we reflect on +the difficulty that the naturalist finds in getting out the body of +the turtle, without separating the upper and the under shell, we +cannot enough admire the suppleness of the jaguar's paw, which empties +the double armor of the _arraus_, as if the adhering parts of the +muscles had been cut by a surgical instrument. + +The rivers of South America swarm with alligators, and these wage +perpetual war with the jaguars. It is said, that when the jaguar +surprises the alligator asleep on the hot sandbank, he attacks him in +a vulnerable part under the tail, and often kills him, but let the +alligator only get his antagonist into the water, and the tables are +turned, for the jaguar is held under the water until he is drowned. + +The onset of the jaguar is always made from behind, partaking of the +stealthy treacherous character of his tribe; if a herd of animals, or +a party of men be passing, it is the last that is always the object of +his attack. When he has made choice of his victim, he springs upon the +neck, and placing one paw upon the back of the head, while he seizes +the muzzle with the other twists the head round with a sudden jerk +which dislocates the spine, and deprives it instantaneously of life: +sometimes, especially when satiated with food, he is indolent and +cowardly, skulking in the gloomiest depths of the forest, and scared +by the most trifling causes, but when urged by the cravings of hunger, +the largest quadrupeds, and man himself, are attacked with fury and +success. + +Mr. Darwin has given an interesting account of the habits of the +jaguar: the wooded banks of the great South American rivers appear to +be their favorite haunt, but south of the Plata they frequent the +reeds bordering the lakes; wherever they are they seem to require +water. They are particularly abundant on the isles of the Payana, +their common prey being the carpincho, so that it is generally said, +that where carpinchos are plentiful, there is little fear of the +jaguar; possibly, however, a jaguar which has tasted human flesh, may +afterwards become dainty, and like the lions of South Africa, and the +tigers of India, acquire the dreadful character of maneaters, from +preferring that food to all others. + +It is not many years ago since a very large jaguar found his way into +a church in Santa Fe; soon afterward a very corpulent padre entering, +was at once killed by him: His equally stout coadjutor, wondering what +had detained the padre, went to look after him, and also fell a victim +to the jaguar; a third priest, marveling greatly at the unaccountable +absence of the others, sought them, and the jaguar having by this time +acquired a strong clerical taste, made at him also, but he, being +fortunately of the slender order, dodged the animal from pillar to +post, and happily made his escape; the beast was destroyed by being +shot from a corner of the building, which was unroofed, and thus paid +the penalty of his sacrilegious propensities. + +On the Parana, they have even entered vessels by night. One dark +evening the mate of a vessel, hearing a heavy but peculiar footstep on +deck, went up to see what it was, and was immediately met by a jaguar, +who had come on board, seeking what he could devour; a severe struggle +ensued, assistance arrived, and the brute was killed, but the man lost +the use of the arm which had been ground between his teeth. + +The Gauchos say that the jaguar, when wandering about at night, is +much tormented by the foxes yelping as they follow him: this may +perhaps serve to alarm his prey, but must be as teasing to him as the +attentions of swallows are to an owl, who happens to be taking a +daylight promenade; and if owls ever swear, it is under these +circumstances. + +Mr. Darwin, when hunting on the banks of the Uruguay, was shown three +well-known trees to which the jaguars constantly resort, for the +purpose, it is said, of sharpening their claws. Every one must be +familiar with the manner in which cats, with out-stretched legs and +extended claws, will card the legs of chairs and of men; so with the +jaguar; and of these trees the bark was worn quite smooth in front; on +each side there were deep grooves, extending in an oblique line nearly +a yard in length. The scars were of different ages, arid the +inhabitants could always tell when a jaguar was in the neighborhood, +by his recent autograph on one of these trees. + +The Indian Parents. + + +Captain William Wells was a noted hunter and ranger in the western +country. He was captured by the Indians when but a child, and raised +among them. When the Indians defeated the United States troops, who +were under the command of Generals Harmer and St. Clair, Captain Wells +fought among the red men, and distinguished himself by his courage and +skill. But when General Wayne was placed at the head of the United +States forces in the west, + +Captain Wells came over to the side of the whites, and received the +command of a company of rangers, or woodmen, who acted as spies and +scouts for General Wayne. The captain performed many daring exploits, +and caused the Indians to feel that in losing him they had gained a +terrible enemy. + +Captain Wells was desperate in battle, but he often displayed much +kindness and generosity. On one of his excursions with a party of +rangers, through the Indian country, he came to the bank of the river +St. Mary, and discovered some Indians in canoes coming across the +stream. The captain dismounted, and concealed his men near the bank of +the river, while he went to the bank in open view, and called to the +Indians to come over. As he was dressed nearly in the Indian style, +and spoke to them in their own language, the Indians, without +suspicion of danger came across the river. The moment the first canoe +struck the shore, Wells heard the clicking of the locks of his +comrades' rifles, as they prepared to shoot the Indians. But who +should be in the canoe, but his Indian father, mother, and their +children! As his comrades were coming forward with their rifles +cocked, ready to pour in the deadly storm, Wells called upon them to +hold their hands. He then informed them who the Indians were, and +solemnly declared, that the man who would attempt to injure one of +them should receive a ball in his head. He continued, "That family fed +me when I was hungry, clothed me when I was naked, and kindly nursed +me when I was sick. In every respect they were as kind and +affectionate to me as they were to their own children. No one +belonging to them shall be hurt." But four men were with the Indian +party, and they did not attempt hostility. The short, pathetic speech +of Captain Wells found its way to the hearts of his comrades. They +entered into his feelings, threw down their rifles and tomahawks, went +to the canoe, and shook hands with the trembling Indians in the most +friendly manner. + +Captain Wells assured the red men that they had nothing to fear from +him, and after talking with them to dispel their dread, he said, that +General Wayne was approaching with an overwhelming force; that the +best thing that the Indians could do was to make peace; that the white +men did not wish to continue the war. He urged his Indian father to +keep out of danger for the future. The Indians appeared very grateful +for his clemency. After the captain bade them farewell, they pushed +off their canoe, and went down the river as fast as they could paddle. + +Wells's conduct on this occasion proved him to be as generous as he +was brave. This famous ranger was killed near Chicago, at the +commencement of the war of 1812, in an attempt to save an American +garrison. At that time sixty-four whites were attacked by four hundred +red men, and all killed or captured. The Indians were very glad to get +the scalp of Captain Wells. He was as wild a spirit as ever shouldered +a rifle or wielded a tomahawk. + +Attack on Captain Ward's Boat + + +About 1784 and '85, boats ascending the Ohio river were often fired +upon by the Indians, and sometimes the crew were all killed or made +prisoners. A t that time, the whites had no settlements on either side +of the Ohio. But Kentucky contained several very important stations. +In 1785, Captain James Ward descended the river, under circumstances, +which rendered a meeting with the Indians peculiarly to be dreaded. + +The captain with half a dozen others, one of them his nephew, embarked +in a crazy boat, about forty-five long, and eight feet wide, with no +other bulwark than a single pine plank, above each gunnel. The boat +was much encumbered with baggage, and seven horses were on board. +Having seen no enemy for several days, they had become secure and +careless, and permitted the boat to drift within fifty yards of the +Ohio shore. Suddenly several Indians showed themselves on the bank, +and opened heavy fire upon the boat. The astonishment of the crew may +be conceived. Captain Ward and his nephew were at the oars when the +enemy appeared, and the captain knowing that their safety depended +upon their ability to regain the middle of the river, kept his seat +firmly, and exerted his utmost powers at the oar, but his nephew +started up at the sight of the enemy, seized his rifle and was in the +act of levelling it, when he received a ball in the breast, and fell +dead in the bottom of the boat. Unfortunately, his oar fell into the +river, and the Captain having no one to pull against him, rather urged +the boat nearer to the hostile shore than otherwise. He quickly seized +a plank, however, and giving his own oar to another of the crew, he +took the station which his nephew had held, and unhurt by the bullets +which flew around him, continued to exert himself, until the boat had +reached a more respectable distance. He then, for the first time, +looked around him in order to observe the condition of the crew. His +nephew lay in his blood, perfectly lifeless,--the horses had been all +killed or mortally wounded. Some had fallen overboard--others were +struggling violently, and causing their frail bark to dip water so as +to excite the most serious apprehensions. + +But the crew presented the most singular spectacle. A captain, who had +served with reputation in the continental army, seemed now totally +bereft of his faculties. He lay upon his back in the bottom of the +boat, with hands uplifted, and a countenance in which terror was +personified, exclaiming in a tone of despair, "Oh, Lord! Oh, Lord!" A +Dutchman, whose weight might amount at about three hundred pounds, was +busily engaged in endeavoring to find shelter for his bulky person, +which, from the lowness of the gunnels, was a very difficult +undertaking. In spite of his utmost efforts, a portion of his +posterial luxuriance, appeared above the gunnel, and afforded a mark +to the enemy, which brought a constant shower of balls around it. In +vain he shifted his position. The lump still appeared, and the balls +still flew around it, until the Dutchman, losing all patience, raised +his head above the gunnel, and in a tone of querulous remonstrance, +called out, "Oh, now I git tat nonsense, tere,--will you!" Not a shot +was fired from the boat. + +At one time, after they had partly reined the current, Captain Ward +attempted to bring his rifle to bear upon them, but so violent was the +agitation of the boat, from the furious struggles of the horses, that +he could not steady his piece within twenty yards of the enemy, and +quickly laying it aside returned to the oar. The Indians followed them +down the river for more than an hour, but having no canoes, they did +not attempt to board; and as the boat was at length transferred to the +opposite side of the river, they finally abandoned the pursuit and +disappeared. None of the crew, save the young man already mentioned, +were hurt, although the Dutchman's seat of honor served as a target +for the space of an hour, and the continental captain was deeply +mortified at the sudden, and, as he said, "unaccountable" panic which +had seized him. Captain Ward himself was protected by a post, which +had been fastened to the gunnel, and behind which he sat while rowing. + +Massy Herbeson and her Family + + +During the settlement of the interior of Pennsylvania, the Indians +were almost constantly hostile. Houses were burned, fields desolated, +and the poor, hard-working settlers were killed, or carried into a +dreadful captivity. The sufferings of some of these captives can +scarcely be described. The following narrative will give some idea of +savage nature. + +On the 22nd of May, 1792, Massy Herbeson and her children were taken +from their house, within two hundred yards of Reed's blockhouse, and +about twenty-five miles from Pittsburg. Mr. Herbeson, being one of the +spies, was from home; two of the scouts lodged with her that night, +but had left her house about sunrise, in order to go to the +blockhouse, and had left the door standing wide open. Shortly after +the two scouts went away, a number of Indians came into the house, and +drew her out of bed by the feet; the two eldest children, who also lay +in another bed were drawn out in the same manner; a younger child, +about one year old slept with Mrs. Herbeson. The Indians then +scattered the articles about in the house. + +Whilst they were at this work, Mrs. Herbeson went out of the house, +and hallooed to the people in the blockhouse; one of the Indians then +ran up and stopped her mouth, another ran up with his tomahawk drawn, +and a third ran and seized the tomahawk and called her his squaw; this +last Indian claimed her as his, and continued by her. About fifteen of +the Indians then ran down towards the blockhouse and fired their guns +at the block and store-house, in consequence of which one soldier was +killed and another wounded, one having been at the spring, and the +other in coming or looking out of the store-house. Mrs. Herbeson told +the Indians there were about forty men in the blockhouse, and each man +had two guns, the Indians then went to those that were firing at the +blockhouse, and brought them back. + +They then began to drive Mrs. Herbeson and her children away; but a +boy, about three years old, being unwilling to leave the house, they +took it by the heels, and dashed it against the house, then stabbed +and scalped it. They then took Mrs. Herbeson and the two other +children to the top of the hill, where they stopped until they tied up +the plunder they had got. While they were busy about this, Mrs. +Herbeson counted them, and the number amounted to thirty-two, +including two white men, that were with them, painted like the +Indians. Several of the Indians could speak English, and she knew +several of them very well, having often seen them go up and down the +Alleghany river; two of them she knew to be Senecas, and two Munsees, +who had got their guns mended by her husband about two years ago. + +They sent two Indians with her, and the others took their course +towards Puckty. She, the children, and the two Indians had not gone +above two hundred yards, when the Indians caught two of her uncle's +horses, put her and the youngest child on one, and one of the Indians +and the other child on the other. The two Indians then took her and +the children to the Alleghany river, and took them over in bark +canoes, as they could not get the horses to swim the river. After they +had crossed the river, the oldest child, a boy about five years of +age, began to mourn for his brother, when one of the Indians +tomahawked and scalped him. They travelled all day very hard, and that +night arrived at a large camp, covered with bark, which, by +appearance, might hold fifty men. That night they took her about three +hundred yards from the camp, into a large dark bottom, bound her arms, +gave her some bed clothes, and lay down one on each side of her. + +The next morning they took her into a thicket, on the hill side, and +one remained with her till the middle of the day, while the other went +to watch the path, lest some white people should follow them. They +then exchanged places during the remainder of the day. She got a piece +of dry venison, about the size of an egg, that day, and a piece about +the same size the day they were marching; that evening, (Wednesday, +23d) they moved her to a new place, and secured her as the night +before. During the day of the 23'd, she made several attempts to get +the Indian's gun or tomahawk, that was guarding her, and, had she +succeeded, she would have put him to death. She was nearly detected in +trying to get the tomahawk from his belt. + +The next morning one of the Indians went out, as on the day before, to +watch the path. The other lay down and fell asleep. When she found he +was sleeping, she stole her short gown, handkerchief, a child's frock, +and then made her escape; the sun was then about half an hour high-- +she took her course from the Alleghany, in order to deceive the +Indians, as they would naturally pursue her that way; that day she +travelled along Conequenessing creek. The next day she altered her +course, and, as she believes, fell upon the waters of Pine Creek, +which empties into the Alleghany. Thinking this not her best course, +she took over some dividing ridges,--lay on a dividing ridge on Friday +night, and on Saturday came to Squaw run--continued down the run until +an Indian, or some other person, shot a deer; she saw the person about +one hundred and fifty yards from her--the deer running and the dog +pursuing it, which, from the appearance, she supposed to be an Indian +dog. + +She then altered her course, but again came to the same run, and +continued down until she got so tired that she was obliged to lie +down, it having rained on her all that day and the night before; she +lay there that night; it rained constantly. On Sunday morning, she +proceeded down the run until she came to the Alleghany river, and +continued down the river till she came opposite to Carter's house, on +the inhabited side, where she made a noise, and James Closier brought +her over the river to Carter's house. + +Such outrages were frequent upon the frontier, in time of war with the +Indians. Many instances of the generosity and hospitality of the red +men are recorded. But when we remember that they made war and the +chase the business of their lives, and that they never would be +content to till the ground, as the neighbors of the whites we cannot +regret that they have disappeared from our vicinity. + +A Nocturnal Adventure with Six Lions + + +Mr. Cumming, whose adventures we have already found so entertaining, +had a method of hunting for wild beasts, and especially lions, which +was quite curious. He dug holes near the fountains or streams, where +the animals were accustomed to resort at night for water, and +concealed himself and his companions in them, to wait for their +approach. The following is a specimen of this kind of adventure. + +On the afternoon of the 4th I deepened my hole and watched the water. +As the sun went down two graceful springboks and a herd of pallah came +and drank, when I shot the best pallah in the troop. At night I +watched the water with Kleinboy: very soon a cow black rhinoceros came +and drank, and got off for the present with two balls in her. A little +afterwards two black rhinoceroses and two white ones came to the +waterside. We both fired together at the finest of the two black +rhinoceroses; she ran three hundred yards, and fell dead. Soon after +this the other black rhinoceros came up again and stood at the +waterside; I gave her one ball after the shoulder; she ran a hundred +yards and fell dead. In half an hour a third old borele appeared, and, +having inspected the two dead ones, he came up to the waterside. We +fired together; he ran two hundred yards and fell dead. I felt +satisfied with our success, and gave it up for the night. + +By the following evening the natives had cleared away the greater part +of the two rhinoceroses which lay right in the way of the game +approaching the water; I, however, enforced their leaving the third +rhinoceros, which had fallen on the bare rising ground, almost +opposite to my hiding-place, in the hope of attracting a lion, as I +intended to watch the water at night. Soon after the twilight had died +away, I went down to my hole with Klemboy and two natives, who lay +concealed in another hole, with Wolf and Boxer ready to slip, in the +event of wounding a lion. + +On reaching the water I looked towards the carcase of the rhinoceros, +and, to my astonishment, I beheld the ground alive with large +creatures, as though a troop of zebras were approaching the fountain +to drink. Kleinboy remarked to me that a troop of zebras were standing +on the height. I answered, "Yes," but I knew very well that zebras +would not be capering around the carcase of a rhinoceros. I quickly +arranged my blankets, pillow, and guns, in the hole, and then lay down +to feast my eyes on the interesting sight before me. It was bright +moonlight, as clear as I need wish, and within one night of being full +moon. There were six large lions, about twelve or fifteen hyaenas, and +from twenty to thirty jackals, feasting on and around the carcases of +the three rhinoceroses. The lions feasted peacefully, but the hyenas +and jackals fought over every mouthful, and chased one another round +and round the carcases, growling, laughing, screeching, chattering, +and howling without any intermission. The hyaenas did not seem afraid +of the lions, although they always gave way before them; for I +observed that they followed them in the most disrespectful manner, and +stood laughing, one or two on either side, when any lions came after +their comrades to examine pieces of skin or bones which they were +dragging away. I had lain watching this banquet for about four hours, +in the strong hope that, when the lions had feasted, they would come +and drink. Two black and two white rhinoceroses had made their +appearance, but, scared by the smell of the blood, they soon made off. + +At length the lions seemed satisfied. They all walked about with their +heads up, and seemed to be thinking about the water, and in two +minutes one of them turned his face towards me, and came on; he was +immediately followed by the second lion, and in half a minute by the +other four. It was a decided and general move, they were all coming to +drink right bang in my face, within fifteen yards of me. + +I charged the unfortunate, pale, and panting Kleinboy to convert +himself into a stone, and knowing, from old spoor, exactly where they +would drink, I cocked my left barrel, and placed myself and gun in +position. The six lions came steadily on along the ridge, until within +sixty yards of me, when they halted for a minute to reconnoitre. One +of them stretched out his massive arms on the rock and lay down; the +others then came on, and he rose and brought up the rear. They walked, +as I had anticipated, to the old drinking place, and three of them had +put down their heads and were lapping the water loudly, when Kleinboy +thought it necessary to show his ugly head. I turned my head slowly to +rebuke him, and again taming to the lions I found myself discovered. + +An old lioness, who seemed to take the lead, had detected me, and, +with her head high and her eyes fixed full upon me, she was coming +slowly round the corner of the little vley to cultivate further my +acquaintance! This unfortunate proceeding put a stop at once to all +further contemplation. I thought, in my haste, that it was perhaps +most prudent to shoot this lioness, especially as none of the others +had noticed me. I accordingly moved my arm and covered her: she saw me +move and halted, exposing a full broadside, I fired; the ball entered +one shoulder and passed out behind the other. She bounded forward with +repeated growls, and was followed by her five comrades all enveloped +in a cloud of dust; nor did they stop until they had reached the cover +behind me, except one old gentleman, who halted and looked back for a +few seconds, when I fired, but the ball went high. I listened +anxiously for some sound to denote the approaching end of the lioness; +nor listened in vain. I heard her growling and stationary, as if +dying. In one minute her comrades crossed the vley a little below me, +and made towards the rhinoceros. I then slipped Wolf and Boxer on her +scent, and, following them into the river, I found her lying dead +within twenty yards of where the old lion had lain two nights before. +This was a fine old lioness, with perfect teeth, and was certainly a +noble prize; but I felt dissatisfied at not having rather shot a lion, +which I had most certainly done if my Hottentot had not destroyed my +contemplation. + +Attacks on Brookfield and Deerfield. + + +The early settlers of New England did not suffer much from the +hostility of the Indians, until the breaking out of King Philip's war, +in 1675. Philip was the son of Massasoit, who was the friend of the +English from the time of the landing of the pilgrims until the day of +his death. Offended at the manner in which the English behaved towards +his brother, Alexander, Philip resolved upon a war of extermination, +and, for this purpose, he united nearly all the New England tribes. +The war was very destructive to the whites, though it ended in the +total overthrow of the Indian power. + +One of the first places attacked was the town of Brookfield, +Massachusetts. Upon receiving intelligence that Philip had begun +hostilities, the inhabitants all collected in one large house. +Captains Wheeler and Hutchinson went into the country of the Nipmucks, +to treat with them, but they, instigated by Philip, fired upon the +party of whites, killed eight men and mortally wounded Captain +Hutchinson. The rest fled to Brookfield, pursued by the Indians. The +inhabitants were now surrounded by a host of foes, who burned every +house in the place, except the one in which the people and soldiers +were collected. Here they directed their whole force. Upon this house +they poured a storm of musket balls for about two days. Countless +numbers pierced through the walls, yet only one person was killed. +Brands and rags dipped in brimstone were thrust against the house with +long poles. The Indians shot arrows, tipped with fire, upon the roof. +They loaded a cart with flax and tow, and with long poles fastened +together, pushed it against the house. Destruction seemed inevitable, +the house was kindling. The bold and resolute settlers were beginning +to give up all hope, when a sudden and providential fall of rain +quenched the flames. + +The savages yelled with the fury of disappointment, and resorted to +other schemes for the destruction of the house and its inmates. In all +probability, they would have succeeded in effecting their object; but +on the 4th of August, Major Willard, with a party of troops, appeared, +and attacked the besiegers. The conflict was soon decided. The Indians +never could withstand an equal number of whites in a fair field. They +now gave way, after suffering a great loss. The people of Brookfield +were thus happily delivered from their savage foe. But their houses +were burned, and stock destroyed. + +The next place attacked was Deerfield, upon the Connecticut river, +which experienced the horror of Indian atrocity several times during +the course of the war. The town was first attacked in September, 1675, +when most of the houses were burned, and some of the inhabitants +killed. At Deerfield, there were three thousand bushels of wheat in +stock, which it was resolved to bring to the general magazine at +Hadley. Captain Lathrop, with ninety men, guarded the teams employed +in this service. On the way, they were assaulted by about seven +hundred Indians. Few of the whites escaped. They fought bravely, and +killed a great many of the Indians, but were nearly all slain. Captain +Mosely marched from Deerfield to reinforce Captain Lathrop. Arriving +too late, he was compelled to sustain the onset of the whole force of +the enemy, until Major Treat came to his relief, and put the Indians +to flight. + +In the early part of February, a large body of Indians attempted to +surprise Deerfield by night. But the inhabitants were alarmed and +prepared, and after a short conflict succeeded in driving off the +savages. Soon after a party of whites from Deerfield attacked a party +of Indians in a swamp, near that town, and killed one hundred and +twenty of them. But the whites, on their return, were waylaid, and as +they had expended all their ammunition they fell an easy prey. Fifty +were killed and eighty-four wounded. Such were the horrors of King +Philip's war. + +Attack on Mrs. Scraggs's House. + +On the night of the 11th of April, 1787, the house of the widow +Scraggs, in Bourbon county, Kentucky, was attacked by the Indians. The +widow occupied what is called double cabin, one room of which was +tenanted by the old lady herself, together with two grown sons and a +widowed daughter, who was at that time suckling an infant, while the +other was occupied by two unmarried daughters, from sixteen to twenty +years of age, together with a little girl, not more than half grown. + +The hour was eleven o'clock at night. One of the unmarried daughters +was still busily engaged at the loom, but the other members of the +family, with the exception of one of the sons, had retired to rest. +Some symptoms of an alarming nature had engaged the attention of the +young man for an hour before any thing of a decided character took +place. The cry of owls was heard in the adjoining wood, answering each +other in rather an unusual manner. The horses which were enclosed as +usual in a pound near the house were more than commonly their excited, +and by repeated snorting and galloping, announced the presence of some +object of terror. The young man was often upon the point of awakening +his brother, but was as often restrained by the fear of incurring +ridicule and their reproach of timidity, at that time an unpardonable +blemish in the character of a Kentuckian. At length, hasty steps were +heard in the yard, and quickly afterwards several knocks at the door, +accompanied by the usual exclamation, "who keeps house?" in very good +English. + +The young man, supposing from the language, that some benighted +settlers were at the door, hastily arose and advancing to withdraw the +bar which secured it, when his mother, who had long lived upon the +frontiers, and had probably detected the Indian tone in the demand for +admission, sprung out of bed, and ordered her son not to admit them, +declaring that they were Indians. She instantly awakened her other +son, and the two young men seizing their guns, which were always +charged, prepared to repel the enemy. + +The Indians finding it impossible to enter under their assumed +characters, began to thunder at the door with great violence, but a +single shot from a loophole, compelled them to shift the attack to +some less exposed point; and, unfortunately, they discovered the door +of the other cabin, which contained the three daughters. The rifles of +the brothers could not be brought to bear upon this point, and by +means of several rails taken from the yard fence, the door was forced +from its hinges and the three girls were at the mercy of the savage. +One was immediately secured, but the eldest defended herself +desperately with a knife which she had been using in the loom, and +stabbed one of the Indians to the heart, before she was tomahawked. + +In the meantime the little girl, who had been overlooked by the enemy +in their eagerness to secure the others, ran out into the yard, and +might have effected her escape had she taken advantage of the darkness +and fled, but instead of that the terrified little creature ran round +the house wringing her hands, and crying out that her sisters were +killed. The brothers, unwilling to hear her cries without risking +every thing for her rescue, rushed to the door and were preparing to +sally out to her assistance, when their mother threw herself before +them and calmly declared that the child must be abandoned to its fate +--that the sally would sacrifice the lives of the rest without the +slightest benefit to the little girl. Just then the child uttered a +loud scream, followed by a faint moan, and all was again silent. +Presently the crackling of flames was heard, accompanied by a +triumphant yell from the Indians, announcing that they had set fire to +that division of the house which had been occupied by the daughters, +and of which they had undisputed possession. + +The fire was quickly communicated to part of the building, it became +necessary to abandon it or perish in the flames. In the one case, +there was a possibility that some might escape; in the other, their +fate would be equally certain and terrible. The rapid approach of the +flames cut short their momentary suspense. The door was thrown open, +just as some of the Indians began to enter the house through a breach +made by the fire. The old lady, supported by her eldest son, attempted +to cross the fence at one point, while the other son carried his +sister and her son in another direction. + +The old lady was permitted to reach the stile unmolested, but in the +act of crossing, received several balls in the breast and fell dead. +Her son, providentially, remained unhurt, and by extraordinary agility +effected his escape. The other party succeeded also in reaching the +fence unhurt, but in the act of crossing, were vigorously assailed by +several Indians, who throwing down their guns, rushed upon them with +their tomahawks. The young man defended his sister gallantly, firing +upon the enemy as they approached, and then wielding the butt of his +rifle with a fury that drew the whole attention upon himself, and gave +his sister an opportunity of effecting her escape. He quickly fell, +however, under the tomahawk of his enemies, and was found at daylight, +scalped and mangled in a shocking manner. Of the whole family, +consisting of eight persons, when the attack commenced, only three +escaped. Four were killed upon the spot, and one, the second daughter, +carried off a prisoner. + +The neighborhood was quickly alarmed, and by daylight about thirty men +were assembled under the command of Colonel Edwards. A slight snow had +fallen during the latter part of the night, and the Indian trail could +be pursued at a gallop. It led directly into the mountainous country +bordering on Licking, and afforded evidences of great hurry and +precipitation on the part of the fugitives. Unfortunately, a hound had +been permitted to accompany the whites, and as the trail became fresh +and the scent warm, she followed it with eagerness, baying loudly and +giving the alarm to the Indians. + +The consequences of this imprudence were soon displayed. The enemy +finding the pursuit keen, and perceiving that the strength of the +prisoner began to fail, sunk their tomahawks in her head and left her, +still warm and bleeding upon the snow. As the whites came up, she +retained strength enough to wave her hand in token of recognition, and +appeared desirous of giving them some information, with regard to the +enemy, but her strength was too far gone. Her brother sprung from his +horse, and knelt by her side, endeavoring to stop the effusion of +blood, but in vain. She gave him her hand, muttering some inarticulate +words, and expired within two minutes after the arrival of the party. + +The pursuit was renewed with additional ardor, and in twenty minutes +the enemy was within view. They had taken possession of a steep narrow +ridge and seemed desirous of magnifying their numbers in the eyes of +the whites, as they ran rapidly from tree to tree, and maintained a +steady yell in their most appalling tones. The pursuers, however, were +too experienced to be deceived by so common an artifice, and being +satisfied that the number of the enemy must be inferior to their own, +they dismounted, tied their horses, and flanking out in such a manner +as to enclose the enemy, ascended the ridge as rapidly as was +consistent with a due regard to the shelter of their persons. The +firing quickly commenced, and now for the first time they discovered +that only two Indians were opposed to them. They had voluntarily +sacrificed themselves for the safety of the main body, and had +succeeded in delaying pursuit until their friends had reached the +mountains. One of them was shot dead, and the other was badly wounded, +as was evident from the blood upon his blanket, as well as that which +filled his tracks in the snow for a considerable distance. The pursuit +was recommenced, and urged keenly until night, when the trail entered +a running stream and was lost. On the following morning the snow had +melted, and every trace of the enemy was obliterated. + +Fearful Adventure with a man-eating lion. + +The following is Mr. Cumming's account of a fearful adventure, in +which he lost one of his most valuable servants: + +On the 29th we arrived at a small village of Bakalahari. These natives +told me that elephants were abundant on the opposite side of the +river. I accordingly resolved to halt here and hunt, and drew my +wagons up on the river's bank, within thirty yards of the water, and +about one hundred yards from the native village. Having outspanned, we +at once set about making for the cattle a kraal of the worst +description of thorn trees. Of this I had now become very particular, +since my severe loss by lions on the first of this month; and my +cattle were, at night, secured by a strong kraal, which enclosed my +two wagons, the horses being made fast to a trektow, stretched to the +two hind-wheels of the wagons. I had yet, however, a fearful lesson to +learn as to the nature and character of the lion, of which I had at +one time entertained so little fear; and on this night a horrible +tragedy was to be acted in my little lonely camp of so very awful and +appalling a nature as to make the blood curdle in our veins. I worked +till near sun down at one side of the kraal with Hendrick, my first +wagon driver--I cutting down the trees with my axe, and he dragging +them to the kraal. When the kraal for the cattle was finished, I +turned my attention to making a pot of barley broth, and lighted a +fire between the wagons and the water, close on the river's bank, +under a dense grove of shady trees, making a sort of kraal around our +sitting place for the evening. + +The Hottentots, without any reason, made their fire about fifty yards +from mine; they according to their usual custom, being satisfied with +the shelter of a large dense bush. The evening passed away cheerfully. +Soon after it was dark we heard elephants breaking the trees in the +forest across the river; and once or twice I strode away into the +darkness some distance from the fireside, to stand and listen to them. +I little, at that moment, deemed of the imminent peril to which I was +exposing my life, nor thought that a blood-thirsty man-eater lion was +crouching near, and only watching his opportunity to spring into the +midst of us, and consign one of our number to a most horrible death. +About three hours after the sun went down I called to my men to come +and take their coffee and supper which was ready for them at my fire; +and after supper three of them returned before their comrades to their +own fireside, and lay down; these were John Stofolus, Hendrick, and +Ruyter. In a few minutes an ox came out by the gate of the kraal and +walked out by the back of it. Hendrick got up and drove him in again, +and then went back to his fireside and lay down. Hendrick and Ruyter +lay on one side of the fire under one blanket, and John Stofolus lay +on the other. At this moment I was sitting taking some barley-broth; +our fire was very small, and the night was pitch-dark and windy. Owing +to our proximity to the native village the wood was very scarce, the +Bakalahari having burnt it all in their fires. + +Suddenly the appalling and murderous voice of an angry blood-thirsty +lion burst upon my ears within a few yards of us, followed by the +shrieking of the Hottentots. Again and again the murderous roar of +attack was repeated. We heard John and Ruyter shriek, "The lion, the +lion!" still, for a few moments, we thought he was chasing one of the +dogs round the kraal; but, the next instant, John Stofolus rushed into +the midst of us, almost speechless with fear and terror, his eyes +bursting from their sockets, and shrieked out, "The lion, the lion! He +has got Hendrick; he dragged him away from the fire beside me. I +struck him with the burning brands upon his head, but he would not let +go his hold. Hendrick is dead! Oh, God! Hendrick is dead! Let us take +fire and seek him!" + +The rest of my people rushed about shrieking and yelling as if they +were mad. I was at once angry with them for their folly, and told them +if they did not stand still and keep quiet the lion would have another +of us; and that very likely there was a troop of them. I ordered the +dogs, which were nearly all fast, to be made loose, and the fire to be +increased as far as could be. I then shouted Hendrick's name, but all +was still. I told my men that Hendrick was dead, and that a regiment +of soldiers could not now help him, and, hunting my dogs forward, I +had every thing brought within the cattle-kraal, when we lighted our +fire and closed the entrance as well as we could. My terrified people +sat round the fire with guns in their hand till the day broke, still +fancying that every moment the lion would return and spring again into +the midst of us. + +When the dogs were first let go, the stupid brutes, as dogs often +prove when most required, instead of going at the lion, rushed +fiercely on one another, and fought desperately for some minutes. +After this, they got his wind, and going at him, disclosed to us his +position; they kept up a continual barking until the day dawned, the +lion occasionally springing after them and driving them in upon the +kraal. The horrible monster lay all night within forty yards of us, +consuming the wretched man whom he had chosen for his prey. He had +dragged him into a little hollow at the back of a thick bush, beside +which the fire was kindled, and there he remained till the day dawned, +careless of our proximity. + +It appeared that when the unfortunate Hendrick rose to drive in the +ox, the lion had watched him to his fireside, and he had scarcely lain +down when the brute sprang upon him and Ruyter, for both lay under one +blanket, with his appalling murderous roar, and, roaring as he lay, +grappled him with his fearful claws, and kept biting him on his breast +and shoulder, all the while feeling for his neck; having got hold of +which, he dragged him away backwards round the bush into the dense +shade. + +As the lion lay upon the unfortunate man he faintly cried, "Help me, +help me! Oh, God! men, help me!" After which the fearful beast got a +hold of his neck, and then all was still, except that his comrades +heard the bones of his neck cracking between the teeth of the lion. +John Stofolus had lain with his back to the fire on the opposite side, +and on hearing the lion he sprang up, and, seizing a large flaming +brand, he had belabored him on the head with the burning wood; but the +brute did not take any notice of him. The Bushman had a narrow escape; +he was not altogether scatheless, the lion having inflicted two gashes +in his seat with his claws. + +The next morning, just as the day began to dawn, we heard the lion +dragging something up the river-side under cover of the bank. We drove +the cattle out of the kraal, and then proceeded to inspect the scene +of the night's awful tragedy. In the hollow, where the lion had lain +consuming his prey, we found one leg of the unfortunate Hendrick, +bitten off below the knee, the shoe still on his foot; the grass and +bushes were all stained with his blood, and fragments of his pea-coat +lay around. + +Poor Hendrick! I knew the fragments of that old coat, and had often +marked them hanging in the dense covers where the elephant had charged +after my unfortunate after-rider. Hendrick was by far the best man I +had about my wagons, of a most cheerful disposition, first-rate wagon +driver, fearless in the field, ever active, willing, and obliging: his +loss to us all was very serious. I felt confounded and utterly sick in +my heart; I could not remain at the wagons, so I resolved to go after +elephants to divert my mind. I had this morning heard them breaking +the trees on the opposite side of the river. I accordingly told the +natives of the village my intentions; and having ordered my people to +devote the day to fortifying the kraal, I started with Piet and Ruyter +as my after-riders. + +It was a very cold day. We crossed the river, and at once took up the +fresh spoor of a troop of bull elephants. These bulls unfortunately +joined a troop of cows, and the bulls were off in a moment, before we +could even see them. One remarkably fine old cow charged the dogs. I +hunted this cow and finished her with two shots from the saddle. Being +anxious to return to my people before night, I did not attempt to +follow the troop. + +My followers were not a little gratified to see me returning, for +terror had taken hold of their minds, and they expected that the lion +would return, and, emboldened by the success of the preceding night, +would prove still more daring in his attack. The lion would most +certainly have returned, but fate had otherwise ordained. My health +had been better in the last three days: my fever was leaving me, but I +was, of course, still very weak. It would still be two hours before +the sun would set, and feeling refreshed by a little rest, and able +for further work, I ordered the steeds to be saddled, and went in +search of the lion. + +I took John and Carey as after-riders, armed, and a party of the +natives followed up the spoor and led the dogs. The lion had dragged +the remains of poor Hendrick along a native footpath that led up the +river's side. We found fragments of his coat all along the spoor, and +at last the mangled coat itself. About six hundred yards from our camp +a dry river's course joined the Limpopo. At this spot was much cover, +and heaps of dry reeds and trees deposited by the Limpopo in some +great flood. The lion had left the footpath and entered this secluded +spot. I at once felt convinced that we were upon him, and ordered the +natives to make loose the dogs. These walked suspiciously forward on +the spoor, and next minute began to spring about, barking angrily, +with all their hair bristling on their backs: a crash upon the dry +reeds immediately followed--it was the lion bounding away. + +Several of the dogs were extremely afraid of him, and kept rushing +continually backwards springing aloft to obtain a view. I now pressed +forward and urged them on; old Argyll and Bles took up his spoor in +gallant style and led on the other dogs. Then commenced a short but +lively and glorious chase, whose conclusion was the only small +satisfaction that I could obtain to answer for the horrors of the +preceding evening. The lion held up the river's bank for a short +distance and took away through some wait-a-bit thorn cover, the best +he could find, but nevertheless open. Here, in two minutes, the dogs +were up with him, and he turned and stood at bay. As I approached, he +stood, his horrid head right to me, with open jaws growling fiercely, +his tail waving from side to side. + +On beholding him my blood boiled with rage. I wished that I could take +him alive and torture him, and setting my teeth, I dashed my steed +forward within thirty yards of him and shouted, "Your time is up, old +fellow." I halted my horse, and, placing my rifle to my shoulder, I +waited for a broadside. This, the next moment, he exposed, when I sent +a bullet through his shoulder and dropped him on the spot. He rose, +however, again, when I finished him with a second in the breast. The +Bakalahari now came up with wonder and delight. I ordered John to cut +off his head and forepaws and bring them to the wagons, and mounting +my horse I galloped home, having been absent about fifteen minutes. +When the Bakalahari women heard that the man-eater was dead, they all +commenced dancing about with joy, calling me _their father_. + +Thrilling Adventures of Mr. Butler. + +The early history of Kentucky is one continued series of daring and +romantic adventures. Had the founder of that state lived in the days +of chivalric yore, his exploits would have been sung in connection +with those of Arthur and Orlando; and his followers, in the same +region, would certainly have been knights of the Round Table. + +The hero of our story was one of these. Those who desire to inspect +his adventure, by the light of romance, will not be displeased at +learning that his choice of a hunter's life was determined by a +disappointment in the object of his early love. + +He was then only nineteen, yet he fearlessly left his native state, +and sought, amid the uncultivated wilds of Kentucky, the stirring +enjoyment of a western hunter. After rendering valuable service to the +Virginia colony, as a spy and pioneer, he undertook a voyage of +discovery to the country north of the Ohio. It was while thus engaged +that he was taken prisoner by the Indians. + +He was, no doubt, known to the Indians as an active and dangerous +enemy; and they now prepared to avenge themselves upon him. They +condemned him to the fiery torture, painted his body black, and +marched him toward Chilicothe. By way of amusement on the road, he was +manacled hand and foot, tied to an unbridled and unbroken horse, and +driven off amid the shouts and whoops of the savages; poor Butler thus +played the part of an American Ma zeppa. The horse, unable to shake +him off galloped with terrific speed toward the wood, jarring and +bruising the rider at every step; but at length, exhausted and +subdued, it returned to camp with its burden, amid the exulting shouts +of the savages. When within a mile of Chilicothe, they took Butler +from the horse, and tied him to a stake, where, for twenty-four hours, +he remained in one position. He was then untied to run the gauntlet. +Six hundred Indians, men, women, and children, armed with clubs and +switches, arranged themselves in two parallel lines, to strike him as +he passed. It was a mile to the council-house, which if he reached, he +was to be spared. A blow started him on this encouraging race; but he +soon broke through the files and had almost reached the council-house, +when he was brought to the ground by a club. In this position he was +severely beaten and again taken into custody. + +These terrible sufferings, instead of satisfying the Indians, only +stimulated them to invent more ingenious tortures. Their cruelty was +not more astonishing than the fortitude of the victim. He ran the +gauntlet thirteen times; he was exposed to insult, privation, and +injury of every kind: sometimes he was tied, sometimes beaten. At +others, he was pinched, dragged on the ground, or deprived for long +periods of sleep. Then, amid jeers and yells, he was marched from +village to village, so that all might be entertained with his +sufferings. Yet, amid each torture, he never failed to improve an +opportunity favorable for escaping, and in one instance would have +effected it, but for some Indians whom he accidentally met returning +to the village. Finally it was resolved to burn him at Lower Sandusky. +The procession, bearing the victim to the stake, passed by the cabin +of Simon Girty, whose name is a counterpart to that of Brandt, in the +annals of Pennsylvania. This man had just returned from an +unsuccessful expedition to the frontier of that state, burning, of +course, with disappointment, and a thirst for revenge. Hearing that a +white prisoner was being carried to the torture, he rushed out, threw +Butler down, and began to beat him. + +The reader will not be apt to imagine that this was in any way +favorable to Butler's escape; yet it was so. He instantly recognised +in the fierce assailant a companion of early days, and as such made +himself known. The heart of the savage relented. He raised up his old +friend, promised to use his influence for him, summoned a council, and +persuaded the Indians to resign Butler to him. Taking the unfortunate +man home, he fed and nursed him until he began to recover. But five +days had scarcely expired, when the Indians relented, seizing their +victim, and marched him to be burned at Lower Sandusky. By a +surprising coincidence, he here met the Indian agent from Detroit, who +interceded and saved him. He was taken to that town, paroled by the +governor, and subsequently escaped through the woods to Kentucky. + +Robert and Samuel M'Afee. + +Early in May, 1781, M'Afee's station, in the neighborhood of +Harrodsburg, Kentucky, was alarmed by the approach of Indians. On the +morning of the 9th, Samuel M'Afee, accompanied by another man, left +the fort in order to visit a small plantation in the neighborhood, and +at the distance of three hundred yards from the gate, they were fired +upon by a party of Indians in ambush. The man who, accompanied him +instantly fell. An Indian rushed up, dropped his rifle, scalped the +man, and holding up the bleeding trophy, gave a yell of delight. + +M'Afee attempted to regain the fort. While running for that purpose, +he found himself suddenly intercepted by an Indian, who, springing out +of the canebrake, placed himself directly in his path. Each glared +upon the other for an instant, in silence, and both raising their guns +at the moment, pulled the triggers together. The Indian's rifle +snapped, while M'Afee's ball passed directly through his brain. Having +no time to reload his gun, he sprung over the body of his antagonist, +and continued his flight to the fort. When within one hundred yards of +the gate, he was met by his two brothers, Robert and James, who at the +report of the guns, had hurried out to the assistance of their +brother. Samuel hastily informed them of their danger, and exhorted +them to return. James readily complied, but Robert, declared that he +must have a view of the dead Indian. He ran on for that purpose, and +having enjoyed the spectacle, was returning, when he saw five or six +Indians between him and the fort, evidently bent on taking him alive. +All his activity and presence of mind was put in request. He ran from +tree to tree, endeavoring to turn their flank, and reach one of the +gates, and after a variety of turns and doublings, he found himself +pressed by only one Indian. M'Afee turned upon his pursuer, and +compelled him to take shelter behind a tree. Both stood still for a +moment--M'Afee having his gun cocked, and the sight fixed where he +supposed the Indian would thrust out his head in order to have a view +of his antagonist. After waiting a few seconds, the Indian exposed a +part of his head to take sight, when M'Afee fired, and the Indian +fell. While turning, to continue the flight, he was fired on by a +party of six, which compelled him again to tree. But scarcely had he +done so, when he received the fire of three more enemies which made +the bark and dust fly about him. Finding his post dangerous, he ran +for the fort, which he reached in safety, to the inexpressible joy of +his brothers, who had despaired of his return. + +A few days' Sport in Chinese Tartary. + +Much may have been said, but little has been written, of the yet but +very partially explored part of the world between China and the +Himayla chain. Moorcroft and Gerard, some thirty years ago, visited +some parts bordering on the extreme north-west of the British +possessions in India. Fraser, a few years later, penetrated probably +those parts of it adjoining the central hill sanatoriums of Simla and +Almorah, and he, like his predecessors, was stopped by the jealous +government and its inhabitants. Previous to entering Chinese Tartary +from British India, the traveller has to cross certain of the passes +in the great snowy range, some of them varying in height from sixteen +to eighteen thousand feet above the level of the sea. + +The Barinda, one of the most frequented and best known of these +passes, is variously estimated at from seventeen to eighteen thousand +feet. The months of June, July, and August are generally considered +the best months for crossing. + +The scenery in and around these passes is of the most sublime +description. As I should assuredly fail, however, in describing it, I +must content myself with a narration of some personal adventures which +befel me in an attempt to carry into effect a long cherished +determination to make the acquaintance of the seeta bhaloo (white +bear) and the burul, (white sheep,) found only in these regions. By +the route I took, seventeen marches brought me to the snow. Here our +"roughing" commenced, the Peharrees, or hill men, of our side of the +snow, having a most religious horror of the great snowy range. The air +there they declare is charged with "bis" (poison,) and this is the +only way they can in their original way account for the painful and +distressing effects which the rarefied air in those elevations +produces on the human frame. The first intimation we have that we are +far above the altitude of comfort, is a dull, heavy pain on the +shoulders, as if you were carrying a load above your capacity; then a +very painful sensation on the forehead, as if it had been bandaged +unpleasantly tight, accompanied by a burning sensation of the eyes and +nose, followed by an involuntary bleeding of the latter. + +This last symptom of the effects of high rarefaction, is, to an +Englishman, at least it was to us, always a great relief. It operates +differently upon the natives; they become only more alarmed and +helpless, and, unless hurried through the passes very expeditiously, +invariably perish. On my first trip, I left two unfortunate hill men +in the Sogla Pass. Two more would have perished, had not I taken one +wheelbarrow fashion, by the legs, and dragged him after me, although +very much distressed myself, until we had descended sufficiently to +rest with safety. My head man, Jye Sing, by my direction, took the +other man, and both were saved. + +After getting through the pass, we came upon the inhabited tracks, and +made the acquaintance of the Bhootias. I found them very original, +very dirty, and very honest with regard to every thing except tobacco. +This, neither father nor mother, husband or wife, could help stealing, +whenever they had the opportunity; and the most amusing part of it +was, they never attempted to deny the theft, but stoutly maintained +their right to the article! Numerous were the thrashings inflicted by +Buctoo on them for tobacco thieving, but the thefts did not diminish. + +As my object in coming into these dreary fastnesses was to get on +terms of familiarity with the quadrupedal rather than the bipedal +inhabitants, I will leave the Bhootias, and proceed to describe my +rencontres with the equally civilized four-footed denizens. I had in +my employ Shikarees (gameseekers) of no ordinary class, who, having +been many years with me, were well tutored; although, when first +caught, they were ignorance personified as far as sporting matters +went. Their original incapacity will be easily credited, when I inform +them that my second best man, Buctoo, had followed the sporting +occupation of a village fiddler, before he entered my service, and +knew as much of the capabilities of an English rifle as he did of the +"Pleiades." Jye Sing was a little better informed, for he told me +confidentially, one day, he had seen a gentleman at Subathoo actually +kill quail flying with small shot. His occupation had been that of +findal, or porter, to some families at Simla. Two months' training +turned him out, not only one of the most intelligent, but pluckiest +Shikaree I ever had. + +Having, in my numerous excursions into the hills, obtained some very +vague information from the many villagers I came in contact with, that +they had often heard from parties residing near the snow that there +was an animal to be found there strongly resembling the famous sheep, +(_Ovid Burul_,) I determined upon despatching Jye Sing and Buctoo to +those regions, to obtain all the precise information that might be +available, cautioning them not to return without either having seen +the animal, or bringing me some proof of its existence, and further +promising them a handsome present, if they brought me satisfactory +information. They were absent two months, and returned with some most +marvellous stories about what they had seen and heard, and, as a proof +of the existence of the animal, brought me the horn of a wild sheep +they had picked up in one of the valleys in the snow, after an +avalanche had melted. This physical fragment at once removed all my +doubts, the horn being different from that of any tame sheep. I was +now wound up to the highest pitch of excitement; my marching +establishment was soon put in order, and we started on the following +day. Fifteen forced marches brought me to the foot of the snow, and +also to the last village, called "Ufsul." I found the inhabitants of +this village a most rude and demi-barbarous race, knowing little, and +wishing to know less, of Englishmen, of whom they seemed to have the +greatest dread. However, two days' soft sawdering with a plentiful +supply of hill "buckshee," (spirits,) made them more communicative; +and they at last informed me, if I would promise only to remain a +week, they would show me the wild sheep. This promise, of course, I +gave; and on the following morning at daybreak, (shivering cold it +was,) we started to ascend the snow-capped mountains and glaciers, +which the animal patronized. On the road up I was sorely tempted to +draw my ball and ram down shot, in order to bring down some of the +many woodcocks we were constantly flushing, and which were so +unaccustomed to be disturbed, that they only flew a few yards away; +but I resisted the temptation. + +As we progressed in the region of eternal snow, we began to find +pedestrianism a difficult task. Some parts of the path were very +slippery and hard; others, soft and knee-deep in snow. An idea may be +formed of the height we had to ascend, and the nature of the ground +which we traversed, when I mention that we left our tents at seven +o'clock in the morning, and had not arrived at the "sheep-walk" before +one, + +Now commenced the difficulty. The burrul, from its well-known and +secluded habits, is a most difficult animal to approach. I was at +last, however, rewarded for my labor. About two o'clock we came upon +the fresh marks of the flock; we followed them for some distance, but +coming near a hot spring where they had evidently been grazing, lost +of course all farther track. For the next hour I worked on one +glacier, around another, used my telescope, but could not discern any +object. Suddenly one of the villagers called my attention to something +above me. I looked up and beheld a pair of enormous horns bending +over. None of the body of the animal was then visible. I now +cautiously moved a short distance to the right, when I had the +satisfaction of seeing not only his horns, but a full broadside view +of the first wild sheep I ever saw. He was about one hundred and fifty +yards off. Having elevated the proper sight, I brought my rifle to +bear on the shoulder, took a steady and gradual draw of the trigger, +the rifle cracked, and dead came down the burrul of Thibet. + +Perhaps, up to this time, the burrul had known no other mortal foe +than the white, or whitey-brown bear of the hills--the seeta bhaloo, +as he is called. And this brings me to another part of my sporting +excursion. + +Whether from the scarcity of food, or the amiability of their +dispositions, the seeta bhaloo are to be met with constantly in small +bodies of from five to ten, differing in this respect from their sable +brethren, who are generally found alone, unless a matrimonial alliance +has been formed, when the intrusion of a third party, whether male or +female, ensures a fight. + +The white bear is only carnivorous when pressed by hunger, and in that +state is very destructive to the numerous Tartar flocks of sheep, for +Bruin, with an empty larder is not to be deterred from his ravenous +attacks by men or dogs--a haunch of mutton he will have. His mode of +devouring it differs greatly from that of the tiger or leopard. He +tears the fleece off with his paws, and instead of gnawing and tearing +the flesh, as most carnivorous animals do, he commences sucking it, +and in this way draws off the flesh in shreds, thus occupying four or +five hours in doing what a tiger or leopard would effectually achieve +in half an hour. It is well known among the Tartars, (and I know it +also from experience,) that a bear, after feasting off flesh, is a +very dangerous customer, and will always show fight. If near the +carcass he has captured, he will give very little trouble in looking +for him, indeed, he will almost invariably attack the intruder. + +One day while following up some wild sheep, I came upon two bears very +busily engaged in digging up the snow where an avalanche had fallen. +Being hid from their sight, I determined to wait some little time to +ascertain why they were digging. I accordingly placed myself behind a +rock, and allowed them to work away. In about an hour they had made a +very good opening; and on using my glass I found they had got hold of +something. I now pushed up to them. One immediately showed fight, and +came out to meet me. He made one charge at me, which I received with a +rifle ball, killing him the very first shot. The other bear got away. +On going up to the spot where they had been at work, I found the +exhumed bodies of three wild sheep. They had been carried away and +buried underneath the avalanche, probably as far back as the previous +year, considering the very compact and frozen state the snow was in. +The sheep were in excellent order. We skinned them, and took them to +our tents, and excellent mutton we all had for several days. + +On the melting of the snows, the golden eagle of the Himalaya--a +magnificent bird, often measuring thirteen feet from the tip of one +wing to the other--is one of the best of pointers a sportsman can +follow, to ascertain where any animal has been carried away in an +avalanche. He hovers over the spot, constantly alighting, and then +taking wing again; but if once you observe him pecking with his beak +you may proceed to the spot, and be certain of finding, a very short +distance below the snow, the carcass of a wild sheep, as fresh as it +was on the day on which it was carried away. Many a haunch of good +mutton have I obtained in this way. + +The Himalayan golden eagle is a very carrion crow, never destroying +its own game, and feeding on any dead carcass it may find, + +Many an eagle have I shot feeding on the carcass of an unfortunate +hill bullock, which, either through stupidity or fright, had tumbled +over a precipice; and never, during the many years I shot over all +parts of these hills, do I remember seeing a golden eagle pounce on or +carry away a living prey. + +The Tartar shepherds near the snow informed me that during the lambing +season the eagles were very troublesome. If a ewe dropped a sickly +lamb, and left it, the eagle would attack it, but never attempted to +stoop to carry away a live one, or one that followed its mother. The +Indian golden eagle is identical with the Lammergeyer of the Alps, but +wants the courage of the latter bird. + +A companion and myself had been working hard in the "Sogla," one of +the passes in the snowy range conducting into Chinese Tartary, after +the wild sheep, and found them this day wilder and more wary than on +any previous occasion. It is not generally known that there are two +species of wild sheep--one called the dairuk, and the other (an +enormous animal, at least as far as its horns are concerned) known to +naturalists as the _ovis ammon_. The horns and head of the latter are +as much as a hill man can lift, and singular enough the body is small +indeed, out of all proportion to the horns borne by a full-grown ram. +My companion and self espied on an opposite hill what we at first +(through our telescopes) thought was an enormous pair of horns moving +without any ostensible carriage. At last we observed the body, and I, +in delight, exclaimed, "By Jove, there is the ovis ammon at last." + +After considerable trouble and precious hard work, we worked up to +within the range, when a shot from my rifle brought the ram tumbling +down over the snow. I hoped and believed he was dead, but he was only +wounded. He got up again, and, in spite of the wound, made a very good +gallop over the deep snow. Finding he was too fast for us, we slipped +our dogs, and among them my poor "Karchia." The poor dog, as usual, +was first up with the ram, and seized him. The ram, having still a +good deal in him, broke the hold, and down he went to the bottom of +the ravine, where ran the Tonse river, a tributary of the Jumna here +in the snow. + +The river was covered over in many places by avalanches, and was also +partly frozen; but in many places there were large holes. The ram +bounded over these until my poor dog Karchia again closed with and +seized him behind. With a vigorous effort the ovis ammon shook him +off. A few yards before the steep was a large hole in the Tonse, the +water foaming up through it; into this ovis ammon threw himself, and +was carried under the snow. Heaven knows where. On arriving at the +spot I found my dog baying most piteously, and trying to bite away the +frozen sides, but to no purpose, and I was obliged immediately to get +him chained up, fearing he would have plunged in after the game, when +I should have lost him, and most probably my own life. Having thus +introduced the wild sheep and white bear of Tartary, a few sentences +may not unprofitably be spent in describing the genus homo of the +Snowy Range. The Tartars, as may be imagined, are a very original +race, and in those parts visited by me I found them very primitive and +intensive, always barring the petty larceny propensities. Depending +principally on the sale of their wool for their support, and being +Bhuddhists by religion, they dared not destroy animal life; but when +nature had deprived one of their bullocks or sheep of existence, +either by accident or old age, economy forbids their wasting the +carcass, and it is eagerly devoured by them. Some of the ancient rams +I saw would require a considerable deal of mastication and powerful +digestive organs when summoned to their forefathers and committed to a +Tartar's jaws. + +I cannot say that the hill people thrive on the diet, for in +appearance they are a miserable-looking, stunted race, very filthy in +their habits, seldom changing their coarse woollen clothing, and +entertaining a religious horror of cold water. + +They have no objection to the good things brought from our side of the +snow, and I have seen them devour salt beef and pork with great gusto. +But what they must delight in, when they can get it, is English brandy +and tobacco. The former they will drink in great quantities, and for +men unaccustomed to liquor it is astonishing how well they resist its +intoxicating properties. I saw one man, a "Siana," the head of a +village, drink off two bottles of pure brandy without apparently +feeling any ill effects from the potation. On questioning him about +his sensations, he said that the only difference he found between the +brandy and water was, that it made his inside comfortably warm, and +his tongue very slippery, of which he gave us proof by chattering and +singing in a most uncouth way. Of all the horrible noises I ever +heard, those which a half-drunken Tartar makes are the most +discordant. The deep nasal and guttural noises he emits would beat +Welsh and Gaelic by a long chalk. + +Although petty thefts are common among the Thibetans, valuable +articles may with with safety be left among them--even money they will +never touch. Many an hour have I whiled away among them watching +Buctoo and Jye Sing showing them many articles of my property, the use +or value of which they could not comprehend. Of my guns and rifles, in +particular, they stood in great awe, and for a long time none of them +cound be induced to touch one. Our telescopes also caused great +terror, and many were the learned arguments they had as to what +possibly could be the use of the latter. I invariably carried a +favorite "Dolland" across my shoulder, and Buctoo was provided with a +similar instrument, of which he was very proud, and in the use of +which he became very expert. + +One day, after a good day's sport, we had all sat down near a +beautiful spring, and I was enjoying a luncheon, when I found that +Buctoo had collected some fifty Tartars about him, who sat in a +circle, listening to his explanation of the use of his telescope. None +of his hearers could for some time be induced to touch it; they were +afraid of its either exploding or metamorphosing them into wild sheep. +The large village Tehong Si was about four miles below our bivouac, +and several of the head men had come up to have a look at us. The +village was just discernible to the naked eye, and Buctoo politely +inquired of one of the chiefs, if he would like to be informed what +was going on in the village below? The chief told him he should, when +Buctoo drew out the glass, on which all the Tartars moved off to a +respectful distance. + +After looking at the village, Buctoo persuaded them to come close to +him once more, and duly informed them what he could see in the +village, describing certain parts of it so correctly that they were +astounded. (I must here mention that neither myself nor any of my +servants had been allowed to enter the village.) The Tartars at first +could hardly credit it; but after sundry questions as to the +description of houses on the north side, and again on the southern, +which Buctoo, on carefully examining, correctly described, they became +sadly perplexed. Buctoo once more endeavored to persuade them to take +a look themselves, and, after much coaxing and a little brandy, one of +the head men was induced to take the telescope into his hand. + +The figure he cut in doing so, I shall not easily forget. He held it +out at arm's length, grinned at it most horribly, and chattered some +abominable gibberish in Tartaree, that no one understood, appearing to +expect every moment that the glass would bite him. After some minutes +spent in this way, he drew it near him, and by degrees became more +confident. Buctoo then approached him and set it, telling him how to +look through it. He then appeared very suspicious about this movement, +evidently fancying the glass was going to explode. At length he threw +it down, for which Buctoo boxed his ears. He then took it up again, +and it was brought to bear on the village. But the Tartar did us +again; for he shut both eyes. However, after a good deal of +persuasion, he was induced to open one and shut the other, and to peep +through the glass. For a second or two he trembled violently, and then +groaned heavily--threw down the glass, and commenced rolling down the +hill, head over heels, at a most awful pace. The whole batch, some +forty, were seized with the same complaint, and down they went after +their chief, roaring out, "Hi! ha!" at the top of their voice. Break +their necks they could not very easily; but how many of them escaped +serious injury I did not stop to ascertain. Upon seeing them all off, +I fell down heavily, fracturing my sides with laughter. Buctoo was in +the same state, and so were all my servants. We at last saw them, on +reaching a piece of level ground, get on their legs, the chief still +leading, and bolting for the village, at a pace that nothing would +warrant but a tin kettle at their heels. + +In about ten minutes we heard the gongs and bells beating and tolling +at a great pace, with frightful shouting from men and women, and this +lasted for two hours, when all became quiet. + +Not a Tartar could be got hold of for two days after this. At last, by +sending a small party rather near the village, several men showed +themselves, offering us any thing we wanted, if we would only return +to our proper side of the snow. This they were told we would do, if +they would only show us three or four more days' good sport; but if +not we would remain there six months, and turn them all into wild +sheep. Upon this they had a consultation, when it was decided that +they would show us excellent comfort provided we promised to take our +departure in four days, and never come there again. This was duly +agreed to, and after some very cautious approaches we got them once +more up to our tents. They certainly got their promise, for I had +excellent sport, and was therefore bound to fulfil my part of the +agreement. + +On the fourth day arriving, they were invited to come once more to the +tent, and to receive a few trifling rewards for the sport they had +shown. Brandy was first served out, and this soon restored confidence, +when the distribution of a few knives, looking-glasses, beads, etc., +etc., and sundry pieces of red cloth, brought them into good humor. +Every thing was going on as well as could be desired, when some +unfortunate dispute arose among some of my guides, (not my own +servants, but men taken from the last village on our side of the +snow,) and Tartars. They knew each other well, having, at a fair held +at the foot of the pass, a year's intercourse. These men, I have no +doubt, assisted by one of my own men, (and I strongly suspected +Buctoo, although he most solemnly denied it,) played them a sad trick. +I may here note that almost every Tartar carries a pipe, rudely made +of wrought iron, of about the size and shape of the common clay pipe. +Being inveterate smokers, a pipe full of good tobacco is one of the +most convincing arguments you can employ. While I was at dinner, I +ordered some tobacco to be given to them, and it was proposed they +should put that in their pouches, and allow some of my men to charge +their pipes with their own tobacco, of which they begged their +acceptance. + +The Tartars, nothing loth, assented, and each man gave his iron pipe +to be charged, which was duly done and returned to each owner. Smoking +then commenced, and on finishing my dinner and coming outside the +tent, I found the Tartars all in a circle, smoking away, and my men, +some ten yards from them, and above them, and talking to them. They +were also smoking. Thinking nothing of this at the time, I took no +notice, and had my chair brought outside, and smoked my segar. In less +than five minutes I was considerably astonished on hearing a salvo as +of a volley of musketry, and iron pipes flying up and down in all +directions. Then a general shout, and off went the Tartars, as if Old +Nick was at their heels, halloing most fearfully. They did not run +far, but brought up about three hundred yards from where they started, +and demanded their pipes back. I asked them what was the matter; when +they said they would never smoke English tobacco again, for we smoked +with tobacco, and shot with tobacco, and _Sheitzan_ must have been the +manufacturer. + +Kangaroo Hunting. + +Kangarooing in Tasman's Peninsula is essentially a pedestrian sport. I +am aware that in an open country, and especially in New South Wales, +where the chase is followed on horseback, my assertion may seem like +rank heresy. + +I have pursued the sport both mounted and on foot, and if a horse +enables you occasionally, on comparatively unincumbered ground, to see +something more of the run, you must still have pedestrians to hunt the +dogs. After all, decide this point as you will, we esteem it the +poorest variety of the chase. Some excitement must necessarily attend +it, but too much is left to the imagination, and too little of either +the game or the dogs is given to the eye. + +It is rarely, except when on horseback, that one has the good fortune +to be in at the death, or to see the kangaroo pulled down. + +The ground is usually hilly, the scrub thick, and the grass high. It +is needless to say that on the present occasion we were all on foot. +Forestier's Peninsula is no place for a horse, except the traveller be +jogging along the rugged and little frequented track which leads to +Hobart Town, by a most circuitous route. + +Away then we strode, skirting the shore pretty closely, until we came +to a valley which had been partially cleared by one of those extensive +bush conflagrations which are of annual occurrence. + +The forest is fired in several places every summer, with a view to +keeping down the scrub, and giving a chance of growth to the grass and +the larger forest trees. These burn for several consecutive days, and +at night the glare from them, lighting up the adjacent horizon, and +the wind at one time whirling along vast clouds of smoke, and again +throwing up sheets of flame and myriads of burning particles, produce +an effect as grand as can be imagined. Here, then, in the glade, we +paused, disposed ourselves in an extended line, slipped four dogs, and +gave the word, "go seek." + +Away they trotted with nose to the ground, cautiously hunting, +crossing and recrossing, but occasionally getting not only out of +sight in the long grass, but out of hearing and command. Presently a +sharp bark gave the signal of game started, and the next moment we +catch a glimpse of the kangaroo in mid air, as he bounds down the +declivity in a succession of leaps such as the kangaroos only can +accomplish. + +There he goes, his tiny ears laid back along his small deer-like head, +his forefeet gathered up like a penguin's flappers, and his long stout +tail erect in the air. Now bounding aloft, now vanishing as he leaps +into the waving grass. + +Two more of the dogs have sighted him, and are silently tearing along +on his track. Every bound increases his distance from his pursuers, he +winds round the base of the hill, to avoid the ascent, but up he must +go; this is the only chance for the dogs, for running up hill is the +kangaroo's weak point. But now we lose sight of both dogs and +kangaroo; a burst of three minutes has sufficed to exhaust our first +wind, and to break one of our shins; for tearing through grass as high +as one's middle and stumbling over charred stumps and fallen trees, +soon reduces one to the "dead beat" predicament. Jerry, alone, thanks +to his hard condition, follows the chase. + +All the party are now scattered, and after while reassemble by dint of +continuous "cooees." Whilst swabbing the perspiration off our brow, +one of the dogs makes his appearance, and, trotting slowly back with +panting flanks and lolling tongue, throws himself on his side +exhausted. His mouth is now carefully examined, and two fingers being +inserted, scoop round the fauces. The test is successful; there are +traces of blood and fluff. "Bravo! Rattler! Show him--good dog. Show +him!" Rattler rises with an effort, and lazily strikes into the bush, +to the right. We follow in Indian file, and at about half a mile +distant we come upon the kangaroo lying dead, with the second dog, old +"Ugly," stretched at its side. + +The kangaroo usually found in the Peninsula is not the largest +description commonly known in these colonies as the "boomer," or a +"forester," but the brush kangaroo, which rarely exceeds seventy +pounds in weight; forty is more common. There is a still smaller +variety, known as the "wallaby." The brush kangaroo is easily killed +by the dogs; a grip in the throat or loins usually suffices. The +boomer is a more awkward customer, and, if he can take to the water, +he shows fight, and availing himself of his superior height, he +endeavors to drown the dogs as they approach him. The kangaroo is a +graceful animal, but appears to most advantage when only the upper +part of his body is seen. His head is small and deer-shaped, his eyes +soft and lustrous, but his tapering superior extremities rise almost +pyramidally from a heavy and disproportioned base of hind legs and +tail. + +The kangaroo dog never mangles his prey although fond of the blood, +with a portion of which he is always rewarded. + +Jerry now threw himself on the ground beside the game, and, drawing +his _couteau de chasse_, commenced the operation of disemboweling. +After ripping up the belly, he thrust in his arm, and drawing out the +liver and a handful of coagulated blood, he invited the dogs to +partake of it. The carcass being gutted, some dry fern is thrust in, +the tail is drawn through the fore legs, and secured with a bit of +whipcord, and then the game is suspended over the shoulder--no +insignificant weight either. If the kangaroo be very heavy, the hind +quarters only are carried, but the skin being of some value, it is not +needlessly destroyed. + +There is a peculiarity in the stomach of the kangaroo, which I have +not seen noticed in descriptions of that animal, but of which I have +assured myself by frequent personal observation. On opening the +stomach, even while still warm, the grass found in it is swarming with +small white worms, about a quarter of an inch in length, and not +thicker than a fine thread. + +The entire contents of the stomach, even the most recently masticated +grass, and grass seems to be its only food, are equally pervaded with +these worms, which swarm in myriads, even where no signs of +decomposition are perceptible. + +Resuming our progress, we presently heard a baying from the dogs, who +had again dispersed to hunt. On nearing the spot whence the noise +proceeded, we found them assembled round the trunk of a large tree, in +the hollow of which was a large wombat, a most unsighly brute, in +appearance partaking somewhat of the bear, the pig, and the badger. An +average sized one weighs sixty pounds. The head is flat, neck thick, +body large, legs short, eyes and ears small: the feet provided with +sharp claws for burrowing, three on the hind foot, and an additional +one on the fore foot. They make deep excavations in the ground, and +live chiefly on roots. The hide is very tough and covered with a +coarse wiry hair, and with this defensive armor, and his formidable +teeth and claws, the wombat is a customer not much relished by the +dogs. It was not till we had stunned our new acquaintance, as he stood +at bay in his den, by repeated blows of our sticks on his head, that +we were able to drag him out, and cut his throat. + +The flesh is eatable, and I have heard that the hams are held in some +esteem, but cannot speak from personal experience. On the present +occasion none of our party was ambitious of the honor of carrying our +defunct friend during the day's march that we had before us; so I +contented myself with pocketing his four paws, and leaving the rest of +the carcass for formic epicures. + +Our destination for the evening was Eagle Hawk Neck, or rather our +dining quarters were there fixed, for I proposed to be home some time +during the night; and, as we had some twelve miles of fatiguing +walking before us, we now circled round towards Flinders' Bay, whence +we were to follow the foot track to the "Neck." + +It may readily be imagined that bush travelling in the Australian +colonies is often an intricate affair; long practice alone can give +one assurance and confidence. Few _habitues_ in the Peninsula think of +entering it without a pocket compass, flint, and steel, and even the +best bushmen have in their day been reduced to the greatest +extremities. + +For our own part, our ambition never inclined to the adventurous task +of exploring the bush, content with the subordinate part of trusting +to the superior sagacity of the more experienced; and often have our +wonder and admiration been excited by the unerring judgment of our +guide, when there was neither sun to direct, nor any opening above or +around whereby to obtain a view of the surrounding country. + +As we were approaching Flinders' Bay on our return, a kangaroo was +started some distance ahead of us; presently I observed an old dog, +who was wont to "run cunning," suddenly stop close in front of me. The +next moment the game, closely pursued, dropped in a bound, not six +yards from where I stood, and before he could rise again, old "Ugly" +had his prize by the throat. This proved to be a doe, and on examining +her pouch a foetus was found in it, perfectly detached as usual, and +about three inches and a half long. The generation, growth, and +alimentation of the foetus of the kangaroo and other marsupial animals +(ultra interine and detached from the parent, as it appears to be at +all stages,) is a mystery in physiology which has yet to be +unravelled. + +A "medico" who was of our party, did not neglect this opportunity for +research. With a view to the investigation of the subject at leisure, +he dropped the foetus into his glove for conveyance home. + +Outside the station of Flinders' Bay, we came upon a small limpid +stream, brawling over a rocky bed, which seemed a suitable place to +refresh the inner man with a sandwich, and a thimble full of Cognac. +Segars were then lighted, and, shouldering our game, we resumed our +route. + +The sun was low, when we descended the steep hill whence we opened a +view of Eagle Hawk Neck and the Pacific, and after a long and toilsome +ascent of the "Saddle," by a path which abounded more in loose sharp +stones than any which it has been my misfortune to fall in with. +However, refreshment was at hand, which we were quite in condition to +appreciate, for we will back a day's kangarooing against any other +sport, for giving a zest both to victuals and drink. + +Our host, C--, was famous for his kangaroo soup; this is made of the +tail of the animal, and when well prepared may vie with any oxtail, +if, indeed, it be not superior, having the advantage of a game flavor. +The flesh of the kangaroo resembles in taste and appearance that of +the hare, though drier and inferior in flavor when roasted. The only +part thus cooked is the hind quarter, which should be boned, stuffed, +and larded, and after all, the play is not worth the candle. Not so, +"kangaroo steamer." To prepare this savory dish, portions of the hind +quarter, after hanging for a week, should be cut into small cubical +pieces; about a third portion of the fat of bacon should be similarly +prepared, and these, together with salt, pepper, and some spice, must +simmer gently in a stewpan for three or four hours. No water must +enter into the composition, but a little mushroom ketchup added, which +served, is an improvement. + +Although averse to the diet of bush vermln, so often extolled in these +colonies, and although carefully eschewing all parrot pies, red-bill +ragouts, black swans, kangaroo rats, porcupines, and such vaunted +nastinesses, we strongly contend for the excellence of "kangaroo +steamer," as a most savory and appetizing dish. We cannot reproach it +with a fault, save its tendency to lead one to excess; the only +difficulty is to know when you have had enough. + +We were able to do ample justice to the the Alexander Selkirk of his +post, reigning in solitary grandeur, for he had not a single associate +within ten miles, could always boast of a well-stocked larder and +cellar. What with his garden, poultry-yard, and dairy, hunting and +sea-fishing, he was tolerably independent of the tri-weekly visits of +the boat which brought the commissariat supplies. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Forest & Frontiers, by G. A. 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Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Forest & Frontiers + +Author: G. A. Henty + +Release Date: July, 2005 [EBook #8411] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on July 8, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-Latin-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOREST & FRONTIERS *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + +FOREST AND FRONTIERS + +OR, ADVENTURES AMONG THE INDIANS + +By George A. Henty + + + +Thrilling stories. + +Mr. Cumming's attack on four lions + + + +The most daring and adventurous of all hunters is Mr. Roualeyn Gordon +Cumming. Being an officer in the British service at the Cape of Good +Hope, his love of hunting adventures led him to resign his commission +in the army, and devote himself for five years to exploring the +interior of Africa, and hunting wild beasts. We shall quote his own +account of some of his adventures. + +The first incident of his career, to which we invite the reader's +attention, is one which he calls an attack on four patriarchal lions. +It occurred in the interior of Africa, not far from the junction of +the rivers Mariqua and Limpopo. He thus describes it. + +A few days after this, just as Swint had milked the cows, and was +driving them from the wooded peninsula in which we lay, athwart the +open ground, to graze with my other cattle in the forest beyond, he +beheld four majestic lions walking slowly across the valley, a few +hundred yards below my camp, and disappear over the river's bank, at a +favorite drinking place. These mighty monarchs of the waste had been +holding a prolonged repast over the carcases of some zebras killed by +Present, and had now come down the river to slake their thirst. This +being reported, I instantly saddled two horses, and, directing my boys +to lead after me as quickly as possible my small remaining pack of +sore-footed dogs, I rode forth, accompanied by Carey carrying a spare +gun, to give battle to the four grim lions. As I rode out of the +peninsula, they showed themselves on the banks of the river, and, +guessing that their first move would be a disgraceful retreat, I +determined to ride so as to make them think that I had not observed +them, until I should be able to cut off their retreat from the river, +across the open vley, to the endless forest beyond. That point being +gained, I knew that they, still doubtful of my having observed them, +would hold their ground on the river's bank until my dogs came up, +when I could more advantageously make the attack. + +I cantered along, holding as if I meant to pass the lions at a +distance of a quarter of a mile, until I was opposite to them, when I +altered my course, and inclined a little nearer. The lions showed +symptoms of uneasiness; they rose to their feet, and, overhauling us +for half a minute, disappeared over the bank. They reappeared, +however, directly, a little farther down; and finding that their +present position was bare, they walked majestically along the top of +the bank to a spot a few hundred yards lower, where the bank was well +wooded. Here they seemed half inclined to await my attack; two +stretched out their massive arms, and lay down in the grass, and the +other two sat up like dogs upon their haunches. Deeming it probable +that when my dogs came up and I approached they would still retreat +and make a bolt across the vley, I directed Carey to canter forward +and take up the ground in the centre of the vley about four hundred +yards in advance; whereby the lions would be compelled either to give +us battle or swim the river, which, although narrow, I knew they would +be very reluctant to do. + +I now sat in my saddle, anxiously waiting the arrival of my dogs; and +whilst thus momentarily disengaged, I was much struck with the +majestic and truly appalling appearance which these four noble lions +exhibited. They were all full-grown immense males; and I felt, I must +confess, a little nervous, and very uncertain as to what might be the +issue of the attack. When the dogs came up I rode right in towards the +lions. They sprang to their feet, and trotted slowly down along the +bank of the river, once or twice halting and facing about for half a +minute. Immediately below them their was a small determined bend in +the stream, forming a sort of peninsula. Into this bend they +disappeared, and next moment I was upon them with my dogs. They had +taken shelter in a dense angle of the peninsula, well sheltered by +high trees and reeds. Into this retreat the dogs at once boldly +followed them, making a loud barking, which was instantly followed by +the terrible voices of the lions, which turned about and charged to +the edge of the cover. Next moment, however, I heard them plunge into +the river, when I sprang from my horse, and, running to the top of the +bank, I saw three of them ascending the opposite bank, the dogs +following. One of them bounded away across the open plain at top +speed, but the other two, finding themselves followed by the dogs, +immediately turned to bay. + +It was now my turn, so, taking them coolly right and left with my +little rifle, I made the most glorious double shot that a sportsman's +heart could desire, disabling them both in the shoulder before they +were even aware of my position. Then snatching up my other gun from +Carey, who that moment had ridden up to my assistance, I finished the +first lion with a shot about the heart, and brought the second to a +standstill by disabling him in his hind quarters. He quickly crept +into a dense, wide, dark green bush, in which for a long time it was +impossible to obtain a glimpse of him. At length, a clod of earth +falling near his hiding-place, he made a move which disclosed to me +his position, when I finished him with three more shots, all along the +middle of his back. Carey swam across the river to flog off the dogs; +and when these came through to me, I beat up the peninsula in quest of +the fourth lion, which had, however, made off. We then crossed the +river a little higher up, and proceeded to view the noble prizes I had +won. Both lions were well up in their years; I kept the skin and skull +of the finest specimen, and only the nails and tail of the other, one +of whose canine teeth was worn down to the socket with the caries, +which seemed to have affected his general condition. + +Mr. Cumming Hunting Rhinoceroses. + + +Mr. Cumming thus describes his encounter with some rhinoceroses and an +eland, in the country of the Bechuanas. + +It was on the 4th of June, 1844, that I beheld for the first time the +rhinoceros. Having taken some coffee, I rode out unattended, with my +rifle, and before proceeding far I fell in with a huge white +rhinoceros with a large calf, standing in a thorny grove. Getting my +wind she set off at top speed through thick thorny bushes, the calf, +as is invariably the case, taking the lead, the mother guiding its +course by placing her horn, generally about three feet in length, +against its ribs. + +My horse shied very much at first, alarmed at the strange appearance +of "Chukuroo," but by a sharp application of spur and jambok I +prevailed upon him to follow, and presently, the ground improving, I +got alongside, and, firing at the gallop, sent a bullet through her +shoulder. She continued her pace with blood streaming from the wound, +and very soon reached an impracticable thorny jungle, where I could +not follow, and instantly lost her. In half an hour I fell in with the +second rhinoceros, being an old bull of the white variety. +Dismounting, I crept within twenty yards, and saluted him with both +barrels in the shoulder, upon which he made off, uttering a loud +blowing noise, and upsetting every thing that obstructed his progress. + +Shortly after this I found myself on the banks of the stream, beside +which my wagons were outspanned. Following along its margin, I +presently beheld a bull of the borele, or black rhinoceros, standing +within a hundred yards of me. Dismounting from my horse, I secured him +to a tree, and then stalked within twenty yards of the huge beast +under cover of a large strong bush. Borele, hearing me advance, came +on to see what it was, and suddenly protruded his horny nose within a +few yards of me. Knowing well that a front shot would not prove +deadly, I sprang to my feet and ran behind the bush. Upon this the +villain charged, blowing loudly, and chased me round the bush. Had his +activity been equal to his ugliness, my wanderings would have +terminated here, but by my superior agility I had the advantage in the +turn. + +After standing a short time eyeing me through the bush, he got a whiff +of my wind, which at once alarmed him. Uttering a blowing noise, and +erecting his insignificant yet saucy-looking tail, he wheeled about, +leaving me master of the field, when I sent a bullet through his ribs +to teach him manners. Of the rhinoceros there are four varieties in +South Africa, distinguished by the Bechuanas by the names of the +borele or black rhinoceros, the keitloa or two-horned rhinoceros, the +muchocho or common white rhinoceros, and the kobaoba or long-horned +white rhinoceros. Both varieties of the black rhinoceros are extremely +fierce and dangerous, and rush headlong and unprovoked at any object +which attracts their attention. They never attain much fat, and their +flesh is tough, and not much esteemed by the Bechuanas. Their food +consists almost entirely of the thorny branches of the wait-a-bit +thorns. + +Finding that rhinoceros were abundant in the vicinity, I resolved to +halt a day for the purpose of hunting, and after an early breakfast, +on the 6th, I rode south-east with the two Baquaines. They led me +along the bases of the mountains, through woody dells and open glades, +and we eventually reached a grand forest grey with age. Here we found +abundance of spoor of a variety of game, and started several herds of +the more common varieties. At length I observed an old bull eland +standing under a tree. He was the first that I had seen, and was a +noble specimen, standing about six feet high at the shoulder. +Observing us, he made off at a gallop, springing over the trunks of +decayed trees which lay across his path; but very soon he reduced his +pace to a trot. Spurring my horse, another moment saw me riding hard +behind him. Twice in the thickets I lost sight of him, and he very +nearly escaped me; but at length, the ground improving, I came up with +him, and rode within a few yards behind him. Long streaks of foam now +streamed from his mouth, and a profuse perspiration had changed his +sleek grey coat to an ashy blue. Tears trickled from his large dark +eye, and it was plain that the eland's hours were numbered. Pitching +my rifle to my shoulder, I let fly at the gallop, and mortally wounded +him behind; then spurring my horse, I shot past him on his right side, +and discharged my other barrel behind his shoulder, when the eland +staggered for a moment and subsided in the dust. The two Baquaines +soon made their appearance, and seemed delighted at my success. Having +kindled a fire, they cut out steaks, which they roasted on the embers; +I also cooked a steak for myself, spitting it upon a forked branch, +the other end of which I sharpened with my knife and stuck into the +ground. + +The eland is a magnificent animal, by far the largest of all the +antelope tribe, exceeding a large ox in size. It also attains an +extraordinary condition, being often burdened with a very large amount +of fat. Its flesh is most excellent, and is justly esteemed above all +others. It has a peculiar sweetness, and is tender and fit for use the +moment the animal is killed. Like the gemsbok, the eland is +independent of water, and frequents the borders of the great Kalahari +desert in herds varying from ten to a hundred. It is also generally +diffused throughout all the wooded districts of the interior where I +have hunted. Like other varieties of deer and and antelope, the old +males may often be found consorting together apart from the females, +and a troop of these, when in full condition, may be likened to a herd +of stall-fed oxen. + +The eland has less speed than any other variety of antelope; and, by +judicious riding, they may be driven to camp from a great distance. In +this manner I have often ridden the best bull out of the herd, and +brought him within gunshot of my wagons, where I could more +conveniently cut up and preserve the flesh, without the trouble of +sending men and packoxen to fetch it. I have repeatedly seen an eland +drop down dead at the end of a severe chase, owing to his plethoric +habit. The skin of the eland I had just shot emitted, like most other +antelopes, the most delicious perfume of trees and grass. + +Having eaten my steak, I rode to my wagon, where I partook of coffee, +and having mounted a fresh horse, I again set forth accompanied by +Carollus leading a packhorse, to bring home the head of the eland and +a supply of the flesh; I took all my dogs along with me to share in +the banquet. We had not proceeded far when the dogs went ahead on some +scent. Spurring my horse, I followed through some thorny bushes as +best I might, and emerging on an open glade, I beheld two huge white +rhinoceroses trotting along before me. The dogs attacked them with +fury, and a scene of intense excitement ensued. The Old Gray, on +observing them, pricked up his ears, and seemed only half inclined to +follow, but a sharp application of the spur reminded him of his duty, +and I was presently riding within ten yards of the stem of the +largest, and sent a bullet through her back. The Old Grey shied +considerably and became very unmanageable, and on one occasion, in +consequence, the rhinoceros, finding herself hemmed in by a bend in a +watercourse, turned round to charge, I had a very narrow escape. + +Presently, galloping up on one side, I gave her a bad wound in the +shoulder, soon after which she came to bay in the dry bed of a river. +Dismounting from my horse, I commenced loading, but before this was +accomplished she was off once more. I followed her, putting on my caps +as I rode, and coming up alongside, I made a fine shot from the +saddle, firing at the gallop. The ball entered somewhere near her +heart. On receiving this shot she reeled about, while torrents of +blood flowed from her mouth and wounds, and presently she rolled over +and expired, uttering a shrill screaming sound as she died, which +rhinoceroses invariably do while in the agonies of death. + +The chase had led me close in along the northern base of a lofty +detached mountain, the highest in all that country. The mountain is +called, by the Bechuanas, the Mountain of the Eagles. The eland which +I had shot in the morning lay somewhere to the southward of this +mountain, but far in the level forest. Having rounded the mountain, I +began to recognise the ground. + +I had the satisfaction to behold a few vultures soaring over the +forest in advance, and, on proceeding a short distance farther, large +groups of these birds were seated on the grey and weather-beaten +branches of the loftiest old trees of the forest. This was a certain +sign that the eland was not far distant; and on raising my voice and +loudly calling on the name of Carollus, I was instantly answered by +that individual, who, heedless of his master's fate, was actively +employed in cooking for himself a choice steak from the dainty rump of +the eland. That night I slept beneath the blue and starry canopy of +heaven. My sleep was light and sweet, and no rude dreams or hankering +cares disturbed the equanimity of my repose. + +One of Mr. Cumming's most perilous adventures was with a black +Rhinoceros, which gave chase to him, and nearly run turn down. He thus +describes this affair. + +On the 22d, ordering my men to move on to the fountain of Bootlonamy, +I rode forth with Ruyter, [Footnote: This is the name of a favorite +servant of Mr. Cumming.] and held east through a grove of lofty and +wide-spreading mimosas, most of which were more or less damaged by the +gigantic strength of a troop of elephants, which had passed there +about twelve months before. + +Having proceeded about two miles with large herds of game on every +side, I observed a crusty looking old bull borele, or black +rhinoceros, cocking his ears one hundred yards in advance. He had not +observed us; and soon after he walked slowly toward us, and stood +broadside to, eating some wait-a-bit thorns within fifty yards of me. +I fired from my saddle, and sent a bullet in behind his shoulder, upon +which he rushed forward about one hundred yards in tremendous +consternation, blowing like a grampus, and then stood looking about +him. Presently he made off. I followed, but found it hard to come up +with him. When I overtook him I found the blood running freely from +his wound. + +The chase led through a large herd of blue wildebeests, zebras, and +springboks, which gazed at us in utter amazement. At length I fired my +second barrel, but my horse was fidgety, and I missed. I continued +riding alongside of him, expecting in my ignorance that at length he +would come to bay, which rhinoceroses never do; when suddenly he fell +flat on his broadside on the ground, but, recovering his feet, resumed +his course as if nothing had happened. Becoming at last annoyed at the +length of the chase, as I wished to keep my horses fresh for the +elephants, and being indifferent whether I got the rhinoceros or not, +as I observed that his horn was completely worn down by age, and the +violence of his disposition, I determined to bring matters to a +crisis; so, spurring my horse, I dashed ahead, and rode right in his +path. + +Upon this the hideous monster instantly charged me in the most +resolute manner, blowing loudly through his nostrils; and although I +quickly wheeled about to my left, he followed me at such a furious +pace for several hundred yards, with his horrid horny snout within a +few yards of my horse's tail, that my little Bushman, who was looking +on in great alarm, thought his master's destruction inevitable. It was +certainly a very near thing; my horse was extremely afraid, and +exerted his utmost energies on the occasion. The rhinoceros, however, +wheeled about and continued his former course; and I being perfectly +satisfied with the interview which I had already enjoyed with him, had +no desire to cultivate his acquaintance any further, and accordingly +made for camp. + +We left the fountain of Bootlonamy the same day, and marched about six +miles through an old grey forest of mimosas, when we halted for the +night. Large flocks of guinea-fowls roosted in the trees around our +encampment, several of which I shot for my supper. + +On the 23d we inspanned by moonlight, and continued our march through +a thinly wooded level country. It was a lovely morning; the sun rose +in great splendor, and the sky was beautifully overcast with clouds. +Having proceeded about ten miles, the country became thickly covered +with detached forest trees and groves of wait-a-bit thorns. The guides +now informed us that the water, which is called by the Bechuanas, +"Lepeby," was only a short distance in advance; upon which I saddled +steeds, and rode ahead with the Bushman, intending to hunt for an hour +before breakfast. Presently we reached an open glade in the forest, +where I observed a herd of zebras in advance; and on my left stood a +troop of springboks, with two leopards watching them from behind a +bush. I rode on, and soon fell in with a troop of hartebeests, and, a +little after, with a large herd of blue wildebeests and pallahs. I +followed for aome distance, when they were reinforced by two other +herds of pallahs and wildebeests. Three black rhinoceroses now trotted +across my path. + +Presently I sprang from my horse, and fired right and left at a +princely bull blue wildebeest. He got both balls, but did not fall, +and I immediately lost sight of him in the dense ranks of his shaggy +companions. The game increased as we proceeded, until the whole forest +seemed alive with a variety of beautifully colored animals. On this +occasion I was very unfortunate; I might have killed any quantity of +game if venison had been my object; but I was trying to get a few very +superior heads of some of the master bucks of the pallahs. Of these I +wounded four select old bucks, but in the dust and confusion caused by +the innumerable quantity of the game I managed to lose them all. + +Encounter with a Lioness. + +When Mr. Cumming was in that part of the interior of South Africa +inhabited by the tribe called the Griquas, he had a remarkable and +fearful encounter with a lioness. He had been shooting some of the +various kinds of antelopes which abound in that country, under various +names, such as wildebeests, springboks, blesboks, and pallahs, when +the adventure occurred, which he thus describes. + +Suddenly I observed a number of vultures seated on the plain about a +quarter of a mile ahead of us, and close beside them stood a huge +lioness, consuming a blesbok which she had killed. She was assisted in +her repast by about a dozen jackals, which were feasting along with +her in the most friendly manner. + +Directing my followers' attention to the spot, I remarked, "I see the +lion;" to which they replied, "Whar? whar? Yah! Almagtig! dat is he;" +and instantly reining in their steeds and wheeling about they pressed +their heels to their horses' sides, and were preparing to betake +themselves to flight. I asked them what they were going to do. To +which they answered, "We have not yet placed caps on our rifles." This +was true; but while this short conversation was passing, the lioness +had observed us. Raising her full, round face, she overhauled us for a +few seconds, and then set off at a smart canter toward a range of +mountains some miles to the northward; the whole troop of jackals also +started off in another direction; there was, therefore, no time to +think of caps. + +The first move was to bring her to bay, and not a second was to be +lost. Spurring my good and lively steed, and shouting to my men to +follow, I flew across the plain, and, being fortunately mounted on +Colesberg, the flower of my stud, I gained upon her at every stride. +This was to me a joyful moment, and I at once made up my mind that she +or I must die. + +The lioness having had a long start of me, we went over a considerable +extent of ground before I came up with her. She was a large, full- +grown beast, and the bare and level nature of the plain added to her +imposing appearance. Finding that I gained upon her, she reduced her +pace from a canter to a trot, carrying her tail stuck out behind her, +and slewed a little to one side. I shouted loudly to her to halt, as I +wished to speak with her, upon which she suddenly pulled up, and sat +on her haunches like a dog, with her back toward me, not even deigning +to look round. She then appeared to say to herself, "Does this fellow +know who he is after?" + +Having thus sat for half a minute, as if involved in thought, she +sprang to her feet, and, facing about, stood looking at me for a few +seconds, moving her tail slowly from side to side, showing her teeth, +and growling fiercely. She next made a short run forward, making a +loud, rumbling noise like thunder. This she did to intimidate me; but +finding that I did not flinch an inch nor seem to heed her hostile +demonstrations, she quietly stretched out her massive arms, and lay +down on the grass. My Hottentots now coming up, we all three +dismounted, and, drawing our rifles from their holsters, we looked to +see if the powder was up in the nipples, and put on our caps, While +this was doing the lioness sat up, and showed evident symptoms of +uneasiness. She looked first at us, and then behind her, as if to see +if the coast were clear; after wnich she made a short run toward us, +uttering her deep-drawn, murderous growls. + +Having secured the three horses to one another by their reins, we led +them on as if we intended to pass her, in the hope of obtaining a +broadside. But this she carefully avoided to expose, presenting only +her full front. I had given Stofolus my rifle, with orders to shoot +her if she should spring upon me, but on no account to fire before me. +Kleinboy was to stand ready to hand me my Purdey rifle, in case the +two-grooved Dixon should not prove sufficient. My men as yet had been +steady, but they were in a precious stew, their faces having assumed a +ghastly paleness, and I had a painful feeling that I could place no +reliance on them. + +Now then for it, neck or nothing! She is within sixty yards of us, and +she keeps advancing. We turned the horses' tails to her. I knelt on +one side, and, taking aim at her breast, let fly. The ball cracked +loudly on her tawny hide, and crippled her in the shoulder, upon which +she charged with an appalling roar, and in the twinkling of an eye she +was in the midst of us, At this moment Stofolus's rifle exploded in +his hand, and Kleinboy, whom I had ordered to stand ready by me, +danced about like a duck in a gale of wind. + +The lioness sprang upon Colesberg, and fearfully lacerated his ribs +and haunches with her horrid teeth and claws; the worst wound was on +his haunch, which exhibited a sickening, yawning gash, more than +twelve inches long, almost laying bare the very bone. I was very cool +and steady, and did not feel in the least degree nervous, having +fortunately great confidence in my own shooting; but I must confess, +when the whole affair was over, I felt that it was a very awful +situation, and attended with extreme peril, as I had no friend with me +on whom I could rely. + +When the lioness sprang on Colesberg, I stood out from the horses, +ready with my second barrel for the first chance she should give of a +clear shot. This she quickly did; for, seemingly satisfied with the +revenge She had now taken, she quitted Colesberg, and slewing her tail +to one side, trotted sulkily past within a few paces of me, taking one +step to the left. I pitched my rifle to my shoulder, and in another +second the lioness was stretched on the plain a lifeless corpse. + +In the struggles of death she half turned on her back, and stretched +her neck and fore arms convulsively, when she fell back to her former +position; her mighty arms hung powerless by her side, her lower jaw +fell, blood streamed from her mouth, and she expired. At the moment I +fired my second shot, Stofolus, who hardly knew whether he was alive +or dead, allowed the three horses to escape. These galloped +frantically across the plain, on which he and Kleinboy instantly +started after them, leaving me standing alone, and unarmed, within a +few feet of the lioness, which they from their anxiety to be out of +the way, evidently considered quite capable of doing further mischief. + +Hunting the Blauwbok and Buffalo. + + +Among the various kinds of antelopes which inhabit South Africa, the +blauwbok, or blue buck, called by Mr. Cumming, the blue antelope, is +one of the most remarkable. It is six feet in length, three feet and a +half high to the back, and very compactly made. The horns are more +than two feet in length, round, closely annulated to within six inches +of the tips, bent back in a uniform but moderate curve, and very sharp +at the points. The general color of the hair is gray, with the insides +of the ears, a streak before each eye, the insides of the legs, and a +few hairs along the ridge of the neck, white. The hair on the body +divides on the line of the back, and is rather coarse and open. + +The skin under it on the upper part of the living animal is a black, +which shining through the grey, produces a sort of raven-blue tint. It +is the epidermis only and not the mucous tissue which has this black +color, otherwise the hair would have it; and it fades when the animal +is dead, as is the case with a highly-colored epidermis in almost all +animals. + +This animal was frequently pursued and shot by Mr. Cumming, in his +African hunts, and his flesh was found to be excellent. + +The Cape buffalo, or African buffalo, was a more troublesome object of +chase. This animal, has a most formidable front, and its general +aspect is shaggy and formidable. The horns are the most compact, and +in their substance the heaviest of all the ruminating animals, +excepting only some of those of the antelopes. This animal is +considerably lower than the Indian buffalo; but it is firmer, though +shorter in the legs, rounder in the body; and the beard and short mane +give it a rugged appearance. This is by far the most formidable animal +of the genus. It has never been tamed, and the males are dangerous to +come near. + +Mr. Cumming thus describes one of his encounters with this animal, by +himself and Ruyter, a Bushman, a favorite servant. + +On the forenoon of the 26th, I rode to hunt, accompanied by Ruyter; we +held west, skirting the wooded stony mountains. The natives had here +many years before waged successful war with elephants, four of whose +skulls I found. Presently I came across two sassaybies, one of which I +knocked over; but while I was loading he regained his legs and made +off. We crossed a level stretch of forest, holding a northerly course +for an opposite range of green, well wooded hills and valleys. Here I +came upon a troop of six fine old bull buffaloes, into which I +stalked, and wounded one princely fellow behind the shoulder, bringing +blood from nis mouth; he, however made off with his comrades, and the +ground being very rough we failed to overtake him. They held for the +Ngotwani. After following the spoor for a couple of miles, we dropped +it, as it led right away from camp. + +Returning from this chase, we had an adventure with another old bull +buffalo, which shows the extreme danger of hunting buffaloes without +dogs. We started him in a green hollow among the hills, and his course +inclining for camp, I gave him chase. He crossed the level broad +strath and made for the opposite densely wooded range of mountains. +Along the base of these we followed him, sometimes in view, sometimes +on the spoor, keeping the old fellow at a pace which made him pant. At +length, finding himself much distressed, he had recourse to a singular +stratagem. Doubling round some thick bushes which obscured him from +our view, he found himself beside a small pool of rain water, just +deep enough to cover his body; into this he walked, and facing about, +lay gently down and awaited our on-coming, with nothing but his old +grey face and massive horns above the water, and these concealed from +our view by rank overhanging herbage. + +Our attention was entirely engrossed with the spoor, and thus we rode +boldly on until within a few feet of him, when springing to his feet, +he made a desperate charge after Ruyter, uttering a low, stifling +roar, peculiar to buffaloes, (somewhat similar to the growl of a lion) +and hurled horse and rider to the ground with fearful violence. His +horns laid the poor horse's haunches open to the bone, making the most +fearful ragged wound. + +In an instant Ruyter regained his feet and ran for his life, which the +buffalo observing, gave chase, but most fortunately came down with a +tremendous somersault in the mud, his feet slipping from under him; +thus the Bushman escaped certain destruction. The buffalo rose much +discomfited, and, the wounded horse first catching his eye, he went a +second time at him, but he got out of the way. At this moment I +managed to send one of my patent pacificating pills into his shoulder, +when he instantly quitted the scene of action, and sought shelter in a +dense cover on the mountain side, whither I deemed it imprudent to +follow him. + +Adventures with snakes. + + +The following stories of fascination by snakes, is copied from +"Arthur's Home Gazette." It is no fiction; but is contributed by a +gentleman of Tennessee, who is willing to vouch for the truth of what +he relates. + +It has been a thousand times affirmed, and as often denied, that +certain serpents possess the power--independent of the touch--of +paralyzing their proposed victims. And it seems to be generally +admitted that this is done, if done at all, by the eye; for those +theorists who ascribe it to poison inhaled through the nostrils of the +charmed ones, offer us no example to confirm their theory, or to make +it worthy of a second thought. In extended rambles, alone as well as +with society, I have made the study of serpents a matter of amusement, +and familiarized myself--at least I had done so ten years back--to +handle them without any llesh-shrinking. As I got older, and my nerves +become weakened by long exposure to the seasons and to midnight +studies, more debilitating than Texas "northers," I must confess that +I am more timid; but I can yet join a hunt, or project one in good +"snake weather," with considerable gusto. I have never met with a +snake that could charm me, look he never so keenly, although I have +_faced them_ till they got tired, uncoiled, and beat an inglorious +retreat. And I am sure that I never _smell_ anything about a snake, +calculated to excite any other emotions or _motions_ except _holding +the nose_. And finally I never found a snake or snakelet that I would +turn my heel upon to flee, and for the very good reason that the +animal in question always runs first. + +So, ye manufacturers of snake stories horrific, amusive, or +instructive, put that against your tales of blacksnakes, copperheads, +cotton-mouths, horn-tails, water-mocassins, and the whole tribe else. + +But as to the _fascination_, what of that? + +Why, although I have never been fascinated, or seen a person in that +singular situation, yet I am a firm believer in the art, a believer +against my wishes--because evidence indisputable has been furnished +me, and in abundance. Now I leave out of the question, all the +influences of fright, surprise, etc., also all the humbug stories of +novel writers and romancers in private life, and yet there is a +remainder that I cannot cast out. One or two anecdotes, and then I +come to my principal proof. + +A gentleman of my acquaintance, passing along a bridle path, observed +a mouse running backwards and forwards, upon a fallen log, as if in +great terror. Reining in this horse, he paused full ten minutes, and +until the mouse disappeared on the farther side of the log. Drawing +nearer, and peeping over, his suspicions of Lucifer's guile were +verified--for mousey was within three inches of his open jaw, +"irresistibly attracted," said the narrator, "although he was drawing +back with all his might." The latter part of the tale is fishy--for +the gentleman was twenty feet off, and could not nave seen that--but +he saw the mouse finally disappear in that cavernous gullet; and when +he killed the snake-a large black one--the mouse lay in its stomach, +_without a wound_. How will that do? + +Another, well authenticated. A young man, of some twenty years, +passing along the road to school, on foot, was observed by some of his +companions in the rear to pause suddenly and look down. His fellows +intent on their conversation, were several minutes coming up; but when +they did so they witnessed a veritable case of fascination--for the +young man was looking intently into the eyes of a large rattlesnake, +coiled at his feet; nor could the voices of all his friends arouse +him. Being jerked back with some violence, he instantly recovered his +senses, but seemed to be puzzled to recall the circumstances connected +with his first view of the snake. After a mental effort he explained, +while the cold sweat poured from his face, and his limbs were flaccid +as an infant's, that the sound of a rattle had caused him to stop +short--that a pleasant halo danced before his eyes, and sweet sounds +met his ears--and that from that instant until the conclusion of the +trance, "he was as happy as he ever expected to be!" + +But now for the hardest knock of conviction. I will give it in the +language of the original narrator--premising that opponents to the +theory of serpent attraction auist knock under, or flatly contradict +my tale. In the latter event, I shall be compelled to settle the +question as Hodginson did his lawsuit, "by exhibiting the skin and +parading the witnesses." + +"In the month of April, a few years back," commences the witness, "I +took my eldest chap, an eight year old boy, but stout and bold enough +for a twelve year old--and sauntered down to Beech river, to spend the +evening [Footnote: Evening, in this place, signifies from noon until +dark; that's the Southern and Western notion always.] fishing. Finding +a large beech, whose spreading roots formed a natural easy chair, with +arms to it, I threw my line into the stream, and myself into the +cavity, to take the thing deliberately as I generally do on such +occasions. There had been a rise in Beech river sufficient to muddy +the water, and I knew the only chance was for cat (_bull-pouts_ the +Yankees call them,) so I chose a big hook and baited with a chunk of +bacon, big enough for an eight-pounder at least. That hook was a +Limerick, for which I had sent all the way to Porter, of 'The Spirit' +--that hook I was never more to behold. + +"The boy chose for himself a steep place about ten yards below me, and +after sticking his pole in the mud, like a lazy fellow, as he is, +amused himself by counting the stamens in some sorrel-flowers that +grew thick thereabouts. I listened to his chatter for a while as he +vacillated in his numbers--eight--nine--ten--twelve--until my own +thoughts took an interesting turn, and I heard to more of him for +several minutes. Then the sound of his voice again struck one, but a +little distance further down stream, as he tailed out--'Oh, Pa, look!' + +"Being well accustomed to his 'mares' nests,' I did not turn until he +had repeated several times the same words, and it was the singularity +of his tones at last that caused me to do it. His voice was +indescribably plaintive, clear, but low, and each vowel sound was +drawn out at great length, thus--' Oh-h-h-h, Pa-a-a-a, loo-oo-oo-ook, +--with the diminuendo, soft as the ring of a glass vessel, when struck. +I have heard Kyle, the flutist, while executing some of his thrilling +touches, strike his low notes very much like it. Slewing myself partly +round in my seat, I observed the little fellow standing bent forward, +his hands stretched out before him as if shielding his face from a +bush, while his whole body worked to and fro like the subjects in +certain mesmeric experiments that I nave observed when first they are +brought under 'the influence' of the operator. His face was partly +turned from me, but the cheek, which I saw was pale as death, and his +cloth cap was trembling on the back part of his head, as if forced +there by the workings of the scalp. + +"This was as much as I had time to oberve in the first hasty glance. +Astonished at his actions, though not at all alarmed--or the first +thought that occurred to me as that he was trying to catch a young +rabbit--I called out in a half-jocular tone, well, bubby boy, what is +it?' He made no reply, but continued that strange murmur of '--Oh-h-h, +Pa-a-a, loo-oo-ook,' and took a couple of paces forward, not as though +he wished to advance, but more in the style of a person who has leaned +too far forward and moves his feet to recover the perpendicular. I +arose, rather slowly, for it was a mere prompting of curiosity, and +walking towards him, called out in a tone of some authority, 'John, +come here!' Now I can say, without boasting, that my domestic +government is thorough, and my children will promptly obey my commands +in every thing, from the taking of a dose of quinine to the springing +out of bed at daylight of a frosty morning. My surprise, therefore, +was great to observe that the lad only answered my order, twice +repeated, by the same melancholy cry, and another stumble forward. + +"I was now thoroughly aroused. I hastened my own steps, for a horror +came over me as though I was in the presence of a demon. I advanced +directly behind the child, and looking over him, observed a thick bush +of the Early Honeysuckle, (_Azalea nudiflora_.) Into and through this +I glanced, but I observed no object to excite my notice. I had got +within a pace of him, and was in the act of putting my hand with some +force upon his shoulder, when following more precisely the direction +of his eyes, I looked at the foot of the bush, then about six feet +from me, and how shall I describe the sequel! + +"Like an electric shock, a sensation pervaded my whole frame, which, +although I can never forget, I must most imperfectly describe. I was +in a trance--the blood overcharged my brain--a murmuring sound, as of +an Aeolian, filled my ears-drops, like rain, oozed from my face--my +hat, first elevated to the very tips of the hairs, worked backwards +and fell to the ground--in brief, I was regularly, and for the first +and last time in my life, in a state of fascination. + +"No sensation of languor troubled me, for although I felt no +inclination to go forward, yet I seemed to myself perfectly able and +willing to stay where I was, so long as the world lasted. I was +perfectly happy in spite of my bodily excitement. A bright halo of +changeable colors, for all the world like the changeable lights I have +seen displayed in front of the American Museum, New York, filled all +my vision, in the very focus of which gleamed two keen points, like +sparks from the blacksmith's anvil, and they were so vivid that they +seemed to pierce me through and through. + +"How long this continued I cannot say, but I suppose only for a +minute. So far as my own perception of time's flight is concerned, +however, it might have been an age. + +"I was awakened by the harsh crackling of some dry sticks upon which +the boy had stepped as he continued to shuffle forward. The recovery +was as sudden as the attack. In an instant I was disenchanted. The +bush looked familiar, and I heard the fall of water in the stream, but +a thought of imminent danger now possessed my mind; so shouting with a +voice that made the woods ring, I seized the lad around the waist, and +heavy as he was, ran with him quite a quarter of a mile without +stopping. I confess it most frankly that I didn't stop until I fell +exhausted in the public road. To tell the cowardly truth, I should +have ran on until now if I had been able. So we fell down together and +lay for a good while panting. + +"Then I got up and propping myself against a poplar, took little John +on my knee. His nervous system was unstrung. He was weeping bitterly, +and sobbing as if his heart would break. His flesh was cold and +clammy, his pulse was almost still, and he hadn't strength to raise +his hands to his mouth. + +"I had some root ginger in my pocket--I always carry a piece with me-- +which I chewed and made him swallow. This revived him. Then I rubbed +him briskly, pinched his skin in divers tender spots, and by these +means and cheerful conversation, got him so that he could stand alone +and answer my questions. I never saw such a fool thing as he was! He +was not at all alarmed, very willingly consented to return with me-- +for I'd die but what I'd see it but--thought there ought to be a perch +on his hook by this time, thought it was Sunday, thought there was +snow somewhere, 'twas so cold,--and all such notions as that. + +"Every few minutes he would burst into an uncontrollable flood of +tears, but he couldn't tell for what. + +"You will want to know how I felt all this time. Well, when I got a +minute's leisure from attending to him and could notice my own +feelings, I found that I was snivelling too! that my pulse was small, +my nose had been profusely bleeding, and the blood had drenched me to +the very boot tops, and I felt altogether as exhausted as one does who +has had a month's spell of the chills. + +"We were a precious pair, daddy and son, as we sat under that poplar. +I am sure I never felt so foolish in all my life. Well, back we +started, for my spunk was up; and, beside that, I had left my hat, +handkerchief, dinner, and memorandum book, and was bound to have them. +I felt the most burning curiosity to understand the puzzle while my +mental faculties were completely obfuscated by it. + +"Neither of us said a word of the affair itself, for John didn't seem +to know that he had been frightened, and I was afraid to alarm him by +speaking of it. He asked no questions of any sort, although in general +he is a miniature Paul Pry, expressed no surprise that I was +bareheaded and bloody, or that we had come so far from the fishing +place and left our tackle behind. His face expressed confusion, such +as a child will exhibit when he is waked suddenly by falling out of +bed, and commences grasping around the bedpost preparatory to getting +in again. I knew that something frightful was there, and felt that we +had escaped some great peril, but what the object or what the peril I +had no idea whatever. I am sure, however, that the notion of a snake +never entered my mind, but if any thing tangible, if was of a wild +cat, for the recollection of Cooper's panther story in the Pioneers +occurred to me, and I cut a stout hickory sapling to be prepared. We +arrived with slow steps at the haunted spot, for both were exhausted, +and I felt the value of prudence. There lay my basket by the beech +root, more by token that the hogs had found it and were just devouring +the last morsel of bread and meat so carefully deposited therein. + +"There was my fishing line, but the eight-pounder had become weary and +worn, and carried off my Limerick hook. There was my hat near the +honeysuckle bush, but the phantom itself, with its diamond eyes and +mystic powers, was gone. Frightened probably by the hogs, unromantic +objects in every point of view, he had fled; but I found him within +fifty yards in the form of a _rattlesnake_, full six feet from tip to +tip, and glorying in fourteen full rattles. + +"I had my revenge in every possible form. I looked at him for ten +minutes at a time, but the power was gone, and I only saw two keen, +devilish-looking eyes. Then I punched him till he spent all his venom +on my stick. Then I made him drunk on tobacco juice, ingloriously and +brutally drunk. + +"Getting tired at last, I gave him the _coup de grâce_, skinned him, +and returned home. He hangs now in loops over my family bed. Those +eyes that thrilled my heart so strangely are dim with dust. Those +fangs, which in a few minutes more would probably have sent death to +the heart's fountain of my boy, are now in Europe, a part of the +collection admired by countless crowds at the British Museum. The +subject is fast fading from my memory,'mid the cares of life, and had +you not asked me to write it out for you, I should have thought of it +but a little longer. Let it stand as another testimony, and a most +unwilling one, too, of the fascinating powers of serpents on the +human." + +So far my correspondent tells his own tale in language sufficiently +plain and explicit. If any figure him out as a man of feeble frame and +low stature, let them change their fancy at once. + +He is a strong, muscular man, an old bear hunter, one who has fought +Indians in the Florida swamps; a person withal, of unquestionable +veracity, and in all respects the last man to impose on others, or be +imposed upon by anything, fish, flesh, or fowl. + +Contests with Large Snakes + + +The family of snakes called Boidae, including the Boas and Pythons are +huge snakes confined to the hotter regions of the globe, and +formidable from their vast strength and mode of attack. They lurk in +ambush and dart upon their victim, which in an instant is seized and +enveloped in their folds, and crushed to death or strangled. For their +predatory habits they are admirably adapted; their teeth are terrible, +and produce a dreadful wound; the neck is slender, the body increasing +gradually to about the middle in diameter, and then decreasing. The +tail is a grasping instrument, strongly prehensile, and aided by two +hooklike claws, sheathed with horn, externally visible on each side, +beneath, just anterior to the base of the tail. Though externally +nothing beyond these spurs appear, internally is found a series of +bones, representing those of the hinder limbs, but of course +imperfectly developed; yet they are acted upon by powerful muscles, +and can be so used as to form a sort of antagonist to the tail while +grasping any object; they thus become a fulcrum giving additional +force to the grasp, which secured thereby to a fixed point, giving +double power to the animal's energy. + +The emperor boa, or boa constrictor as well as all the others to which +the name boa applies are, according to Cuvier, natives of America. The +engraving represents one of these terrible snakes in the act of +strangling a deer. + +The Aboma (_Boa cenchrea_) has scaly plates on the muzzle, and pits or +dimples upon the plates of the jaws. + +Endowed with powers which in a semicivilized state of society must +operate powerfully on the mind; at ease and freedom alike on the land, +in the water, or among the trees; at once wily, daring, and +irresistible in their attack, graceful in their movements, and +splendid in their coloring--that such creatures, to be both dreaded +and admired, should become the subject of superstitious reverence, is +scarcely to be wondered at. The ancient Mexicans regarded the boa as +sacred; they viewed its actions with religious horror; they crouched +beneath the fiery glances of its eyes; they trembled as they listened +to its long-drawn hiss, and from various signs and movements predicted +the fate of tribes or individuals, or drew conclusions of guilt or +innocence. The supreme idol was represented encircled and guarded by +sculptured serpents, before which were offered human sacrifices. + + + "On a blue throne, with four huge silver snakes, + As if the keepers of the sanctuary, + Circled, with stretching necks and fangs display'd, + Mexitli sate: another graven snake + Belted with scales of gold his monster bulk." + +It is probably of the boa constrictor, the emperor, the devin, that +Hernandez writes, under the name of Temacuilcahuilia, so called from +its powers, the word meaning a fighter with five men. It attacks, he +says, those it meets, and overpowers them with such force, that if it +once coils itself around their necks it strangles and kills them, +unless it bursts itself by the violence of its own efforts; and he +states that the only way of avoiding the attack is for the man to +manage in such a way as to oppose a tree to the animal's constriction, +so that while the serpent supposes itself to be crushing the man, it +may be torn asunder by its own act, and so die. We do not ask our +readers for their implicit faith in this. He adds, that he has himself +seen serpents as thick as a man's thigh, which had been taken young by +the Indians and tamed; they were provided with a cask strewn with +litter in the place of a cavern, where they lived, and were for the +most part quiescent, except at meal-times, when they came forth, and +amicably climbed about the couch or shoulders of their master, who +placidly bore the serpent's embrace. They often coiled tip in folds, +equalling a large sized cartwheel in size, and harmlessly received +their food. + +In most accounts current respecting the mode in which boas and pythons +take their food, the snake, after crushing its prey, is described as +licking the body with its tongue and lubricating it with its saliva, +in order to facilitate the act of deglutition. It has been observed +with justice that few worse instruments for such a purpose than the +slender dark forked tongue of these snakes could have been contrived: +and that, in fact, the saliva does not begin to be poured out +abundantly till required to lubricate the jaws and throat of the +animal straining to engulph the carcass. We have seen these snakes +take their food, but they did not lubricate it, though the vibratory +tongue often touched it; we must, therefore, withhold our credence +from the common assertion. + +The size attained by the boa is often very great, and larger +individuals than any now seen occurred formerly, before their ancient +haunts had been invaded by human colonization. + +The Anaconda, (_Boa Scytale_), called by Linnaeus, Boa Murina, and by +Prince Maximilian, Boa Aquatica, is of an enormous size, from twenty +to thirty feet in length. + +The boa cenchrea has scaly plates on the the muzzle; and dimples upon +the plates at the sides of the jaws. His color is yellowish, with a +row of large brown rings running the whole length of the back, and +variable spots on the sides. These are generally dark, often +containing a whitish semi-lunar mark. This species, according to Seba, +who describes it as Mexican, is the Temacuilcahuilia (or Tamacuilla +Huilia, as Seba writes the word) described by Hernandez. The species +here described, according to Cuvier, grow nearly to the same size, and +haunt the marshy parts of South America. There, adhering by the tail +to some aquatic tree, they suffer the anterior part of the body to +float upon the water, and patiently wait to seize upon the quadrupeds +which come to drink. + +Our engraving represents him in the attitude of watching for a deer +which is seen, in the distance. + +A specimen apparently of the boa scytale called in Venezuela "La +Culebra de Agua," or water serpent, and also "El Traga Venado," or +deer-swallower, which measures nineteen feet and a half in length, was +presented by Sir Robert Ker Porter to the United Service Museum. He +states that "The flesh of this serpent is white and abundant in fat. +The people of the plains never eat it, but make use of the fat as a +remedy for rheumatic pains, ruptures, strains, &c." + +"This serpent," says Sir B. K. Porter, "is not venomous nor known to +injure man (at least not in this part of the New World;) however, the +natives stand in great fear of it, never bathing in waters where it is +known to exist. Its common haunt, or rather domicile, is invariably +near lakes, swamps, and rivers; likewise close wet ravines produced by +inundations of the periodical rains: hence, from its aquatic habits, +its first appellation. Fish and those animals which repair there to +drink, are the objects of its prey. The creature lurks watchfully +under cover of the water, and, whilst the unsuspecting animal is +drinking, suddenly makes a dash at the nose, and with a grip of its +back-raclining double range of teeth never fails to secure the +terrified beast beyond the power of escape." + +It would appear that boas are apt to be carried out to sea by sudden +floods, and are sometimes drifted alive on distant coasts. The Rev. +Lansdown Guilding, writing in the Island of St. Vincent, says, "A +noble specimen of the boa constrictor was lately conveyed to us by the +currents, twisted round the trunk of a large sound cedar tree, which +had probably been washed out of the bank, by the floods of some great +South American river, while its huge folds hang on the branches as it +waited for its prey. The monster was fortunately destroyed after +killing a few sheep, and his skeleton now hangs before me in my study, +putting me in mind how much reason I might have had to fear in my +future rambles through St. Vincent, had this formidable animal been a +pregnant female and escaped to a safe retreat." + +The pythons closely resemble the true boas, but have the subcaudal +plates double; the muzzle is sheathed with plates, and those covering +the mouth of the jaws have pits. These snakes, which equal or exceed +the boas in magnitude, are natives of India, Africa, and Australia. + +Pliny speaks of snakes in India of such a size as to be capable of +swallowing stags and bulls; and Valerius Maximus, quoting a lost +portion of Pliny's work, narrates the alarm into which the troops +under Regulus were thrown by a serpent which had its lair on the banks +of the river Bagradas, between Utica and Carthage, and which +intercepted the passage to the river. It resisted ordinary weapons, +and killed many of the men; till at last it was destroyed by heavy +stones thrown from military engines used in battering walls; its +length is stated as a hundred and twenty feet. Regulus carried its +skin and jaws to Rome, and deposited them in one of the temples, where +they remained till the time of the Numantine war. + +Diodorus Siculus relates the account of the capture of a serpent, not +without loss of life, in Egypt, which measured thirty cubits long; it +was taken to Alexandria. Suetonius speaks of a serpent exhibited at +Rome in front of the Comitium, fifty cubits in length. + +Though we do not refuse credit to these narratives, it must be added +that in modern days we have not seen serpents of such magnitude; yet +they may exist. Bontius observes that some of the Indian pythons +exceed thirty-six feet in length, and says that they swallow wild +boars, adding, "there are those alive who partook with General Peter +Both, of a recently swallowed hog cut out of the belly of a serpent of +this kind." + +These snakes, he observes, are not poisonous, but strangle a man or +other animal by powerful compression. The Ular Sawa, or great Python +of the Sunda Isles, is said to exceed when full-grown, thirty feet in +length; and it is narrated that a "Malay prow being anchored for the +night under the Island of Celebes, one of the crew went ashore, in +search of betel nut, and, as was supposed, fell asleep on the beach, +on his return. In the dead of night, his companions on board were +aroused by dreadful screams; they immediately went ashore, but they +came too late, the cries had ceased--the man had breathed his last in +the folds of an enormous serpent, which they killed. They cut off the +head of the snake and carried it, together with the lifeless body of +their comrade, to the vessel; the right wrists of the corpse bore the +marks of the serpent's teeth, and the disfigured body showed that the +man had been crushed by the constriction of the reptile round the +head, neck, breast, and thigh." + +Mr. McLeod, in his voyage of H.M.S. Alceste, after describing the mode +in which a python on board, sixteen feet in length, crushed and gorged +a goat, the distressing cries of which on being introduced into the +serpent's cage, could not but excite compassion, goes on to say that +during a captivity of some months at Whidah, in the kingdom of +Dahomey, on the coast of Africa, he had opportunities of observing +pythons of more than double that size, and which were capable of +swallowing animals much larger that goats or sheep. "Governor Abson," +he adds, "who had for thirty-seven years resided at Fort William, one +of the African Company's settlements there, describes some desperate +struggles which he had seen, or which had come to his knowledge, +between the snakes and wild beasts as well as the smaller cattle, in +which the former were always victorious. A negro herdsman belonging to +Mr. Abson, and who afterwards limped for many years about the fort, +had been seized by one of these monsters by the thigh; but from his +situation in a wood the serpent in attempting to throw himself around +him got entangled in a tree; and the man being thus preserved from a +state of compression, which would instantly have rendered him quite +powerless, had presence of mind enough to cut with a large knife which +he carried about with him, deep gashes in the neck and throat of his +antagonist, thereby killing him, and disengaging himself from his +frightful situation. He never afterwards, however, recovered the use +of his limb, which had sustained considerable injury from the fangs +and mere force of his jaws." + +Ludolph states that enormous snakes exist in Ethiopia: and Bosman +informs us that entire men have been found in the gullet of serpents +on the Gold coast. In the "Oriental Annual" is the following +narrative, explanatory of a well-known picture by W. Daniell: "A few +years before our visit to Calcutta," says the writer, "the captain of +a country ship while passing the Sunderbunds sent a boat into one of +the creeks to obtain some fresh fruits, which are cultivated by the +few miserable inhabitants of this inhospitable region. Having reached +the shore the crew moored the boat under a bank, and left one of their +party to take care of her." + +During their absence, the lascar who remained in charge of the boat, +overcome by heat, lay down under the seats and fell asleep. While he +was in this happy state of unconsciousness an enormous boa, python, +emerged from the jungle, reached the boat, had already coiled its huge +body round the sleeper, and was in the very act of crushing him to +death, when his companions fortunately returned at this auspicious +moment, and attacking the monster, severed a portion of its tail, +which so disabled it that it no longer retained the power of doing +mischief. The snake was then easily despatched, and was found to +measure, as stated, sixty-two feet and some inches in length. It is +hardly probable that the snake had fairly entwined round the man, for +the sudden compression of the chest, had the snake exerted its +strength, would have been instantly fatal. + +In March, 1841, a singular circumstance occurred at the gardens of the +Zoological Society, which at the time caused no little surprise. A +python, eleven or twelve feet long, and one about nine feet long, were +kept together in a well-secured cage; both had been fed one evening, +the larger one with three guinea pigs and a rabbit; but, as it would +appear, his appetite was unsatiated. The next morning, when the keeper +came to look into the cage, the smaller python was missing--its escape +was impossible--and the question was what had become of it? + +The truth was evident--its larger companion had swallowed it. There it +lay torpid, and bloated to double its ordinary dimensions. How it +accomplished the act is not known, but we mav imagine a fearful +struggle to have taken place, as wreathing round each other they +battled for the mastery; unless, indeed, the victim was itself torpid +and incapable of resistance. + +The Tiger Python, (_Python, tigris_), is a native of India and Java, +and is often brought over to England for exhibition. It was, we +believe, from one of these species that Mr. Cops, the keeper of the +lion office was in imminent danger, as narrated by Mr. Broderip. + +The animal was near shedding its skin, and consequently nearly blind, +for the skin of the eye, which is shed with the rest of the slough, +becomes then opaque, when Mr. Cops, wishing it to feed, held a fowl to +its head. The snake darted at the bird, but missed it, seizing the +keeper by the left thumb, and coiled round his arm and neck in a +moment. Mr. Cops, who was alone, did not lose his presence of mind, +and immediately attempted to relieve himself of the powerful +constriction by getting at the snake's head. But the serpent had so +knotted himself on his own head, that Mr. Cops could not reach it, and +had thrown himself on the floor in order to grapple with a better +chance of success, when two other keepers coming in broke the teeth of +the serpent, and with some difficulty relieved Mr. Cops from his +perilous situation. Two broken teeth were extracted from the thumb, +which soon healed, and no material inconvenience was the result of +this frightful adventure. + +Mr. Cumming, to whose exploits we have so frequently referred, gives +the following account of a day's adventures, one of which was an +amusing affair with a large python. + +On the 26th, I rose at earliest dawn to inspect the heads of the three +old buffaloes, they were all enormous old bulls, and one of them +carried a most splendid head. The lions had cleaned out all his +entrails; their spoor [Footnote: Spoor, _i.e.,_ track] was immense. +Having taken some buffalo breast and liver for breakfast, I despatched +Ruyter to the wagons to call the natives to remove the carcasses, +while I and Kleinboy held through the hills to see what game might be +in the next glen which contained water. On my way thither, we started +a fine old buck koodoo, which I shot, putting both barrels into him at +one hundred yards. As I was examining the spoor of the game by the +fountain, I suddenly detected an enormous old rock-snake stealing in +beside a mass of rock beside me. He was truly an enormous snake, and, +having never before dealt with this species of game, I did not exactly +know how to set about capturing him. Being very anxious to preserve +his skin entire, and not wishing to have recourse to my rifle, I cut a +stout and tough stick about eight feet long, and having lightened +myself of my shooting-belt, I commenced the attack. Seizing him by the +tail, I tried to get him out of his place of refuge; but I hauled in +vain; he only drew his large folds firmer together; I could not move +him. At length I got a rheim round one of his folds about the middle +of his body, and Kleinboy and I commenced hauling away in good +earnest. + +The snake, finding the ground too hot for him, relaxed his coils, and, +suddenly bringing round his head to the front, he sprang out at us +like an arrow, with his immense and hideous mouth opened to its +largest dimensions, and before I could get out of the way he was clean +out of his hole, and made a second spring, throwing himself forward +about eight or ten feet, and snapping his horrid fangs within a foot +of my legs. I sprang out of his way, and, getting hold of the green +bough I had cut, returned to the charge. The snake was now gliding +along at top speed: he knew the ground well, and was making for a mass +of broken rocks, where he would have been beyond my reach, but before +he could gain this place of refuge I caught him two or three +tremendous whacks on the head. He, however, held on, and gained a pool +of muddy water, which he was rapidly crossing, when I again belabored +him, and at length reduced his pace to a stand. We then hanged him by +the neck to a bough of a tree, and in about fifteen minutes he seemed +dead, but he again became very troublesome during the operation of +skinning, twisting his body in all manner of ways. This serpent +measured fourteen feet. + +Adventure with Buffalo and Elephant. + + +The Cape Buffalo we have already described, and we now refer to him +again only for the purpose of quoting Mr. Cumming's account of a +spirited fight with one. He thus relates the affair. + +On the evening of the next day I had a glorious row with an old bull +buffalo: he was the only large bull in a fine herd of cows. I found +their spoor while walking ahead of the wagon, and following it up, I +came upon a part of the herd feeding quietly in a dense part of the +forest. I fired my first shot at a cow, which I wounded. The other +half of the herd then came up right in my face, within six yards of +me. They would have trampled on me if I had not sung out in their +faces and turned them. I selected the old bull and sent a bullet into +his shoulder. The herd then crashed along through the jungle to my +right, but he at once broke away from them and took to my left. On +examining his spoor, I found it bloody. I then went to meet my wagons, +which I heard coming on, and, ordering the men to outspan, I took all +my dogs to the spoor. They ran it up in fine style, and in a few +minutes the silence of the forest was disturbed by a tremendous bay. +On running towards the sound I met the old fellow coming on towards +the wagons, with all my dogs after him. I saluted him with a second +ball in the shoulder; he held on and took up a position in the thicket +within forty yards of the wagons, where I finished him. He carried a +most splendid head. + +In another part of his narrative, Mr. Cumming thus describes a +desperate battle with an elephant. + +On the 27th I cast loose my horses at earliest dawn of day, and then I +lay half asleep for two hours, when I arose to consume coffee and +rhinoceros. Having breakfasted, I started with a party of natives to +search for elephants in a southerly direction. We held along the +gravelly bed of a periodical river, in which were abundance of holes +excavated by the elephants in quest of water. Here the spoor of +rhinoceros was extremely plentiful, and in every hole where they had +drunk the print of the horn was visible. We soon found the spoor of an +old bull elephant, which led us into a dense forest, where the ground +was particularly unfavorable for spooring; we, however, threaded it +out for a considerable distance, when it joined the spoor of other +bulls. + +The natives now requested me to halt, while the men went off in +different directions to reconnoitre. In the mean time a tremendous +conflagration was roaring and crackling close to windward of us. It +was caused by the Bakalahari burning the old dry grass to enable the +young to spring up with greater facility, whereby they retained the +game in their dominions. The fire stretched away for many miles on +either side of us, darkening the forest far to leeward with a dense +and impenetrable canopy of smoke. Here we remained for about half an +hour, when one of the men returned, reporting that he had discovered +elephants. This I could scarcely credit, for I fancied that the +extensive fire which raged so fearfully must have driven, not only +elephants, but every living creature out of the district, The native, +however, pointed to his eye, repeating the word "Klow," and signed to +me to follow him. + +My guide led me about a mile through dense forest, when we reached a +little wellwood hill, to whose summit we ascended, whence a view might +have been obtained of the surrounding country, had not volumes of +smoke obscured the scenery far and wide, as though issuing from the +funnels of a thousand steamboats. Here, to my astonishment, my guide +halted, and pointed to the thicket close beneath me, when I instantly +perceived the colossal backs of a herd of bull elephants. There they +stood quietly browsing on the lee side of the hill, while the fire in +its might was raging to windward within two hundred yards of them. + +I directed Johannus to choose an elephant, and promised to reward him +should he prove successful. Galloping furiously down the hill, I +started the elephants with an unearthly yell, and instantly selected +the finest in the herd. Placing myself alongside, I fired both barrels +behind his shoulder, when he instantly turned upon me, and in his +impetuous career charged head foremost against a large bushy tree +which he sent flying before him high in the air with tremendous force, +coming down at the same moment violently on his knees. He then met the +raging fire, when, altering his course, he wheeled to the right-about +As I galloped after him I perceived another noble elephant meeting us +in an opposite direction, and presently the gallant Johannus hove in +sight, following his quarry at a respectful distance. Both elephants +held on together, so I shouted to Johannus, "I will give your elephant +a shot in the shoulder and you must try to finish him." Spurring my +horse, I rode close alongside, and gave the fresh elephant two balls +immediately behind the shoulder, when he parted from mine, Johannus +following; but before many minutes had elapsed that mighty Nimrod +reappeared, having fired one shot and lost his prey. + +In the mean time I was loading and firing as fast as could be, +sometimes at the head, sometimes behind the shoulder, until my +elephant's fore-quarters were a mass of gore, notwithstanding which he +continued to hold stoutly on, leaving the grass and branches of the +forest scarlet in his wake. + +On one occasion he endeavored to escape by charging desperately amid +the thickest of the flames; but this did not avail, and I was soon +once more alongside. I blazed away at this elephant, until I began to +think that he was proof against my weapons. Having fired thirty-five +rounds with my two-grooved rifle, I opened fire upon him with the +Dutch six-pounder; and when forty bullets had perforated his hide, he +began for the first time to evince signs of a dilapidated +constitution. He took up a position in a grove; and as the dogs kept +barking round him, he backed stern foremost amongst the trees, which +yielded before his gigantic strength. Poor old fellow! he had long +braved my deadly shafts, but I plainly saw that it was all over with +him; so I resolved to expend no further ammunition, but hold him in +view until he died. Throughout the chase this elephant repeatedly +cooled his person with large quantities of water, which he ejected +from his trunk over his back and sides; and just as the pangs of death +came over him, he stood trembling violently beside a thorny tree, and +kept pouring water into his bloody mouth until he died, when he +pitched heavily forward, with the whole weight of his fore-quarters +resting on the points of his tusks. + +A most singular occurrence now took place. He lay in this posture for +several seconds, but the amazing pressure of the carcase was more than +the head was able to support. He had fallen with his head so short +under him that the tusks received little assistance from his legs. +Something must give way. The strain on the mighty tusks was fair; they +did not, therefore, yield; but the portion of his head in which his +trunk was imbedded, extending a long way above the eye, yielded and +burst with a muffled crash. The tusk was thus free, and turned right +round in his head, so that a man could draw it out, and the carcase +fell over and rested on its side. This was a very first-rate elephant, +and the tusks he carried were long and perfect. + +Hunting the Orix and the Lion. + + +Mr. Cumming was extremely desirous to fall in with an oryx, and carry +off his fine head with its splendid long horns as a trophy. He thus +describes a long but successful chase for one. + +At at early hour on the morning of the 16th, Paterson and I took the +field, accompanied by our three after-riders, and having ridden +several miles in a northerly direction, we started an oryx, to which +Paterson and his after-rider immediately gave chase. I then rode in an +easterly direction, and shortly fell in with a fine old cow oryx, +which we instantly charged. She stole away at a killing pace, her +black tail streaming in the wind, and her long, sharp horns laid well +back over her shoulders. Aware of her danger, and anxious to gain the +desert, she put forth her utmost speed and strained across the bushy +plain. She led us a tearing chase of upwards of five miles in a +northerly course, Cobus sticking well into her, and I falling far +behind. After a sharp burst of about three miles, Cobus and the grey +disappeared over a ridge about half a mile ahead of me. I mounted a +fresh horse, which had been led by Jacob, and followed. On gaming the +ridge, I perceived the grey disappearing over another ridge, a +fearfully long way ahead. When I reached this point I commanded an +extremely extensive prospect, but no living object was visible on the +desolate plain. + +Whilst deliberating in which direction to ride, I suddenly heard a +pistol-shot, some distance to my left, which I knew to be Cobus's +signal that the oryx was at bay. Having ridden half a mile, I +discovered Cobus dismounted in a hollow, and no oryx in view. He had +succeeded in riding the quarry to a stand, and, I not immediately +appearing, he very injudiciously had at once lost sight of the buck +and left it. + +Having upbraided Cobus in no measured terms for his stupidity, I +sought to retrieve the fortunes of the day by riding in the direction +in which he had left the oryx. The ground here was uneven and +interspersed with low hillocks. We extended our front and rode on up +wind, and, having crossed two or three ridges, I discovered a troop of +bucks a long way ahead. Having made for these, they turned out to be +hartebeests. At this moment I perceived three magnificent oryx a short +distance to my left. On observing us, they cantered along the ridge +towards a fourth oryx, which I at once perceived to be "embossed with +foam and dark with soil," and knew to be the antelope sought for. Once +more we charged her. Our horses had now considerably recovered their +wind, but the poor oryx was much distressed; and after a chase of half +a mile I jumped off my horse and sent a bullet through her ribs, which +brought her to a stand, when I finished her with the other barrel. She +proved a fine old cow with very handsome horns; the spot on which she +fell being so sterile that we could not even obtain the smallest +bushes with which to conceal her from the vultures, we covered her +with my after-rider's saddle-cloth, which consisted of a large +blanket. The head, on which I placed great value, we cut off and bore +along with us. + +On my way home I come across Pater-son's after-rider, "jaging" a troop +of gemsboks, but fearfully to leeward, his illustrious master being +nowhere in sight. An hour after I reached the camp Paterson came in, +in a towering rage, having been unlucky in both his chases. I now +despatched one of my wagons to bring home my oryx. It returned about +twelve o'clock that night, carrying the skin of my gemsbok and also a +magnificent old blue wildebeest (the brindled gnoo,) which the +Hottentots had obtained in an extraordinary manner. He was found with +one of his fore legs caught over his horn, so that he could not run, +and they hamstrung him and cut his throat. He had probably managed to +get himself into this awkward attitude while fighting with some of his +fellows. The vultures had consumed all the flesh of the oryx, and +likewise torn my blanket with which I had covered her. + +Mr. Gumming thus describes an innumerable herd of blesboks which he +encountered in the plains of Africa. + +The game became plentiful in about ten days after we left Colesberg, +but when we came to the Vet River I beheld with astonishment and +delight decidedly one of the most wonderful displays which I had +witnessed during my varied sporting career in Southern Africa. On my +right and left the plain exhibited one purple mass of graceful +blesboks, which extended without a break as far as my eyes could +strain: the depth of their vast legions covered a breadth of about six +hundred yards. On pressing upon them, they cantered along before me, +not exhibiting much alarm, taking care, however, not to allow me to +ride within six hundred yards of them. On, on I rode, intensely +excited with the wondrous scene before me, and hoped at length to get +to windward of at least some portion of the endless living mass which +darkened the plain, but in vain. Like squadrons of dragoons, the +entire breadth of this countless herd held on their forward course as +if aware of my intention, and resolved not to allow one to weather +them. + +At length I determined to play upon their ranks, and, pressing my +horse to his utmost speed, I dashed forward, and, suddenly halting, +sprang from the saddle, and, giving my rifle at least two feet of +elevation, red right and left into one of their darkest masses. A +noble buck dropped to the right barrel, and the second shot told +loudly; no buck however, fell, and, after lying for half a minute the +prostrate blesbok rose, and was quickly lost sight of amongst the +retreating herd. + +In half a minute I was again loaded, and after galloping a few hundred +yards let drive into them, but was still unsuccessful. Excited, and +annoyed at my want of luck, I resolved to follow them up, and blaze +away while a shot remained in the locker, which I did; until, after +riding about eight or ten miles, I found my ammunition expended, and +not a single blesbok bagged, although at least a dozen must have been +wounded. It was now high time to retrace my steps and seek my wagons. +I accordingly took a point, and rode across the trackless country in +the direction for which they were steering. + +I very soon once more fell in with fresh herds of thousands of +blesboks. As it was late in the day, and I being on the right side for +the wind, the blesboks were very tame, and allowed me to ride along +within rifle-shot of them, and those which ran barged resolutely past +me up the wind in long-continued streams. I took a lucky course for +the wagons, and came right upon them, after they had outspanned on the +bank of the Vet River. I could willingly have devoted a month to +blesbok-shooting in this hunter's elysium. + +The following is one of Mr. Cumming's most remarkable lion hunts. + +We trecked up along the banks of the river for the Mariqua, and a +little before sundown fell in with two enormous herds of buffaloes, +one of which, consisting chiefly of bulls, stood under the shady trees +on one side of the bank, whilst the other, composed chiefly of cows +and calves, stood on the opposite side, a little higher up the river. +In all there were at least three hundred. Thinking it probable that if +I hunted them I might kill some old bull with a head perhaps worthy of +my collection, I ordered my men to outspan, and, having saddled +steeds, I gave chase to the herd of bulls, accompanied by Booi and my +dogs. After a short burst they took through the river, whereby I lost +sight of an old bull which carried the finest head in the herd. My +dogs, however, brought a cow to bay as they crossed the river, which I +shot standing in the water, but not before she had killed a +particularly favorite bull-dog, named Pompey. + +I then continued the chase, and again came up with the herd, which was +now considerably scattered: and after a sharp chase, part of which was +through a wait-a-bit thorn cover, I brought eight or nine fine bulls +to bay in lofty reeds at the river's margin, exactly opposite to my +camp; of these I singlep out the two best heads, one of which I shot +with five balls, and wounded the other badly, but he made off while I +was engaged with his comrade. + +In the morning I instructed four of my people to cross the river, and +bring over a supply of buffalo meat. These men were very reluctant to +go, fearing a lion might have taken possession of the carcase. On +proceeding to reconnoitre from our side, they beheld the majestic +beast they dreaded walk slowly up the opposite bank from the dead +buffalo, and take up a position on the top of the bank under some +shady thorn-trees. I resolved to give him battle, and rode forth with +my double-barrelled Westly Richards rifle, followed by men leading the +dogs. Present, who was one of the party, carried his _roer_, no doubt +to perform wonders. The wind blew up the river; I accordingly held up +to seek a drift, and crossed a short distance above where the buffalo +lay. As we drew near the spot, I observed the lion sitting on the top +of the bank, exactly where he had been seen last by my people. + +On my right and within two hundred yards of me, was a very extensive +troop of pallahs, which antelope invariably manage to be in the way +when it is not wanted. On this occasion, however, I succeeded in +preventing my dogs from observing them. When the lion saw us coming, +he overhauled us for a moment, and then slunk back for concealment; +being well to leeward of him I ordered the dogs to be slipped, and +galloped forward. On finding that he was attacked, the lion at first +made a most determined bolt for it, followed by all the dogs at a +racing pace; and when they came up with him he would not bay, but +continued his course down the bank of the river, keeping close in +beside the reeds, growling terribly at the dogs, which kept up an +incessant angry barking. + +The bank of the river was intersected by deep watercourses, and the +ground being extremely slippery from the rain which had fallen during +the night, I was unable to overtake him until he came to bay in a +patch of lofty dense reeds which grew on the lower bank, immediately +adjacent to the river's margin. I had brought out eleven of my dogs, +and before I could come up three of them were killed. On reaching the +spot I found it impossible to obtain the slightest glimpse of the +lion, although the ground favored me, I having the upper bank to stand +upon; so, dismounting from my horse, I tried to guess, from his horrid +growling, his exact position, and fired several shots on chance, but +none of these hit him. I then commenced pelting him with lumps of +earth and sticks, there being no stones at hand. This had the effect +of making him change his position, but he still kept in the densest +part of the reeds, where I could do nothing with him. + +Presently my followers came up, who, as a matter of course, at once +established themselves safely in the tops of thorn trees. After about +ten minutes' bullying, the lion seemed to consider his quarters too +hot for him, and suddenly made a rush to escape from his persecutors, +continuing his course down along the edge of the river. The dogs, +however, again gave him chase, and soon brought him to bay in another +dense patch of reeds, just as bad as the last. + +Out of this in a few minutes I managed to start him, when he bolted up +the river, and came to bay in a narrow strip of reeds. Here he lay so +close that for a long time I could not ascertain his whereabouts; at +length, however, he made a charge among the dogs, and, coming forward, +took up a position near the outside of the reeds, where for the first +time I was enabled to give him a shot. My ball entered his body a +little behind the shoulder. On receiving it he charged growling after +the dogs, but not farther than the edge of the reeds, out of which he +was extremely reluctant to move I gave him a second shot, firing for +his head; my ball entered at the edge of his eye, and passed through +the back of the roof of his mouth. + +The lion then sprang up, and, facing about, dashed through the reeds, +and plunged into the river, across he swam, dyeing the waters with his +blood; one black dog, named "Schwart," alone pursued him. A huge +crocodile, attracted by the blood, followed in their wake, but +fortunately did not take my dog, which I much feared he would do. +Present fired at the lion as he swam, and missed him; both my barrels +were empty. Before, however, the lion could reach the opposite bank, I +had one loaded without patch, and just as his feet gained the ground I +made a fine shot at him neck, and turned him over dead on the spot. +Present, Carollus, and Adonis then swam in and brought him through. We +landed him by an old hippopotamus footpath, and the day being damp and +cold, we kindled a fire, beside which we skinned him. + +While this was going forward I had a painful duty to perform, viz. to +load one barrel, and blow out Rascality's brains, whom the lion had +utterly disabled in his after-quarters. Thus ended this protracted and +all but unsuccessful hunt; for when I at length managed to shoot him, +the dogs were quite tired of it, and, the reeds being green, I could +not have set them on fire to force him out. + +The lion proved to be a first-rate one; he was in the prime of life, +and had an exquisitely beautiful coat of hair. His mane was not very +rank; his awful teeth were quite perfect, a thing which in lions of +his age is rather unusual; and he had the finest tuft of hair on the +end of his tail that I had ever seen in a lion. + +In the chase, my after-rider, who fortunately did not carry my rifle, +got a tremendous capsize from bad riding, a common occurrence with +most after-riders who have been employed in my service. The afternoon +was spent in drying the mane of the wet lion, skinning out the feet, +and preserving the skin with alum and arsenical soap. + +Hunting the Giraffe. + + +Mr. Cumming thus describes the giraffe. These gigantic and exquisitely +beautiful animals, which are admirably formed by nature to adorn the +fair forests that clothe the boundless plains of the interior, are +widely distributed throughout the interior of Southern Africa, but are +nowhere to be met with in great numbers. In countries unmolested by +the intrusive foot of man, the giraffe is found generally in herds +varying from twelve to sixteen; but I have not unfrequently met with +herds containing thirty individuals, and on one occasion I counted +forty together; this, however, was owing to chance, and about sixteen +may be reckoned as the average number of a herd. These herds are +composed of giraffes of various sizes, from the young giraffe of nine +or ten feet in height, to the dark chestnut-colored old bull of the +herd, whose exalted head towers above his companions, generally +attaining a height of upwards of eighteen feet. The females are of +lower stature and more delicately formed than the males, their height +averaging from sixteen to seventeen feet. + +Some writers have discovered ugliness and a want of grace in the +giraffe, but I consider that he is one of the most strikingly +beautiful animals in the creation; and when a herd of them is seen +scattered through a grove of the picturesque parasol-topped acacias +which adorn their native plains, and on whose uppermost shoots they +are enabled to browse by the colossal height with which nature has so +admirably endowed them, he must indeed be slow of conception who fails +to discover both grace and dignity in all their movements. + +On the 24th, at the dawn of day, we inspanned, and trekked about five +hours in a northeasterly course, through a boundless open country, +sparingly adorned with dwarfish old tree. In the distance the long- +sought mountains of Bamangwato at length loomed blue before me. We +halted beside a glorious fountain, which at once made me forget all +the cares and difficulties I had encountered in reaching it. + +The name of this fountain was Massouey, but I at once christened it +"the Elephant's own Fountain." This was a very remarkable spot on the +southern borders of endless elephant forests, at which I had at length +arrived. The fountain was deep and strong, situated in a hollow at the +eastern extremity of an extensive vley, and its margin was surrounded +by a level stratum of solid old red sandstone. Here and there lay a +thick layer of soil upon a rock, and this was packed flat with the +fresh spoors of elephants. Around the water's edge the very rock was +worn down by the gigantic feet which for ages had trodden there. + +The soil of the surrounding country was white and yellow sand, but +grass, trees, and bushes were abundant. From the borders of the +fountain a hundred well-trodden elephant foot-paths led away in every +direction, like the radii of a circle. The breadth of the paths was +about three feet; those leading to the northward and east was most +frequented, the country in those directions being well wooded. + +We drew up the wagons on a hillock on the eastern side of the water. +This position commanded a good view of any game that might approach to +drink. I had just cooked my breakfast, and commenced to feed when I +heard my men exclaim, "Almatig keek de ghroote clomp cameel;" and +raising my eyes from my sassayby stew, I beheld a truly beautiful and +very unusual scene. From the margin of the fountain there extended an +open level vley, without tree or bush, that stretched away about a +mile to the northward, where it was bounded by extensive grooves of +wide-spreading mimosas. Up the middle of this vley stalked a troop of +ten colossal giraffes, flanked by two large herds of blue wildebeests +and zebras, with an advance guard of pallahs. They were all coming to +the fountain to drink, and would be within rifle-shot of the wagons +before I could finish my breakfast. I, however, continued to swallow +my food with the utmost expedition, having directed my men to catch +and saddle Colesberg. + +In a few minutes the giraffes were slowly advancing within two hundred +yards, stretching their graceful necks, and gazing in wonder at the +unwonted wagons. Grasping my rifle, I now mounted Colesberg, and rode +slowly toward them. They continued gazing at the wagons until I was +within one hundred yards of them, when, whisking their long tails over +their rumps, they made off at an easy canter. As I pressed upon them +they increased their pace; but Colesberg had much the speed of them, +and before we had proceeded half a mile I was riding by the shoulder +of the dark chestnut old bull, whose head towered above the rest. +Letting fly at the gallop, I wounded him behind the shoulder; soon +after which I broke him from the herd, and presently going ahead of +him, he came to a stand. I then gave him a second bullet, somewhere +near the first. These two shots had taken effect, and he was now in my +power, but I would not lay him low so far from camp; so having waited +until he had regained his breath I drove him half way back toward the +wagons. Here he became obstreperous; so loading one barrel, and +pointing my rifle toward the clouds, I shot him in the throat, when, +rearing high, he fell backward and expired. + +This was a magnificent specimen of the giraffe, measuring upwards of +eighteen feet in height. I stood for nearly half an hour engrossed in +the contemplation of his extreme beauty and gigantic proportions; and +if there had been no elephants, I could have exclaimed, like Duke +Alexander of Gordon, when he killed the famous old stag with seventeen +tine, "Now I can die happy." But I longed for an encounter with the +noble elephants, and I thought little more of the giraffe than if I +had killed a gemsbok or an eland. + +There are various modes of capturing giraffes. The Americans, who seek +them for their menageries, have the Mexican lasso, a long cord which +is thrown over the animal's head; and by casting him to the ground and +surrounding him by a large force of hunters, he is then captured +without difficulty. + +Mr. Cumming thus notices the pitfalls used by the natives of Africa +for taking the giraffe and other animals:--Starvation was written in +the faces of these inhabitants of the forest. In their miserable +villages were a few small gardens, containing watermelons and a little +corn. Occasionally they have the luck to capture some large animal in +a pitfall, when for a season they live in plenty. But as they do not +possess salt, the flesh soon spoils, when they are compelled once more +to roam the forests in quest of fruits and roots, on which, along with +locusts, they in a great measure subsist. In districts where game is +abundant, they often construct their pits on a large scale, and erect +hedges in the form of a crescent, extending to nearly a mile on either +side of the pit. By this means, the game may easily be driven into the +pitfalls which are easily covered over with thin sticks and dry grass; +and thus whole herds of zebras and wildebeests are massacred at once, +which capture is followed by the most disgusting banquets, the poor +starving savages gorging and surfeiting in a manner worthy only of the +vulture or hyæna. They possess no cattle, and, if they did, the +nearest chief would immediately rob them. All parts of the country +abounded with pitfalls made by these and others of the Bakalahari. +Many of these had been dug expressly for the giraffe, and were +generally three feet wide, and ten long; their depth was from nine to +ten feet. They were placed in the path of the giraffe, and in the +vicinity of several of these we detected the bones of giraffes, +indicating the success that had attended their formation. + +M'Dougal and the Indian + +Several years previous to the Revolution a Scotchman and his wife, +named M'Dougal, emigrated to America. Having but very little money, he +purchased land where it was then sold for almost nothing, in a country +thinly peopled, and on the extreme verge of civilization. + +His first care was to construct a house and clear away some of the +trees around it This done, he spent his whole time, early and late, in +making a garden and cultivating a few fields. By unwearied industry +and with the occasional help of older settlers, he by degrees acquired +a stock of cattle, sheep, and pigs, and was in a rough way, possessed +of a comfortable independence. His greatest discomforts were, distance +from his neighbors, the church, market, and even the mill; but, above +all, the complete separation from his friends; and this he would have +felt still more had he been an idle man. + +One day, Farmer M'Dougal, having a quantity of corn to grind, knowing +that the distance was considerable, and the road none of the +smoothest, set out in the morning at sunrise, hoping he should reach +home again before dark. + +When the farmer was at home he always drove up the cows for his wife +to milk, morning and evening; but now this care devolved on her, and +the careful woman went out in quest of them. Not accustomed to go far +from the house, she found herself in an unknown country, and, with +neither pocket compass nor notched trees to guide, it is not to be +wondered that she wandered long and wearily to very little purpose. +Tall trees seemed to encompass her on every side, or where the view +was more open, she beheld the distant blue hills rising one behind +another; but no village spire or cottage chimney was there to cheer +her on her way, and fatigued with the search, and despairing of +finding the cattle, she resolved while it was yet light, to retrace +her steps homeward. + +But this resolution was more easily formed than executed; she became +completely bewildered; she knew not in which direction to turn, and, +at length, with tears in her eyes, and her mind agitated almost to +distraction, she sunk on the ground. But she had not rested there many +minutes before she was startled by the sound of approaching footsteps, +and, on looking up, she beheld before her an Indian hunter. + +Although Mrs. M'Dougal knew that there were Indians living in the +neighborhood, she had never yet seen one, and her terror was very +great. The Indian, however, knew her; he had seen her before, he knew +where she lived, and he instantly guessed the cause of her distress. +He could speak but a few words of English; but he made signs for her +to follow him. She did so, and after a few minutes' walk, they arrived +at the door of an Indian wigwam. He invited her to enter, but not +being able to persuade her to do so, he darted into the wigwam, and +spoke a few words to his wife, who instantly appeared, and by the +kindness of her manner induced the stranger to enter their humble +abode. Venison was prepared for supper, and Mrs. M'Dougal, though +still alarmed at the novelty of her situation, could not refuse to +partake of the savory meal. + +Seeing that their guest was weary, the Indians removed from their +place two beautiful deer skins, and, by stretching and fixing them +across, divided the wigwam into two apartments. Mats were then spread +in both, and the stranger was made to understand that one division was +for her accommodation. But here again her courage failed her, and to +the most pressing entreaties she replied that she would sit and sleep +by the fire. This determination seemed to puzzle the Indian and his +squaw sadly. They looked at one another, and conversed softly in their +own language; and at length, the squaw taking her guest by the hand, +led her to her couch and became her bedfellow. + +In the morning she awoke greatly refreshed, and anxious to depart +without further delay; but this her new friends would not permit, +until she had eaten of their corn cakes and venison. Then the Indian +accompanied his guest, and soon conducted her to the spot where the +cattle were grazing. These he drove from the wood, on the edge of +which Mrs. M'Dougal descried her husband, who was equally delighted at +seeing her, as her absence from home all night had caused him great +uneasiness. They invited their Indian benefactor to their house, and, +on his departure, presented him with a suit of clothes. + +Three days after, he returned and endeavored, partly by signs, and +partly by broken English, to induce Farmer M'Dougal to follow him into +the forest; but he refused. Time was precious to him, who had to work +hard for every thing he possessed, and the Indian repeated his +entreaties in vain. The poor fellow looked grieved and disappointed; +but a moment after, a sudden thought struck him. He hit on an +expedient which none but an Indian hunter would have thought of. + +Mrs. M'Dougal had a young child, which the Indian's quick eye had not +failed to notice; and, finding that his eloquence was completely +thrown away upon the parents, he approached the cradle, seized the +child, and darted out of the house with the speed of an antelope. The +father and mother instantly followed, calling loudly on him to return; +but he had no such intention. He led them on, now slower, now faster, +and occasionally turning towards them, laughing, and holding up the +child to their view. + +It is needless to go into all the details of this singular journey, +further than to say that the Indian, instead of enticing them to his +own wigwam, as they expected, halted on the margin of a most beautiful +prairie, covered with the richest vegetation, and extending over +several thousand acres. In a moment the child was restored to its +parents, who, wondering what so strange a proceeding could mean, stood +awhile panting for breath, and looking at one another with silent +astonishment. + +The Indian, on the other hand, seemed overjoyed at the success of his +manoeuvre, and never did a human being frisk about and gesticulate +with greater animation. We have heard of a professor of signs, and if +such a person were wanted, the selection would not be a matter of +difficulty, so long as any remnant exists in the aborigines of North +America. All travellers agree in describing their gestures as highly +dignified, and their countenances intelligent; and we have Mr. +M'Dougal's authority for stating that the hero of this tale proved +himself a perfect master of the art of eloquence his broken English +was nearly in these words: + +"You think Indian treacherous; you think him wish steal the child. No, +no; Indian has child of his own. Indian knew you long ago; saw you +when you not see him; saw you hard working man. Some white men bad, +and hurt poor Indian. You not bad; you work hard for your wife and +child; but you choose bad place; you never make rich there. Indian see +your cattle go in forest; think you come and catch them; you not come; +your wife come. Indian find her faint and weary; take her home; wife +fear go in; think Indian kill her! No, no; Indian lead her back; meet +you very sad; then very glad to see her. You kind to Indian; give him +meat and drink, and better clothes than your own. Indian grateful; +wish you come here; not come; Indian very sorry; take the child; know +you follow child. If Indian farm, Indian farm here. Good ground; not +many trees; make road in less than half a moon; Indians help you; +Indians your friends; come, live here." + +M'Dougal immediately saw the advantage that such a change would be to +him, and, taking the Indian's advice, the day was soon fixed for the +removal of the log-house, along with the rest of his goods and +chattels; and the Indian, true to his word, brought a party of his red +brethren to assist in one of the most romantic removals that ever took +place, either in the Old World, or the New. + +In a few days a roomy log-house was raised, and garden marked out in +the most fertile and beautiful part of the prairie. The Indians +continued friendly and faithful, and the good understanding; between +them and the white settlers was a source of great comfort to both +parties. + +Contests with Jaguars + +Nature, ever provident, has scattered with a bounteous hand her gifts +in the country of the Orinoco, where the jaguar especially abounds. +The savannahs, which are covered with grasses and slender plants, +present a surprising luxuriance and diversity of vegetation; piles of +granite blocks lie here and there, and, at the margins of the plains, +occur deep valleys and ravines, the humid soil of which is covered +with arums, heliconias, llianas. The shelves of primitive rocks, +scarcely elevated above the plain, are partially covered with lichens +and mosses, together with succulent plants and tufts of evergreen +shrubs with shining leaves. The horizon is bounded with mountains +overgrown with forests of laurels, among which clusters of palms rise +to the height of more than a hundred feet, their slender stems +supporting tufts of feathery foliage. To the east of Atures other +mountains appear, the ridge of which is composed of pointed cliffs, +rising like huge pillars above the trees. + +When these columnar masses are situated near the Orinoco, flamingoes, +herons, and other wading birds perch on their summits, and look like +sentinels. In the vicinity of cataracts, the moisture which is +diffused in the air, produces a perpetual verdure, and wherever soil +has accumulated on the plains, it is adorned by the beautiful shrubs +of the mountains. + +Such is one view of the picture, but it has its dark side also; those +flowing waters, which fertilize the soil, abound with alligators: +those charming shrubs and flourishing plants, are the hiding places of +deadly serpents; those laurel forests, the favorite lurking spot of +the fierce jaguar; while the atmosphere, so clear and lovely, abounds +with musquitoes and zancudoes, to such a degree that in the missions +of Orinoco, the first questions in the morning when two people meet, +are, "How did you find the zancudoes during the night? How are we +to-day for the musquitoes?" + +It is in the solitude of this wilderness, that the jaguar, stretched +out motionless and silent, upon one of the lower branches of the +ancient trees, watches for its passing prey; a deer, urged by thirst, +is making its way to the river, and approaches the tree where this +enemy lies in wait. The jaguar's eyes dilate, the ears are thrown +down, and the whole frame becomes flattened against the branch. The +deer, all unconscious of danger, draws near, every limb of the jaguar +quivers with excitement every fibre is stiffened for the spring; then, +with the force of a bow unbent, he darts with a terrific yell upon his +prey, seizes it by the back of the neck, a blow is given by his +powerful paw, and with broken spine the deer falls lifeless to the +earth. The blood is then sucked, and the prey dragged to some favorite +haunt, where it is devoured at leisure. + +Humboldt surprised a jaguar in his retreat. It was near the Joval, +below the mouth of the Cano de la Tigrera, that in the midst of wild +and awful scenery, he saw an enormous jaguar stretched beneath the +shade of a large mimosa. He had just killed a chiguire, an animal +about the size of a pig, which he held with one of his paws, while the +vultures were assembled in flocks around. It was curious to observe +the mixture of boldness and timidity which these birds exhibited; for +although they advanced within two feet of the jaguar, they instantly +shrunk back at the least motion he made. In order to observe more +clearly their proceedings, the travellers went into their little boat, +when the tyrant of the forest withdrew behind the bushes, leaving his +victim, upon which the vultures attempted to devour it, but were soon +put to flight by the jaguar rushing into the midst of them. + +The following night, Humboldt and his party were entertained by a +jaguar hunter, half-naked, and as brown as a Zambo, who prided himself +on being of the European race; and called his wife and daughter, who +were as slightly clothed as himself, Donna Isabella and Donna Manuela. +As this aspiring personage had neither home nor hut, he invited the +strangers to swing their hammocks near his own between two trees, but, +as ill-luck would have it, a thunder storm came on, which wetted them +to the skin; but their troubles did not end here, for Donna Isabella's +cat had perched on one of the trees, and frightened by the +thunderstorm, jumped down upon one of the travellers in his cot; he +naturally supposed that he was attacked by a wild beast, and as smart +a battle took place between the two, as that celebrated feline +engagement of Don Quixotte; the cat, who, perhaps had most reason to +consider himself an ill-used personage, at length bolted, but the +fears of the gentleman had been excited to such degree, that he could +hardly be quieted. The following night was not more propitious to +slumber. The party finding no tree convenient, had stuck their oars in +the sand, and suspended their hammocks upon them. About eleven, there +arose in the immediately adjoining wood, so terrific a noise, that it +was impossible to sleep. The Indians distinguished the cries of +sapagous, alouates, jaguars, cougars, peccaris, sloths, curassows, +paraquas, and other birds, so that there must have been as full a +forest chorus as Mr. Hullah himself could desire. + +When the jaguars approached the edge of the forest, which they +frequently did, a dog belonging to the party began to howl, and seek +refuge under their cots. Sometimes, after a long silence, the cry of +the jaguars came from the tops of the trees, when it was followed by +an outcry among the monkeys. Humboldt supposes the noise thus made by +the inhabitants of the forest during the night, to be the effect of +some contest that had arisen among them. + +On the pampas of Paraguay, great havoc is committed among the herds of +horses by the jaguars, whose strength is quite sufficient to enable +them to drag off one of these animals. Azara caused the body of a +horse, which had been recently killed by a jaguar, to be drawn within +musket-shot of a tree, in which he intended to pass the night, +anticipating that the jaguar would return in the course of it, to its +victim; but while he was gone to prepare for his adventure, behold the +animal swam across a large and deep river, and having seized the horse +with his teeth, dragged it full sixty paces to the river, swam across +again with his prey, and then dragged the carcass into a into a +neighboring wood: and all this in sight of a person, whom Azara had +placed to keep watch. But the jaguars have also an aldermanic gout for +turtles, which they gratify in a very systematic manner, as related by +Humboldt, who was shown large shells of turtles emptied by them. + +They follow the turtles toward the beach, where the laying of eggs is +to take place, surprise them on the sand, and in order to devour them +at their ease, adroitly turn them on their backs; and as they turn +many more than they can devour in one night, the Indians often profit +by their cunning. The jaguar pursues the turtle quite into the water, +and when not very deep, digs up the eggs; they, with the alligator, +the heron, and the gallinago vulture ore the most formidable enemies +the little turtles have. Humboldt justly remarks, When we reflect on +the difficulty that the naturalist finds in getting out the body of +the turtle, without separating the upper and the under shell, we +cannot enough admire the suppleness of the jaguar's paw, which empties +the double armor of the _arraus_, as if the adhering parts of the +muscles had been cut by a surgical instrument. + +The rivers of South America swarm with alligators, and these wage +perpetual war with the jaguars. It is said, that when the jaguar +surprises the alligator asleep on the hot sandbank, he attacks him in +a vulnerable part under the tail, and often kills him, but let the +alligator only get his antagonist into the water, and the tables are +turned, for the jaguar is held under the water until he is drowned. + +The onset of the jaguar is always made from behind, partaking of the +stealthy treacherous character of his tribe; if a herd of animals, or +a party of men be passing, it is the last that is always the object of +his attack. When he has made choice of his victim, he springs upon the +neck, and placing one paw upon the back of the head, while he seizes +the muzzle with the other twists the head round with a sudden jerk +which dislocates the spine, and deprives it instantaneously of life: +sometimes, especially when satiated with food, he is indolent and +cowardly, skulking in the gloomiest depths of the forest, and scared +by the most trifling causes, but when urged by the cravings of hunger, +the largest quadrupeds, and man himself, are attacked with fury and +success. + +Mr. Darwin has given an interesting account of the habits of the +jaguar: the wooded banks of the great South American rivers appear to +be their favorite haunt, but south of the Plata they frequent the +reeds bordering the lakes; wherever they are they seem to require +water. They are particularly abundant on the isles of the Payana, +their common prey being the carpincho, so that it is generally said, +that where carpinchos are plentiful, there is little fear of the +jaguar; possibly, however, a jaguar which has tasted human flesh, may +afterwards become dainty, and like the lions of South Africa, and the +tigers of India, acquire the dreadful character of maneaters, from +preferring that food to all others. + +It is not many years ago since a very large jaguar found his way into +a church in Santa Fe; soon afterward a very corpulent padre entering, +was at once killed by him: His equally stout coadjutor, wondering what +had detained the padre, went to look after him, and also fell a victim +to the jaguar; a third priest, marveling greatly at the unaccountable +absence of the others, sought them, and the jaguar having by this time +acquired a strong clerical taste, made at him also, but he, being +fortunately of the slender order, dodged the animal from pillar to +post, and happily made his escape; the beast was destroyed by being +shot from a corner of the building, which was unroofed, and thus paid +the penalty of his sacrilegious propensities. + +On the Parana, they have even entered vessels by night. One dark +evening the mate of a vessel, hearing a heavy but peculiar footstep on +deck, went up to see what it was, and was immediately met by a jaguar, +who had come on board, seeking what he could devour; a severe struggle +ensued, assistance arrived, and the brute was killed, but the man lost +the use of the arm which had been ground between his teeth. + +The Gauchos say that the jaguar, when wandering about at night, is +much tormented by the foxes yelping as they follow him: this may +perhaps serve to alarm his prey, but must be as teasing to him as the +attentions of swallows are to an owl, who happens to be taking a +daylight promenade; and if owls ever swear, it is under these +circumstances. + +Mr. Darwin, when hunting on the banks of the Uruguay, was shown three +well-known trees to which the jaguars constantly resort, for the +purpose, it is said, of sharpening their claws. Every one must be +familiar with the manner in which cats, with out-stretched legs and +extended claws, will card the legs of chairs and of men; so with the +jaguar; and of these trees the bark was worn quite smooth in front; on +each side there were deep grooves, extending in an oblique line nearly +a yard in length. The scars were of different ages, arid the +inhabitants could always tell when a jaguar was in the neighborhood, +by his recent autograph on one of these trees. + +The Indian Parents. + + +Captain William Wells was a noted hunter and ranger in the western +country. He was captured by the Indians when but a child, and raised +among them. When the Indians defeated the United States troops, who +were under the command of Generals Harmer and St. Clair, Captain Wells +fought among the red men, and distinguished himself by his courage and +skill. But when General Wayne was placed at the head of the United +States forces in the west, + +Captain Wells came over to the side of the whites, and received the +command of a company of rangers, or woodmen, who acted as spies and +scouts for General Wayne. The captain performed many daring exploits, +and caused the Indians to feel that in losing him they had gained a +terrible enemy. + +Captain Wells was desperate in battle, but he often displayed much +kindness and generosity. On one of his excursions with a party of +rangers, through the Indian country, he came to the bank of the river +St. Mary, and discovered some Indians in canoes coming across the +stream. The captain dismounted, and concealed his men near the bank of +the river, while he went to the bank in open view, and called to the +Indians to come over. As he was dressed nearly in the Indian style, +and spoke to them in their own language, the Indians, without +suspicion of danger came across the river. The moment the first canoe +struck the shore, Wells heard the clicking of the locks of his +comrades' rifles, as they prepared to shoot the Indians. But who +should be in the canoe, but his Indian father, mother, and their +children! As his comrades were coming forward with their rifles +cocked, ready to pour in the deadly storm, Wells called upon them to +hold their hands. He then informed them who the Indians were, and +solemnly declared, that the man who would attempt to injure one of +them should receive a ball in his head. He continued, "That family fed +me when I was hungry, clothed me when I was naked, and kindly nursed +me when I was sick. In every respect they were as kind and +affectionate to me as they were to their own children. No one +belonging to them shall be hurt." But four men were with the Indian +party, and they did not attempt hostility. The short, pathetic speech +of Captain Wells found its way to the hearts of his comrades. They +entered into his feelings, threw down their rifles and tomahawks, went +to the canoe, and shook hands with the trembling Indians in the most +friendly manner. + +Captain Wells assured the red men that they had nothing to fear from +him, and after talking with them to dispel their dread, he said, that +General Wayne was approaching with an overwhelming force; that the +best thing that the Indians could do was to make peace; that the white +men did not wish to continue the war. He urged his Indian father to +keep out of danger for the future. The Indians appeared very grateful +for his clemency. After the captain bade them farewell, they pushed +off their canoe, and went down the river as fast as they could paddle. + +Wells's conduct on this occasion proved him to be as generous as he +was brave. This famous ranger was killed near Chicago, at the +commencement of the war of 1812, in an attempt to save an American +garrison. At that time sixty-four whites were attacked by four hundred +red men, and all killed or captured. The Indians were very glad to get +the scalp of Captain Wells. He was as wild a spirit as ever shouldered +a rifle or wielded a tomahawk. + +Attack on Captain Ward's Boat + + +About 1784 and '85, boats ascending the Ohio river were often fired +upon by the Indians, and sometimes the crew were all killed or made +prisoners. A t that time, the whites had no settlements on either side +of the Ohio. But Kentucky contained several very important stations. +In 1785, Captain James Ward descended the river, under circumstances, +which rendered a meeting with the Indians peculiarly to be dreaded. + +The captain with half a dozen others, one of them his nephew, embarked +in a crazy boat, about forty-five long, and eight feet wide, with no +other bulwark than a single pine plank, above each gunnel. The boat +was much encumbered with baggage, and seven horses were on board. +Having seen no enemy for several days, they had become secure and +careless, and permitted the boat to drift within fifty yards of the +Ohio shore. Suddenly several Indians showed themselves on the bank, +and opened heavy fire upon the boat. The astonishment of the crew may +be conceived. Captain Ward and his nephew were at the oars when the +enemy appeared, and the captain knowing that their safety depended +upon their ability to regain the middle of the river, kept his seat +firmly, and exerted his utmost powers at the oar, but his nephew +started up at the sight of the enemy, seized his rifle and was in the +act of levelling it, when he received a ball in the breast, and fell +dead in the bottom of the boat. Unfortunately, his oar fell into the +river, and the Captain having no one to pull against him, rather urged +the boat nearer to the hostile shore than otherwise. He quickly seized +a plank, however, and giving his own oar to another of the crew, he +took the station which his nephew had held, and unhurt by the bullets +which flew around him, continued to exert himself, until the boat had +reached a more respectable distance. He then, for the first time, +looked around him in order to observe the condition of the crew. His +nephew lay in his blood, perfectly lifeless,--the horses had been all +killed or mortally wounded. Some had fallen overboard--others were +struggling violently, and causing their frail bark to dip water so as +to excite the most serious apprehensions. + +But the crew presented the most singular spectacle. A captain, who had +served with reputation in the continental army, seemed now totally +bereft of his faculties. He lay upon his back in the bottom of the +boat, with hands uplifted, and a countenance in which terror was +personified, exclaiming in a tone of despair, "Oh, Lord! Oh, Lord!" A +Dutchman, whose weight might amount at about three hundred pounds, was +busily engaged in endeavoring to find shelter for his bulky person, +which, from the lowness of the gunnels, was a very difficult +undertaking. In spite of his utmost efforts, a portion of his +posterial luxuriance, appeared above the gunnel, and afforded a mark +to the enemy, which brought a constant shower of balls around it. In +vain he shifted his position. The lump still appeared, and the balls +still flew around it, until the Dutchman, losing all patience, raised +his head above the gunnel, and in a tone of querulous remonstrance, +called out, "Oh, now I git tat nonsense, tere,--will you!" Not a shot +was fired from the boat. + +At one time, after they had partly reined the current, Captain Ward +attempted to bring his rifle to bear upon them, but so violent was the +agitation of the boat, from the furious struggles of the horses, that +he could not steady his piece within twenty yards of the enemy, and +quickly laying it aside returned to the oar. The Indians followed them +down the river for more than an hour, but having no canoes, they did +not attempt to board; and as the boat was at length transferred to the +opposite side of the river, they finally abandoned the pursuit and +disappeared. None of the crew, save the young man already mentioned, +were hurt, although the Dutchman's seat of honor served as a target +for the space of an hour, and the continental captain was deeply +mortified at the sudden, and, as he said, "unaccountable" panic which +had seized him. Captain Ward himself was protected by a post, which +had been fastened to the gunnel, and behind which he sat while rowing. + +Massy Herbeson and her Family + + +During the settlement of the interior of Pennsylvania, the Indians +were almost constantly hostile. Houses were burned, fields desolated, +and the poor, hard-working settlers were killed, or carried into a +dreadful captivity. The sufferings of some of these captives can +scarcely be described. The following narrative will give some idea of +savage nature. + +On the 22nd of May, 1792, Massy Herbeson and her children were taken +from their house, within two hundred yards of Reed's blockhouse, and +about twenty-five miles from Pittsburg. Mr. Herbeson, being one of the +spies, was from home; two of the scouts lodged with her that night, +but had left her house about sunrise, in order to go to the +blockhouse, and had left the door standing wide open. Shortly after +the two scouts went away, a number of Indians came into the house, and +drew her out of bed by the feet; the two eldest children, who also lay +in another bed were drawn out in the same manner; a younger child, +about one year old slept with Mrs. Herbeson. The Indians then +scattered the articles about in the house. + +Whilst they were at this work, Mrs. Herbeson went out of the house, +and hallooed to the people in the blockhouse; one of the Indians then +ran up and stopped her mouth, another ran up with his tomahawk drawn, +and a third ran and seized the tomahawk and called her his squaw; this +last Indian claimed her as his, and continued by her. About fifteen of +the Indians then ran down towards the blockhouse and fired their guns +at the block and store-house, in consequence of which one soldier was +killed and another wounded, one having been at the spring, and the +other in coming or looking out of the store-house. Mrs. Herbeson told +the Indians there were about forty men in the blockhouse, and each man +had two guns, the Indians then went to those that were firing at the +blockhouse, and brought them back. + +They then began to drive Mrs. Herbeson and her children away; but a +boy, about three years old, being unwilling to leave the house, they +took it by the heels, and dashed it against the house, then stabbed +and scalped it. They then took Mrs. Herbeson and the two other +children to the top of the hill, where they stopped until they tied up +the plunder they had got. While they were busy about this, Mrs. +Herbeson counted them, and the number amounted to thirty-two, +including two white men, that were with them, painted like the +Indians. Several of the Indians could speak English, and she knew +several of them very well, having often seen them go up and down the +Alleghany river; two of them she knew to be Senecas, and two Munsees, +who had got their guns mended by her husband about two years ago. + +They sent two Indians with her, and the others took their course +towards Puckty. She, the children, and the two Indians had not gone +above two hundred yards, when the Indians caught two of her uncle's +horses, put her and the youngest child on one, and one of the Indians +and the other child on the other. The two Indians then took her and +the children to the Alleghany river, and took them over in bark +canoes, as they could not get the horses to swim the river. After they +had crossed the river, the oldest child, a boy about five years of +age, began to mourn for his brother, when one of the Indians +tomahawked and scalped him. They travelled all day very hard, and that +night arrived at a large camp, covered with bark, which, by +appearance, might hold fifty men. That night they took her about three +hundred yards from the camp, into a large dark bottom, bound her arms, +gave her some bed clothes, and lay down one on each side of her. + +The next morning they took her into a thicket, on the hill side, and +one remained with her till the middle of the day, while the other went +to watch the path, lest some white people should follow them. They +then exchanged places during the remainder of the day. She got a piece +of dry venison, about the size of an egg, that day, and a piece about +the same size the day they were marching; that evening, (Wednesday, +23d) they moved her to a new place, and secured her as the night +before. During the day of the 23'd, she made several attempts to get +the Indian's gun or tomahawk, that was guarding her, and, had she +succeeded, she would have put him to death. She was nearly detected in +trying to get the tomahawk from his belt. + +The next morning one of the Indians went out, as on the day before, to +watch the path. The other lay down and fell asleep. When she found he +was sleeping, she stole her short gown, handkerchief, a child's frock, +and then made her escape; the sun was then about half an hour high-- +she took her course from the Alleghany, in order to deceive the +Indians, as they would naturally pursue her that way; that day she +travelled along Conequenessing creek. The next day she altered her +course, and, as she believes, fell upon the waters of Pine Creek, +which empties into the Alleghany. Thinking this not her best course, +she took over some dividing ridges,--lay on a dividing ridge on Friday +night, and on Saturday came to Squaw run--continued down the run until +an Indian, or some other person, shot a deer; she saw the person about +one hundred and fifty yards from her--the deer running and the dog +pursuing it, which, from the appearance, she supposed to be an Indian +dog. + +She then altered her course, but again came to the same run, and +continued down until she got so tired that she was obliged to lie +down, it having rained on her all that day and the night before; she +lay there that night; it rained constantly. On Sunday morning, she +proceeded down the run until she came to the Alleghany river, and +continued down the river till she came opposite to Carter's house, on +the inhabited side, where she made a noise, and James Closier brought +her over the river to Carter's house. + +Such outrages were frequent upon the frontier, in time of war with the +Indians. Many instances of the generosity and hospitality of the red +men are recorded. But when we remember that they made war and the +chase the business of their lives, and that they never would be +content to till the ground, as the neighbors of the whites we cannot +regret that they have disappeared from our vicinity. + +A Nocturnal Adventure with Six Lions + + +Mr. Cumming, whose adventures we have already found so entertaining, +had a method of hunting for wild beasts, and especially lions, which +was quite curious. He dug holes near the fountains or streams, where +the animals were accustomed to resort at night for water, and +concealed himself and his companions in them, to wait for their +approach. The following is a specimen of this kind of adventure. + +On the afternoon of the 4th I deepened my hole and watched the water. +As the sun went down two graceful springboks and a herd of pallah came +and drank, when I shot the best pallah in the troop. At night I +watched the water with Kleinboy: very soon a cow black rhinoceros came +and drank, and got off for the present with two balls in her. A little +afterwards two black rhinoceroses and two white ones came to the +waterside. We both fired together at the finest of the two black +rhinoceroses; she ran three hundred yards, and fell dead. Soon after +this the other black rhinoceros came up again and stood at the +waterside; I gave her one ball after the shoulder; she ran a hundred +yards and fell dead. In half an hour a third old borele appeared, and, +having inspected the two dead ones, he came up to the waterside. We +fired together; he ran two hundred yards and fell dead. I felt +satisfied with our success, and gave it up for the night. + +By the following evening the natives had cleared away the greater part +of the two rhinoceroses which lay right in the way of the game +approaching the water; I, however, enforced their leaving the third +rhinoceros, which had fallen on the bare rising ground, almost +opposite to my hiding-place, in the hope of attracting a lion, as I +intended to watch the water at night. Soon after the twilight had died +away, I went down to my hole with Klemboy and two natives, who lay +concealed in another hole, with Wolf and Boxer ready to slip, in the +event of wounding a lion. + +On reaching the water I looked towards the carcase of the rhinoceros, +and, to my astonishment, I beheld the ground alive with large +creatures, as though a troop of zebras were approaching the fountain +to drink. Kleinboy remarked to me that a troop of zebras were standing +on the height. I answered, "Yes," but I knew very well that zebras +would not be capering around the carcase of a rhinoceros. I quickly +arranged my blankets, pillow, and guns, in the hole, and then lay down +to feast my eyes on the interesting sight before me. It was bright +moonlight, as clear as I need wish, and within one night of being full +moon. There were six large lions, about twelve or fifteen hyaenas, and +from twenty to thirty jackals, feasting on and around the carcases of +the three rhinoceroses. The lions feasted peacefully, but the hyenas +and jackals fought over every mouthful, and chased one another round +and round the carcases, growling, laughing, screeching, chattering, +and howling without any intermission. The hyaenas did not seem afraid +of the lions, although they always gave way before them; for I +observed that they followed them in the most disrespectful manner, and +stood laughing, one or two on either side, when any lions came after +their comrades to examine pieces of skin or bones which they were +dragging away. I had lain watching this banquet for about four hours, +in the strong hope that, when the lions had feasted, they would come +and drink. Two black and two white rhinoceroses had made their +appearance, but, scared by the smell of the blood, they soon made off. + +At length the lions seemed satisfied. They all walked about with their +heads up, and seemed to be thinking about the water, and in two +minutes one of them turned his face towards me, and came on; he was +immediately followed by the second lion, and in half a minute by the +other four. It was a decided and general move, they were all coming to +drink right bang in my face, within fifteen yards of me. + +I charged the unfortunate, pale, and panting Kleinboy to convert +himself into a stone, and knowing, from old spoor, exactly where they +would drink, I cocked my left barrel, and placed myself and gun in +position. The six lions came steadily on along the ridge, until within +sixty yards of me, when they halted for a minute to reconnoitre. One +of them stretched out his massive arms on the rock and lay down; the +others then came on, and he rose and brought up the rear. They walked, +as I had anticipated, to the old drinking place, and three of them had +put down their heads and were lapping the water loudly, when Kleinboy +thought it necessary to show his ugly head. I turned my head slowly to +rebuke him, and again taming to the lions I found myself discovered. + +An old lioness, who seemed to take the lead, had detected me, and, +with her head high and her eyes fixed full upon me, she was coming +slowly round the corner of the little vley to cultivate further my +acquaintance! This unfortunate proceeding put a stop at once to all +further contemplation. I thought, in my haste, that it was perhaps +most prudent to shoot this lioness, especially as none of the others +had noticed me. I accordingly moved my arm and covered her: she saw me +move and halted, exposing a full broadside, I fired; the ball entered +one shoulder and passed out behind the other. She bounded forward with +repeated growls, and was followed by her five comrades all enveloped +in a cloud of dust; nor did they stop until they had reached the cover +behind me, except one old gentleman, who halted and looked back for a +few seconds, when I fired, but the ball went high. I listened +anxiously for some sound to denote the approaching end of the lioness; +nor listened in vain. I heard her growling and stationary, as if +dying. In one minute her comrades crossed the vley a little below me, +and made towards the rhinoceros. I then slipped Wolf and Boxer on her +scent, and, following them into the river, I found her lying dead +within twenty yards of where the old lion had lain two nights before. +This was a fine old lioness, with perfect teeth, and was certainly a +noble prize; but I felt dissatisfied at not having rather shot a lion, +which I had most certainly done if my Hottentot had not destroyed my +contemplation. + +Attacks on Brookfield and Deerfield. + + +The early settlers of New England did not suffer much from the +hostility of the Indians, until the breaking out of King Philip's war, +in 1675. Philip was the son of Massasoit, who was the friend of the +English from the time of the landing of the pilgrims until the day of +his death. Offended at the manner in which the English behaved towards +his brother, Alexander, Philip resolved upon a war of extermination, +and, for this purpose, he united nearly all the New England tribes. +The war was very destructive to the whites, though it ended in the +total overthrow of the Indian power. + +One of the first places attacked was the town of Brookfield, +Massachusetts. Upon receiving intelligence that Philip had begun +hostilities, the inhabitants all collected in one large house. +Captains Wheeler and Hutchinson went into the country of the Nipmucks, +to treat with them, but they, instigated by Philip, fired upon the +party of whites, killed eight men and mortally wounded Captain +Hutchinson. The rest fled to Brookfield, pursued by the Indians. The +inhabitants were now surrounded by a host of foes, who burned every +house in the place, except the one in which the people and soldiers +were collected. Here they directed their whole force. Upon this house +they poured a storm of musket balls for about two days. Countless +numbers pierced through the walls, yet only one person was killed. +Brands and rags dipped in brimstone were thrust against the house with +long poles. The Indians shot arrows, tipped with fire, upon the roof. +They loaded a cart with flax and tow, and with long poles fastened +together, pushed it against the house. Destruction seemed inevitable, +the house was kindling. The bold and resolute settlers were beginning +to give up all hope, when a sudden and providential fall of rain +quenched the flames. + +The savages yelled with the fury of disappointment, and resorted to +other schemes for the destruction of the house and its inmates. In all +probability, they would have succeeded in effecting their object; but +on the 4th of August, Major Willard, with a party of troops, appeared, +and attacked the besiegers. The conflict was soon decided. The Indians +never could withstand an equal number of whites in a fair field. They +now gave way, after suffering a great loss. The people of Brookfield +were thus happily delivered from their savage foe. But their houses +were burned, and stock destroyed. + +The next place attacked was Deerfield, upon the Connecticut river, +which experienced the horror of Indian atrocity several times during +the course of the war. The town was first attacked in September, 1675, +when most of the houses were burned, and some of the inhabitants +killed. At Deerfield, there were three thousand bushels of wheat in +stock, which it was resolved to bring to the general magazine at +Hadley. Captain Lathrop, with ninety men, guarded the teams employed +in this service. On the way, they were assaulted by about seven +hundred Indians. Few of the whites escaped. They fought bravely, and +killed a great many of the Indians, but were nearly all slain. Captain +Mosely marched from Deerfield to reinforce Captain Lathrop. Arriving +too late, he was compelled to sustain the onset of the whole force of +the enemy, until Major Treat came to his relief, and put the Indians +to flight. + +In the early part of February, a large body of Indians attempted to +surprise Deerfield by night. But the inhabitants were alarmed and +prepared, and after a short conflict succeeded in driving off the +savages. Soon after a party of whites from Deerfield attacked a party +of Indians in a swamp, near that town, and killed one hundred and +twenty of them. But the whites, on their return, were waylaid, and as +they had expended all their ammunition they fell an easy prey. Fifty +were killed and eighty-four wounded. Such were the horrors of King +Philip's war. + +Attack on Mrs. Scraggs's House. + +On the night of the 11th of April, 1787, the house of the widow +Scraggs, in Bourbon county, Kentucky, was attacked by the Indians. The +widow occupied what is called double cabin, one room of which was +tenanted by the old lady herself, together with two grown sons and a +widowed daughter, who was at that time suckling an infant, while the +other was occupied by two unmarried daughters, from sixteen to twenty +years of age, together with a little girl, not more than half grown. + +The hour was eleven o'clock at night. One of the unmarried daughters +was still busily engaged at the loom, but the other members of the +family, with the exception of one of the sons, had retired to rest. +Some symptoms of an alarming nature had engaged the attention of the +young man for an hour before any thing of a decided character took +place. The cry of owls was heard in the adjoining wood, answering each +other in rather an unusual manner. The horses which were enclosed as +usual in a pound near the house were more than commonly their excited, +and by repeated snorting and galloping, announced the presence of some +object of terror. The young man was often upon the point of awakening +his brother, but was as often restrained by the fear of incurring +ridicule and their reproach of timidity, at that time an unpardonable +blemish in the character of a Kentuckian. At length, hasty steps were +heard in the yard, and quickly afterwards several knocks at the door, +accompanied by the usual exclamation, "who keeps house?" in very good +English. + +The young man, supposing from the language, that some benighted +settlers were at the door, hastily arose and advancing to withdraw the +bar which secured it, when his mother, who had long lived upon the +frontiers, and had probably detected the Indian tone in the demand for +admission, sprung out of bed, and ordered her son not to admit them, +declaring that they were Indians. She instantly awakened her other +son, and the two young men seizing their guns, which were always +charged, prepared to repel the enemy. + +The Indians finding it impossible to enter under their assumed +characters, began to thunder at the door with great violence, but a +single shot from a loophole, compelled them to shift the attack to +some less exposed point; and, unfortunately, they discovered the door +of the other cabin, which contained the three daughters. The rifles of +the brothers could not be brought to bear upon this point, and by +means of several rails taken from the yard fence, the door was forced +from its hinges and the three girls were at the mercy of the savage. +One was immediately secured, but the eldest defended herself +desperately with a knife which she had been using in the loom, and +stabbed one of the Indians to the heart, before she was tomahawked. + +In the meantime the little girl, who had been overlooked by the enemy +in their eagerness to secure the others, ran out into the yard, and +might have effected her escape had she taken advantage of the darkness +and fled, but instead of that the terrified little creature ran round +the house wringing her hands, and crying out that her sisters were +killed. The brothers, unwilling to hear her cries without risking +every thing for her rescue, rushed to the door and were preparing to +sally out to her assistance, when their mother threw herself before +them and calmly declared that the child must be abandoned to its fate +--that the sally would sacrifice the lives of the rest without the +slightest benefit to the little girl. Just then the child uttered a +loud scream, followed by a faint moan, and all was again silent. +Presently the crackling of flames was heard, accompanied by a +triumphant yell from the Indians, announcing that they had set fire to +that division of the house which had been occupied by the daughters, +and of which they had undisputed possession. + +The fire was quickly communicated to part of the building, it became +necessary to abandon it or perish in the flames. In the one case, +there was a possibility that some might escape; in the other, their +fate would be equally certain and terrible. The rapid approach of the +flames cut short their momentary suspense. The door was thrown open, +just as some of the Indians began to enter the house through a breach +made by the fire. The old lady, supported by her eldest son, attempted +to cross the fence at one point, while the other son carried his +sister and her son in another direction. + +The old lady was permitted to reach the stile unmolested, but in the +act of crossing, received several balls in the breast and fell dead. +Her son, providentially, remained unhurt, and by extraordinary agility +effected his escape. The other party succeeded also in reaching the +fence unhurt, but in the act of crossing, were vigorously assailed by +several Indians, who throwing down their guns, rushed upon them with +their tomahawks. The young man defended his sister gallantly, firing +upon the enemy as they approached, and then wielding the butt of his +rifle with a fury that drew the whole attention upon himself, and gave +his sister an opportunity of effecting her escape. He quickly fell, +however, under the tomahawk of his enemies, and was found at daylight, +scalped and mangled in a shocking manner. Of the whole family, +consisting of eight persons, when the attack commenced, only three +escaped. Four were killed upon the spot, and one, the second daughter, +carried off a prisoner. + +The neighborhood was quickly alarmed, and by daylight about thirty men +were assembled under the command of Colonel Edwards. A slight snow had +fallen during the latter part of the night, and the Indian trail could +be pursued at a gallop. It led directly into the mountainous country +bordering on Licking, and afforded evidences of great hurry and +precipitation on the part of the fugitives. Unfortunately, a hound had +been permitted to accompany the whites, and as the trail became fresh +and the scent warm, she followed it with eagerness, baying loudly and +giving the alarm to the Indians. + +The consequences of this imprudence were soon displayed. The enemy +finding the pursuit keen, and perceiving that the strength of the +prisoner began to fail, sunk their tomahawks in her head and left her, +still warm and bleeding upon the snow. As the whites came up, she +retained strength enough to wave her hand in token of recognition, and +appeared desirous of giving them some information, with regard to the +enemy, but her strength was too far gone. Her brother sprung from his +horse, and knelt by her side, endeavoring to stop the effusion of +blood, but in vain. She gave him her hand, muttering some inarticulate +words, and expired within two minutes after the arrival of the party. + +The pursuit was renewed with additional ardor, and in twenty minutes +the enemy was within view. They had taken possession of a steep narrow +ridge and seemed desirous of magnifying their numbers in the eyes of +the whites, as they ran rapidly from tree to tree, and maintained a +steady yell in their most appalling tones. The pursuers, however, were +too experienced to be deceived by so common an artifice, and being +satisfied that the number of the enemy must be inferior to their own, +they dismounted, tied their horses, and flanking out in such a manner +as to enclose the enemy, ascended the ridge as rapidly as was +consistent with a due regard to the shelter of their persons. The +firing quickly commenced, and now for the first time they discovered +that only two Indians were opposed to them. They had voluntarily +sacrificed themselves for the safety of the main body, and had +succeeded in delaying pursuit until their friends had reached the +mountains. One of them was shot dead, and the other was badly wounded, +as was evident from the blood upon his blanket, as well as that which +filled his tracks in the snow for a considerable distance. The pursuit +was recommenced, and urged keenly until night, when the trail entered +a running stream and was lost. On the following morning the snow had +melted, and every trace of the enemy was obliterated. + +Fearful Adventure with a man-eating lion. + +The following is Mr. Cumming's account of a fearful adventure, in +which he lost one of his most valuable servants: + +On the 29th we arrived at a small village of Bakalahari. These natives +told me that elephants were abundant on the opposite side of the +river. I accordingly resolved to halt here and hunt, and drew my +wagons up on the river's bank, within thirty yards of the water, and +about one hundred yards from the native village. Having outspanned, we +at once set about making for the cattle a kraal of the worst +description of thorn trees. Of this I had now become very particular, +since my severe loss by lions on the first of this month; and my +cattle were, at night, secured by a strong kraal, which enclosed my +two wagons, the horses being made fast to a trektow, stretched to the +two hind-wheels of the wagons. I had yet, however, a fearful lesson to +learn as to the nature and character of the lion, of which I had at +one time entertained so little fear; and on this night a horrible +tragedy was to be acted in my little lonely camp of so very awful and +appalling a nature as to make the blood curdle in our veins. I worked +till near sun down at one side of the kraal with Hendrick, my first +wagon driver--I cutting down the trees with my axe, and he dragging +them to the kraal. When the kraal for the cattle was finished, I +turned my attention to making a pot of barley broth, and lighted a +fire between the wagons and the water, close on the river's bank, +under a dense grove of shady trees, making a sort of kraal around our +sitting place for the evening. + +The Hottentots, without any reason, made their fire about fifty yards +from mine; they according to their usual custom, being satisfied with +the shelter of a large dense bush. The evening passed away cheerfully. +Soon after it was dark we heard elephants breaking the trees in the +forest across the river; and once or twice I strode away into the +darkness some distance from the fireside, to stand and listen to them. +I little, at that moment, deemed of the imminent peril to which I was +exposing my life, nor thought that a blood-thirsty man-eater lion was +crouching near, and only watching his opportunity to spring into the +midst of us, and consign one of our number to a most horrible death. +About three hours after the sun went down I called to my men to come +and take their coffee and supper which was ready for them at my fire; +and after supper three of them returned before their comrades to their +own fireside, and lay down; these were John Stofolus, Hendrick, and +Ruyter. In a few minutes an ox came out by the gate of the kraal and +walked out by the back of it. Hendrick got up and drove him in again, +and then went back to his fireside and lay down. Hendrick and Ruyter +lay on one side of the fire under one blanket, and John Stofolus lay +on the other. At this moment I was sitting taking some barley-broth; +our fire was very small, and the night was pitch-dark and windy. Owing +to our proximity to the native village the wood was very scarce, the +Bakalahari having burnt it all in their fires. + +Suddenly the appalling and murderous voice of an angry blood-thirsty +lion burst upon my ears within a few yards of us, followed by the +shrieking of the Hottentots. Again and again the murderous roar of +attack was repeated. We heard John and Ruyter shriek, "The lion, the +lion!" still, for a few moments, we thought he was chasing one of the +dogs round the kraal; but, the next instant, John Stofolus rushed into +the midst of us, almost speechless with fear and terror, his eyes +bursting from their sockets, and shrieked out, "The lion, the lion! He +has got Hendrick; he dragged him away from the fire beside me. I +struck him with the burning brands upon his head, but he would not let +go his hold. Hendrick is dead! Oh, God! Hendrick is dead! Let us take +fire and seek him!" + +The rest of my people rushed about shrieking and yelling as if they +were mad. I was at once angry with them for their folly, and told them +if they did not stand still and keep quiet the lion would have another +of us; and that very likely there was a troop of them. I ordered the +dogs, which were nearly all fast, to be made loose, and the fire to be +increased as far as could be. I then shouted Hendrick's name, but all +was still. I told my men that Hendrick was dead, and that a regiment +of soldiers could not now help him, and, hunting my dogs forward, I +had every thing brought within the cattle-kraal, when we lighted our +fire and closed the entrance as well as we could. My terrified people +sat round the fire with guns in their hand till the day broke, still +fancying that every moment the lion would return and spring again into +the midst of us. + +When the dogs were first let go, the stupid brutes, as dogs often +prove when most required, instead of going at the lion, rushed +fiercely on one another, and fought desperately for some minutes. +After this, they got his wind, and going at him, disclosed to us his +position; they kept up a continual barking until the day dawned, the +lion occasionally springing after them and driving them in upon the +kraal. The horrible monster lay all night within forty yards of us, +consuming the wretched man whom he had chosen for his prey. He had +dragged him into a little hollow at the back of a thick bush, beside +which the fire was kindled, and there he remained till the day dawned, +careless of our proximity. + +It appeared that when the unfortunate Hendrick rose to drive in the +ox, the lion had watched him to his fireside, and he had scarcely lain +down when the brute sprang upon him and Ruyter, for both lay under one +blanket, with his appalling murderous roar, and, roaring as he lay, +grappled him with his fearful claws, and kept biting him on his breast +and shoulder, all the while feeling for his neck; having got hold of +which, he dragged him away backwards round the bush into the dense +shade. + +As the lion lay upon the unfortunate man he faintly cried, "Help me, +help me! Oh, God! men, help me!" After which the fearful beast got a +hold of his neck, and then all was still, except that his comrades +heard the bones of his neck cracking between the teeth of the lion. +John Stofolus had lain with his back to the fire on the opposite side, +and on hearing the lion he sprang up, and, seizing a large flaming +brand, he had belabored him on the head with the burning wood; but the +brute did not take any notice of him. The Bushman had a narrow escape; +he was not altogether scatheless, the lion having inflicted two gashes +in his seat with his claws. + +The next morning, just as the day began to dawn, we heard the lion +dragging something up the river-side under cover of the bank. We drove +the cattle out of the kraal, and then proceeded to inspect the scene +of the night's awful tragedy. In the hollow, where the lion had lain +consuming his prey, we found one leg of the unfortunate Hendrick, +bitten off below the knee, the shoe still on his foot; the grass and +bushes were all stained with his blood, and fragments of his pea-coat +lay around. + +Poor Hendrick! I knew the fragments of that old coat, and had often +marked them hanging in the dense covers where the elephant had charged +after my unfortunate after-rider. Hendrick was by far the best man I +had about my wagons, of a most cheerful disposition, first-rate wagon +driver, fearless in the field, ever active, willing, and obliging: his +loss to us all was very serious. I felt confounded and utterly sick in +my heart; I could not remain at the wagons, so I resolved to go after +elephants to divert my mind. I had this morning heard them breaking +the trees on the opposite side of the river. I accordingly told the +natives of the village my intentions; and having ordered my people to +devote the day to fortifying the kraal, I started with Piet and Ruyter +as my after-riders. + +It was a very cold day. We crossed the river, and at once took up the +fresh spoor of a troop of bull elephants. These bulls unfortunately +joined a troop of cows, and the bulls were off in a moment, before we +could even see them. One remarkably fine old cow charged the dogs. I +hunted this cow and finished her with two shots from the saddle. Being +anxious to return to my people before night, I did not attempt to +follow the troop. + +My followers were not a little gratified to see me returning, for +terror had taken hold of their minds, and they expected that the lion +would return, and, emboldened by the success of the preceding night, +would prove still more daring in his attack. The lion would most +certainly have returned, but fate had otherwise ordained. My health +had been better in the last three days: my fever was leaving me, but I +was, of course, still very weak. It would still be two hours before +the sun would set, and feeling refreshed by a little rest, and able +for further work, I ordered the steeds to be saddled, and went in +search of the lion. + +I took John and Carey as after-riders, armed, and a party of the +natives followed up the spoor and led the dogs. The lion had dragged +the remains of poor Hendrick along a native footpath that led up the +river's side. We found fragments of his coat all along the spoor, and +at last the mangled coat itself. About six hundred yards from our camp +a dry river's course joined the Limpopo. At this spot was much cover, +and heaps of dry reeds and trees deposited by the Limpopo in some +great flood. The lion had left the footpath and entered this secluded +spot. I at once felt convinced that we were upon him, and ordered the +natives to make loose the dogs. These walked suspiciously forward on +the spoor, and next minute began to spring about, barking angrily, +with all their hair bristling on their backs: a crash upon the dry +reeds immediately followed--it was the lion bounding away. + +Several of the dogs were extremely afraid of him, and kept rushing +continually backwards springing aloft to obtain a view. I now pressed +forward and urged them on; old Argyll and Bles took up his spoor in +gallant style and led on the other dogs. Then commenced a short but +lively and glorious chase, whose conclusion was the only small +satisfaction that I could obtain to answer for the horrors of the +preceding evening. The lion held up the river's bank for a short +distance and took away through some wait-a-bit thorn cover, the best +he could find, but nevertheless open. Here, in two minutes, the dogs +were up with him, and he turned and stood at bay. As I approached, he +stood, his horrid head right to me, with open jaws growling fiercely, +his tail waving from side to side. + +On beholding him my blood boiled with rage. I wished that I could take +him alive and torture him, and setting my teeth, I dashed my steed +forward within thirty yards of him and shouted, "Your time is up, old +fellow." I halted my horse, and, placing my rifle to my shoulder, I +waited for a broadside. This, the next moment, he exposed, when I sent +a bullet through his shoulder and dropped him on the spot. He rose, +however, again, when I finished him with a second in the breast. The +Bakalahari now came up with wonder and delight. I ordered John to cut +off his head and forepaws and bring them to the wagons, and mounting +my horse I galloped home, having been absent about fifteen minutes. +When the Bakalahari women heard that the man-eater was dead, they all +commenced dancing about with joy, calling me _their father_. + +Thrilling Adventures of Mr. Butler. + +The early history of Kentucky is one continued series of daring and +romantic adventures. Had the founder of that state lived in the days +of chivalric yore, his exploits would have been sung in connection +with those of Arthur and Orlando; and his followers, in the same +region, would certainly have been knights of the Round Table. + +The hero of our story was one of these. Those who desire to inspect +his adventure, by the light of romance, will not be displeased at +learning that his choice of a hunter's life was determined by a +disappointment in the object of his early love. + +He was then only nineteen, yet he fearlessly left his native state, +and sought, amid the uncultivated wilds of Kentucky, the stirring +enjoyment of a western hunter. After rendering valuable service to the +Virginia colony, as a spy and pioneer, he undertook a voyage of +discovery to the country north of the Ohio. It was while thus engaged +that he was taken prisoner by the Indians. + +He was, no doubt, known to the Indians as an active and dangerous +enemy; and they now prepared to avenge themselves upon him. They +condemned him to the fiery torture, painted his body black, and +marched him toward Chilicothe. By way of amusement on the road, he was +manacled hand and foot, tied to an unbridled and unbroken horse, and +driven off amid the shouts and whoops of the savages; poor Butler thus +played the part of an American Ma zeppa. The horse, unable to shake +him off galloped with terrific speed toward the wood, jarring and +bruising the rider at every step; but at length, exhausted and +subdued, it returned to camp with its burden, amid the exulting shouts +of the savages. When within a mile of Chilicothe, they took Butler +from the horse, and tied him to a stake, where, for twenty-four hours, +he remained in one position. He was then untied to run the gauntlet. +Six hundred Indians, men, women, and children, armed with clubs and +switches, arranged themselves in two parallel lines, to strike him as +he passed. It was a mile to the council-house, which if he reached, he +was to be spared. A blow started him on this encouraging race; but he +soon broke through the files and had almost reached the council-house, +when he was brought to the ground by a club. In this position he was +severely beaten and again taken into custody. + +These terrible sufferings, instead of satisfying the Indians, only +stimulated them to invent more ingenious tortures. Their cruelty was +not more astonishing than the fortitude of the victim. He ran the +gauntlet thirteen times; he was exposed to insult, privation, and +injury of every kind: sometimes he was tied, sometimes beaten. At +others, he was pinched, dragged on the ground, or deprived for long +periods of sleep. Then, amid jeers and yells, he was marched from +village to village, so that all might be entertained with his +sufferings. Yet, amid each torture, he never failed to improve an +opportunity favorable for escaping, and in one instance would have +effected it, but for some Indians whom he accidentally met returning +to the village. Finally it was resolved to burn him at Lower Sandusky. +The procession, bearing the victim to the stake, passed by the cabin +of Simon Girty, whose name is a counterpart to that of Brandt, in the +annals of Pennsylvania. This man had just returned from an +unsuccessful expedition to the frontier of that state, burning, of +course, with disappointment, and a thirst for revenge. Hearing that a +white prisoner was being carried to the torture, he rushed out, threw +Butler down, and began to beat him. + +The reader will not be apt to imagine that this was in any way +favorable to Butler's escape; yet it was so. He instantly recognised +in the fierce assailant a companion of early days, and as such made +himself known. The heart of the savage relented. He raised up his old +friend, promised to use his influence for him, summoned a council, and +persuaded the Indians to resign Butler to him. Taking the unfortunate +man home, he fed and nursed him until he began to recover. But five +days had scarcely expired, when the Indians relented, seizing their +victim, and marched him to be burned at Lower Sandusky. By a +surprising coincidence, he here met the Indian agent from Detroit, who +interceded and saved him. He was taken to that town, paroled by the +governor, and subsequently escaped through the woods to Kentucky. + +Robert and Samuel M'Afee. + +Early in May, 1781, M'Afee's station, in the neighborhood of +Harrodsburg, Kentucky, was alarmed by the approach of Indians. On the +morning of the 9th, Samuel M'Afee, accompanied by another man, left +the fort in order to visit a small plantation in the neighborhood, and +at the distance of three hundred yards from the gate, they were fired +upon by a party of Indians in ambush. The man who, accompanied him +instantly fell. An Indian rushed up, dropped his rifle, scalped the +man, and holding up the bleeding trophy, gave a yell of delight. + +M'Afee attempted to regain the fort. While running for that purpose, +he found himself suddenly intercepted by an Indian, who, springing out +of the canebrake, placed himself directly in his path. Each glared +upon the other for an instant, in silence, and both raising their guns +at the moment, pulled the triggers together. The Indian's rifle +snapped, while M'Afee's ball passed directly through his brain. Having +no time to reload his gun, he sprung over the body of his antagonist, +and continued his flight to the fort. When within one hundred yards of +the gate, he was met by his two brothers, Robert and James, who at the +report of the guns, had hurried out to the assistance of their +brother. Samuel hastily informed them of their danger, and exhorted +them to return. James readily complied, but Robert, declared that he +must have a view of the dead Indian. He ran on for that purpose, and +having enjoyed the spectacle, was returning, when he saw five or six +Indians between him and the fort, evidently bent on taking him alive. +All his activity and presence of mind was put in request. He ran from +tree to tree, endeavoring to turn their flank, and reach one of the +gates, and after a variety of turns and doublings, he found himself +pressed by only one Indian. M'Afee turned upon his pursuer, and +compelled him to take shelter behind a tree. Both stood still for a +moment--M'Afee having his gun cocked, and the sight fixed where he +supposed the Indian would thrust out his head in order to have a view +of his antagonist. After waiting a few seconds, the Indian exposed a +part of his head to take sight, when M'Afee fired, and the Indian +fell. While turning, to continue the flight, he was fired on by a +party of six, which compelled him again to tree. But scarcely had he +done so, when he received the fire of three more enemies which made +the bark and dust fly about him. Finding his post dangerous, he ran +for the fort, which he reached in safety, to the inexpressible joy of +his brothers, who had despaired of his return. + +A few days' Sport in Chinese Tartary. + +Much may have been said, but little has been written, of the yet but +very partially explored part of the world between China and the +Himayla chain. Moorcroft and Gerard, some thirty years ago, visited +some parts bordering on the extreme north-west of the British +possessions in India. Fraser, a few years later, penetrated probably +those parts of it adjoining the central hill sanatoriums of Simla and +Almorah, and he, like his predecessors, was stopped by the jealous +government and its inhabitants. Previous to entering Chinese Tartary +from British India, the traveller has to cross certain of the passes +in the great snowy range, some of them varying in height from sixteen +to eighteen thousand feet above the level of the sea. + +The Barinda, one of the most frequented and best known of these +passes, is variously estimated at from seventeen to eighteen thousand +feet. The months of June, July, and August are generally considered +the best months for crossing. + +The scenery in and around these passes is of the most sublime +description. As I should assuredly fail, however, in describing it, I +must content myself with a narration of some personal adventures which +befel me in an attempt to carry into effect a long cherished +determination to make the acquaintance of the seeta bhaloo (white +bear) and the burul, (white sheep,) found only in these regions. By +the route I took, seventeen marches brought me to the snow. Here our +"roughing" commenced, the Peharrees, or hill men, of our side of the +snow, having a most religious horror of the great snowy range. The air +there they declare is charged with "bis" (poison,) and this is the +only way they can in their original way account for the painful and +distressing effects which the rarefied air in those elevations +produces on the human frame. The first intimation we have that we are +far above the altitude of comfort, is a dull, heavy pain on the +shoulders, as if you were carrying a load above your capacity; then a +very painful sensation on the forehead, as if it had been bandaged +unpleasantly tight, accompanied by a burning sensation of the eyes and +nose, followed by an involuntary bleeding of the latter. + +This last symptom of the effects of high rarefaction, is, to an +Englishman, at least it was to us, always a great relief. It operates +differently upon the natives; they become only more alarmed and +helpless, and, unless hurried through the passes very expeditiously, +invariably perish. On my first trip, I left two unfortunate hill men +in the Sogla Pass. Two more would have perished, had not I taken one +wheelbarrow fashion, by the legs, and dragged him after me, although +very much distressed myself, until we had descended sufficiently to +rest with safety. My head man, Jye Sing, by my direction, took the +other man, and both were saved. + +After getting through the pass, we came upon the inhabited tracks, and +made the acquaintance of the Bhootias. I found them very original, +very dirty, and very honest with regard to every thing except tobacco. +This, neither father nor mother, husband or wife, could help stealing, +whenever they had the opportunity; and the most amusing part of it +was, they never attempted to deny the theft, but stoutly maintained +their right to the article! Numerous were the thrashings inflicted by +Buctoo on them for tobacco thieving, but the thefts did not diminish. + +As my object in coming into these dreary fastnesses was to get on +terms of familiarity with the quadrupedal rather than the bipedal +inhabitants, I will leave the Bhootias, and proceed to describe my +rencontres with the equally civilized four-footed denizens. I had in +my employ Shikarees (gameseekers) of no ordinary class, who, having +been many years with me, were well tutored; although, when first +caught, they were ignorance personified as far as sporting matters +went. Their original incapacity will be easily credited, when I inform +them that my second best man, Buctoo, had followed the sporting +occupation of a village fiddler, before he entered my service, and +knew as much of the capabilities of an English rifle as he did of the +"Pleiades." Jye Sing was a little better informed, for he told me +confidentially, one day, he had seen a gentleman at Subathoo actually +kill quail flying with small shot. His occupation had been that of +findal, or porter, to some families at Simla. Two months' training +turned him out, not only one of the most intelligent, but pluckiest +Shikaree I ever had. + +Having, in my numerous excursions into the hills, obtained some very +vague information from the many villagers I came in contact with, that +they had often heard from parties residing near the snow that there +was an animal to be found there strongly resembling the famous sheep, +(_Ovid Burul_,) I determined upon despatching Jye Sing and Buctoo to +those regions, to obtain all the precise information that might be +available, cautioning them not to return without either having seen +the animal, or bringing me some proof of its existence, and further +promising them a handsome present, if they brought me satisfactory +information. They were absent two months, and returned with some most +marvellous stories about what they had seen and heard, and, as a proof +of the existence of the animal, brought me the horn of a wild sheep +they had picked up in one of the valleys in the snow, after an +avalanche had melted. This physical fragment at once removed all my +doubts, the horn being different from that of any tame sheep. I was +now wound up to the highest pitch of excitement; my marching +establishment was soon put in order, and we started on the following +day. Fifteen forced marches brought me to the foot of the snow, and +also to the last village, called "Ufsul." I found the inhabitants of +this village a most rude and demi-barbarous race, knowing little, and +wishing to know less, of Englishmen, of whom they seemed to have the +greatest dread. However, two days' soft sawdering with a plentiful +supply of hill "buckshee," (spirits,) made them more communicative; +and they at last informed me, if I would promise only to remain a +week, they would show me the wild sheep. This promise, of course, I +gave; and on the following morning at daybreak, (shivering cold it +was,) we started to ascend the snow-capped mountains and glaciers, +which the animal patronized. On the road up I was sorely tempted to +draw my ball and ram down shot, in order to bring down some of the +many woodcocks we were constantly flushing, and which were so +unaccustomed to be disturbed, that they only flew a few yards away; +but I resisted the temptation. + +As we progressed in the region of eternal snow, we began to find +pedestrianism a difficult task. Some parts of the path were very +slippery and hard; others, soft and knee-deep in snow. An idea may be +formed of the height we had to ascend, and the nature of the ground +which we traversed, when I mention that we left our tents at seven +o'clock in the morning, and had not arrived at the "sheep-walk" before +one, + +Now commenced the difficulty. The burrul, from its well-known and +secluded habits, is a most difficult animal to approach. I was at +last, however, rewarded for my labor. About two o'clock we came upon +the fresh marks of the flock; we followed them for some distance, but +coming near a hot spring where they had evidently been grazing, lost +of course all farther track. For the next hour I worked on one +glacier, around another, used my telescope, but could not discern any +object. Suddenly one of the villagers called my attention to something +above me. I looked up and beheld a pair of enormous horns bending +over. None of the body of the animal was then visible. I now +cautiously moved a short distance to the right, when I had the +satisfaction of seeing not only his horns, but a full broadside view +of the first wild sheep I ever saw. He was about one hundred and fifty +yards off. Having elevated the proper sight, I brought my rifle to +bear on the shoulder, took a steady and gradual draw of the trigger, +the rifle cracked, and dead came down the burrul of Thibet. + +Perhaps, up to this time, the burrul had known no other mortal foe +than the white, or whitey-brown bear of the hills--the seeta bhaloo, +as he is called. And this brings me to another part of my sporting +excursion. + +Whether from the scarcity of food, or the amiability of their +dispositions, the seeta bhaloo are to be met with constantly in small +bodies of from five to ten, differing in this respect from their sable +brethren, who are generally found alone, unless a matrimonial alliance +has been formed, when the intrusion of a third party, whether male or +female, ensures a fight. + +The white bear is only carnivorous when pressed by hunger, and in that +state is very destructive to the numerous Tartar flocks of sheep, for +Bruin, with an empty larder is not to be deterred from his ravenous +attacks by men or dogs--a haunch of mutton he will have. His mode of +devouring it differs greatly from that of the tiger or leopard. He +tears the fleece off with his paws, and instead of gnawing and tearing +the flesh, as most carnivorous animals do, he commences sucking it, +and in this way draws off the flesh in shreds, thus occupying four or +five hours in doing what a tiger or leopard would effectually achieve +in half an hour. It is well known among the Tartars, (and I know it +also from experience,) that a bear, after feasting off flesh, is a +very dangerous customer, and will always show fight. If near the +carcass he has captured, he will give very little trouble in looking +for him, indeed, he will almost invariably attack the intruder. + +One day while following up some wild sheep, I came upon two bears very +busily engaged in digging up the snow where an avalanche had fallen. +Being hid from their sight, I determined to wait some little time to +ascertain why they were digging. I accordingly placed myself behind a +rock, and allowed them to work away. In about an hour they had made a +very good opening; and on using my glass I found they had got hold of +something. I now pushed up to them. One immediately showed fight, and +came out to meet me. He made one charge at me, which I received with a +rifle ball, killing him the very first shot. The other bear got away. +On going up to the spot where they had been at work, I found the +exhumed bodies of three wild sheep. They had been carried away and +buried underneath the avalanche, probably as far back as the previous +year, considering the very compact and frozen state the snow was in. +The sheep were in excellent order. We skinned them, and took them to +our tents, and excellent mutton we all had for several days. + +On the melting of the snows, the golden eagle of the Himalaya--a +magnificent bird, often measuring thirteen feet from the tip of one +wing to the other--is one of the best of pointers a sportsman can +follow, to ascertain where any animal has been carried away in an +avalanche. He hovers over the spot, constantly alighting, and then +taking wing again; but if once you observe him pecking with his beak +you may proceed to the spot, and be certain of finding, a very short +distance below the snow, the carcass of a wild sheep, as fresh as it +was on the day on which it was carried away. Many a haunch of good +mutton have I obtained in this way. + +The Himalayan golden eagle is a very carrion crow, never destroying +its own game, and feeding on any dead carcass it may find, + +Many an eagle have I shot feeding on the carcass of an unfortunate +hill bullock, which, either through stupidity or fright, had tumbled +over a precipice; and never, during the many years I shot over all +parts of these hills, do I remember seeing a golden eagle pounce on or +carry away a living prey. + +The Tartar shepherds near the snow informed me that during the lambing +season the eagles were very troublesome. If a ewe dropped a sickly +lamb, and left it, the eagle would attack it, but never attempted to +stoop to carry away a live one, or one that followed its mother. The +Indian golden eagle is identical with the Lammergeyer of the Alps, but +wants the courage of the latter bird. + +A companion and myself had been working hard in the "Sogla," one of +the passes in the snowy range conducting into Chinese Tartary, after +the wild sheep, and found them this day wilder and more wary than on +any previous occasion. It is not generally known that there are two +species of wild sheep--one called the dairuk, and the other (an +enormous animal, at least as far as its horns are concerned) known to +naturalists as the _ovis ammon_. The horns and head of the latter are +as much as a hill man can lift, and singular enough the body is small +indeed, out of all proportion to the horns borne by a full-grown ram. +My companion and self espied on an opposite hill what we at first +(through our telescopes) thought was an enormous pair of horns moving +without any ostensible carriage. At last we observed the body, and I, +in delight, exclaimed, "By Jove, there is the ovis ammon at last." + +After considerable trouble and precious hard work, we worked up to +within the range, when a shot from my rifle brought the ram tumbling +down over the snow. I hoped and believed he was dead, but he was only +wounded. He got up again, and, in spite of the wound, made a very good +gallop over the deep snow. Finding he was too fast for us, we slipped +our dogs, and among them my poor "Karchia." The poor dog, as usual, +was first up with the ram, and seized him. The ram, having still a +good deal in him, broke the hold, and down he went to the bottom of +the ravine, where ran the Tonse river, a tributary of the Jumna here +in the snow. + +The river was covered over in many places by avalanches, and was also +partly frozen; but in many places there were large holes. The ram +bounded over these until my poor dog Karchia again closed with and +seized him behind. With a vigorous effort the ovis ammon shook him +off. A few yards before the steep was a large hole in the Tonse, the +water foaming up through it; into this ovis ammon threw himself, and +was carried under the snow. Heaven knows where. On arriving at the +spot I found my dog baying most piteously, and trying to bite away the +frozen sides, but to no purpose, and I was obliged immediately to get +him chained up, fearing he would have plunged in after the game, when +I should have lost him, and most probably my own life. Having thus +introduced the wild sheep and white bear of Tartary, a few sentences +may not unprofitably be spent in describing the genus homo of the +Snowy Range. The Tartars, as may be imagined, are a very original +race, and in those parts visited by me I found them very primitive and +intensive, always barring the petty larceny propensities. Depending +principally on the sale of their wool for their support, and being +Bhuddhists by religion, they dared not destroy animal life; but when +nature had deprived one of their bullocks or sheep of existence, +either by accident or old age, economy forbids their wasting the +carcass, and it is eagerly devoured by them. Some of the ancient rams +I saw would require a considerable deal of mastication and powerful +digestive organs when summoned to their forefathers and committed to a +Tartar's jaws. + +I cannot say that the hill people thrive on the diet, for in +appearance they are a miserable-looking, stunted race, very filthy in +their habits, seldom changing their coarse woollen clothing, and +entertaining a religious horror of cold water. + +They have no objection to the good things brought from our side of the +snow, and I have seen them devour salt beef and pork with great gusto. +But what they must delight in, when they can get it, is English brandy +and tobacco. The former they will drink in great quantities, and for +men unaccustomed to liquor it is astonishing how well they resist its +intoxicating properties. I saw one man, a "Siana," the head of a +village, drink off two bottles of pure brandy without apparently +feeling any ill effects from the potation. On questioning him about +his sensations, he said that the only difference he found between the +brandy and water was, that it made his inside comfortably warm, and +his tongue very slippery, of which he gave us proof by chattering and +singing in a most uncouth way. Of all the horrible noises I ever +heard, those which a half-drunken Tartar makes are the most +discordant. The deep nasal and guttural noises he emits would beat +Welsh and Gaelic by a long chalk. + +Although petty thefts are common among the Thibetans, valuable +articles may with with safety be left among them--even money they will +never touch. Many an hour have I whiled away among them watching +Buctoo and Jye Sing showing them many articles of my property, the use +or value of which they could not comprehend. Of my guns and rifles, in +particular, they stood in great awe, and for a long time none of them +cound be induced to touch one. Our telescopes also caused great +terror, and many were the learned arguments they had as to what +possibly could be the use of the latter. I invariably carried a +favorite "Dolland" across my shoulder, and Buctoo was provided with a +similar instrument, of which he was very proud, and in the use of +which he became very expert. + +One day, after a good day's sport, we had all sat down near a +beautiful spring, and I was enjoying a luncheon, when I found that +Buctoo had collected some fifty Tartars about him, who sat in a +circle, listening to his explanation of the use of his telescope. None +of his hearers could for some time be induced to touch it; they were +afraid of its either exploding or metamorphosing them into wild sheep. +The large village Tehong Si was about four miles below our bivouac, +and several of the head men had come up to have a look at us. The +village was just discernible to the naked eye, and Buctoo politely +inquired of one of the chiefs, if he would like to be informed what +was going on in the village below? The chief told him he should, when +Buctoo drew out the glass, on which all the Tartars moved off to a +respectful distance. + +After looking at the village, Buctoo persuaded them to come close to +him once more, and duly informed them what he could see in the +village, describing certain parts of it so correctly that they were +astounded. (I must here mention that neither myself nor any of my +servants had been allowed to enter the village.) The Tartars at first +could hardly credit it; but after sundry questions as to the +description of houses on the north side, and again on the southern, +which Buctoo, on carefully examining, correctly described, they became +sadly perplexed. Buctoo once more endeavored to persuade them to take +a look themselves, and, after much coaxing and a little brandy, one of +the head men was induced to take the telescope into his hand. + +The figure he cut in doing so, I shall not easily forget. He held it +out at arm's length, grinned at it most horribly, and chattered some +abominable gibberish in Tartaree, that no one understood, appearing to +expect every moment that the glass would bite him. After some minutes +spent in this way, he drew it near him, and by degrees became more +confident. Buctoo then approached him and set it, telling him how to +look through it. He then appeared very suspicious about this movement, +evidently fancying the glass was going to explode. At length he threw +it down, for which Buctoo boxed his ears. He then took it up again, +and it was brought to bear on the village. But the Tartar did us +again; for he shut both eyes. However, after a good deal of +persuasion, he was induced to open one and shut the other, and to peep +through the glass. For a second or two he trembled violently, and then +groaned heavily--threw down the glass, and commenced rolling down the +hill, head over heels, at a most awful pace. The whole batch, some +forty, were seized with the same complaint, and down they went after +their chief, roaring out, "Hi! ha!" at the top of their voice. Break +their necks they could not very easily; but how many of them escaped +serious injury I did not stop to ascertain. Upon seeing them all off, +I fell down heavily, fracturing my sides with laughter. Buctoo was in +the same state, and so were all my servants. We at last saw them, on +reaching a piece of level ground, get on their legs, the chief still +leading, and bolting for the village, at a pace that nothing would +warrant but a tin kettle at their heels. + +In about ten minutes we heard the gongs and bells beating and tolling +at a great pace, with frightful shouting from men and women, and this +lasted for two hours, when all became quiet. + +Not a Tartar could be got hold of for two days after this. At last, by +sending a small party rather near the village, several men showed +themselves, offering us any thing we wanted, if we would only return +to our proper side of the snow. This they were told we would do, if +they would only show us three or four more days' good sport; but if +not we would remain there six months, and turn them all into wild +sheep. Upon this they had a consultation, when it was decided that +they would show us excellent comfort provided we promised to take our +departure in four days, and never come there again. This was duly +agreed to, and after some very cautious approaches we got them once +more up to our tents. They certainly got their promise, for I had +excellent sport, and was therefore bound to fulfil my part of the +agreement. + +On the fourth day arriving, they were invited to come once more to the +tent, and to receive a few trifling rewards for the sport they had +shown. Brandy was first served out, and this soon restored confidence, +when the distribution of a few knives, looking-glasses, beads, etc., +etc., and sundry pieces of red cloth, brought them into good humor. +Every thing was going on as well as could be desired, when some +unfortunate dispute arose among some of my guides, (not my own +servants, but men taken from the last village on our side of the +snow,) and Tartars. They knew each other well, having, at a fair held +at the foot of the pass, a year's intercourse. These men, I have no +doubt, assisted by one of my own men, (and I strongly suspected +Buctoo, although he most solemnly denied it,) played them a sad trick. +I may here note that almost every Tartar carries a pipe, rudely made +of wrought iron, of about the size and shape of the common clay pipe. +Being inveterate smokers, a pipe full of good tobacco is one of the +most convincing arguments you can employ. While I was at dinner, I +ordered some tobacco to be given to them, and it was proposed they +should put that in their pouches, and allow some of my men to charge +their pipes with their own tobacco, of which they begged their +acceptance. + +The Tartars, nothing loth, assented, and each man gave his iron pipe +to be charged, which was duly done and returned to each owner. Smoking +then commenced, and on finishing my dinner and coming outside the +tent, I found the Tartars all in a circle, smoking away, and my men, +some ten yards from them, and above them, and talking to them. They +were also smoking. Thinking nothing of this at the time, I took no +notice, and had my chair brought outside, and smoked my segar. In less +than five minutes I was considerably astonished on hearing a salvo as +of a volley of musketry, and iron pipes flying up and down in all +directions. Then a general shout, and off went the Tartars, as if Old +Nick was at their heels, halloing most fearfully. They did not run +far, but brought up about three hundred yards from where they started, +and demanded their pipes back. I asked them what was the matter; when +they said they would never smoke English tobacco again, for we smoked +with tobacco, and shot with tobacco, and _Sheitzan_ must have been the +manufacturer. + +Kangaroo Hunting. + +Kangarooing in Tasman's Peninsula is essentially a pedestrian sport. I +am aware that in an open country, and especially in New South Wales, +where the chase is followed on horseback, my assertion may seem like +rank heresy. + +I have pursued the sport both mounted and on foot, and if a horse +enables you occasionally, on comparatively unincumbered ground, to see +something more of the run, you must still have pedestrians to hunt the +dogs. After all, decide this point as you will, we esteem it the +poorest variety of the chase. Some excitement must necessarily attend +it, but too much is left to the imagination, and too little of either +the game or the dogs is given to the eye. + +It is rarely, except when on horseback, that one has the good fortune +to be in at the death, or to see the kangaroo pulled down. + +The ground is usually hilly, the scrub thick, and the grass high. It +is needless to say that on the present occasion we were all on foot. +Forestier's Peninsula is no place for a horse, except the traveller be +jogging along the rugged and little frequented track which leads to +Hobart Town, by a most circuitous route. + +Away then we strode, skirting the shore pretty closely, until we came +to a valley which had been partially cleared by one of those extensive +bush conflagrations which are of annual occurrence. + +The forest is fired in several places every summer, with a view to +keeping down the scrub, and giving a chance of growth to the grass and +the larger forest trees. These burn for several consecutive days, and +at night the glare from them, lighting up the adjacent horizon, and +the wind at one time whirling along vast clouds of smoke, and again +throwing up sheets of flame and myriads of burning particles, produce +an effect as grand as can be imagined. Here, then, in the glade, we +paused, disposed ourselves in an extended line, slipped four dogs, and +gave the word, "go seek." + +Away they trotted with nose to the ground, cautiously hunting, +crossing and recrossing, but occasionally getting not only out of +sight in the long grass, but out of hearing and command. Presently a +sharp bark gave the signal of game started, and the next moment we +catch a glimpse of the kangaroo in mid air, as he bounds down the +declivity in a succession of leaps such as the kangaroos only can +accomplish. + +There he goes, his tiny ears laid back along his small deer-like head, +his forefeet gathered up like a penguin's flappers, and his long stout +tail erect in the air. Now bounding aloft, now vanishing as he leaps +into the waving grass. + +Two more of the dogs have sighted him, and are silently tearing along +on his track. Every bound increases his distance from his pursuers, he +winds round the base of the hill, to avoid the ascent, but up he must +go; this is the only chance for the dogs, for running up hill is the +kangaroo's weak point. But now we lose sight of both dogs and +kangaroo; a burst of three minutes has sufficed to exhaust our first +wind, and to break one of our shins; for tearing through grass as high +as one's middle and stumbling over charred stumps and fallen trees, +soon reduces one to the "dead beat" predicament. Jerry, alone, thanks +to his hard condition, follows the chase. + +All the party are now scattered, and after while reassemble by dint of +continuous "cooees." Whilst swabbing the perspiration off our brow, +one of the dogs makes his appearance, and, trotting slowly back with +panting flanks and lolling tongue, throws himself on his side +exhausted. His mouth is now carefully examined, and two fingers being +inserted, scoop round the fauces. The test is successful; there are +traces of blood and fluff. "Bravo! Rattler! Show him--good dog. Show +him!" Rattler rises with an effort, and lazily strikes into the bush, +to the right. We follow in Indian file, and at about half a mile +distant we come upon the kangaroo lying dead, with the second dog, old +"Ugly," stretched at its side. + +The kangaroo usually found in the Peninsula is not the largest +description commonly known in these colonies as the "boomer," or a +"forester," but the brush kangaroo, which rarely exceeds seventy +pounds in weight; forty is more common. There is a still smaller +variety, known as the "wallaby." The brush kangaroo is easily killed +by the dogs; a grip in the throat or loins usually suffices. The +boomer is a more awkward customer, and, if he can take to the water, +he shows fight, and availing himself of his superior height, he +endeavors to drown the dogs as they approach him. The kangaroo is a +graceful animal, but appears to most advantage when only the upper +part of his body is seen. His head is small and deer-shaped, his eyes +soft and lustrous, but his tapering superior extremities rise almost +pyramidally from a heavy and disproportioned base of hind legs and +tail. + +The kangaroo dog never mangles his prey although fond of the blood, +with a portion of which he is always rewarded. + +Jerry now threw himself on the ground beside the game, and, drawing +his _couteau de chasse_, commenced the operation of disemboweling. +After ripping up the belly, he thrust in his arm, and drawing out the +liver and a handful of coagulated blood, he invited the dogs to +partake of it. The carcass being gutted, some dry fern is thrust in, +the tail is drawn through the fore legs, and secured with a bit of +whipcord, and then the game is suspended over the shoulder--no +insignificant weight either. If the kangaroo be very heavy, the hind +quarters only are carried, but the skin being of some value, it is not +needlessly destroyed. + +There is a peculiarity in the stomach of the kangaroo, which I have +not seen noticed in descriptions of that animal, but of which I have +assured myself by frequent personal observation. On opening the +stomach, even while still warm, the grass found in it is swarming with +small white worms, about a quarter of an inch in length, and not +thicker than a fine thread. + +The entire contents of the stomach, even the most recently masticated +grass, and grass seems to be its only food, are equally pervaded with +these worms, which swarm in myriads, even where no signs of +decomposition are perceptible. + +Resuming our progress, we presently heard a baying from the dogs, who +had again dispersed to hunt. On nearing the spot whence the noise +proceeded, we found them assembled round the trunk of a large tree, in +the hollow of which was a large wombat, a most unsighly brute, in +appearance partaking somewhat of the bear, the pig, and the badger. An +average sized one weighs sixty pounds. The head is flat, neck thick, +body large, legs short, eyes and ears small: the feet provided with +sharp claws for burrowing, three on the hind foot, and an additional +one on the fore foot. They make deep excavations in the ground, and +live chiefly on roots. The hide is very tough and covered with a +coarse wiry hair, and with this defensive armor, and his formidable +teeth and claws, the wombat is a customer not much relished by the +dogs. It was not till we had stunned our new acquaintance, as he stood +at bay in his den, by repeated blows of our sticks on his head, that +we were able to drag him out, and cut his throat. + +The flesh is eatable, and I have heard that the hams are held in some +esteem, but cannot speak from personal experience. On the present +occasion none of our party was ambitious of the honor of carrying our +defunct friend during the day's march that we had before us; so I +contented myself with pocketing his four paws, and leaving the rest of +the carcass for formic epicures. + +Our destination for the evening was Eagle Hawk Neck, or rather our +dining quarters were there fixed, for I proposed to be home some time +during the night; and, as we had some twelve miles of fatiguing +walking before us, we now circled round towards Flinders' Bay, whence +we were to follow the foot track to the "Neck." + +It may readily be imagined that bush travelling in the Australian +colonies is often an intricate affair; long practice alone can give +one assurance and confidence. Few _habitues_ in the Peninsula think of +entering it without a pocket compass, flint, and steel, and even the +best bushmen have in their day been reduced to the greatest +extremities. + +For our own part, our ambition never inclined to the adventurous task +of exploring the bush, content with the subordinate part of trusting +to the superior sagacity of the more experienced; and often have our +wonder and admiration been excited by the unerring judgment of our +guide, when there was neither sun to direct, nor any opening above or +around whereby to obtain a view of the surrounding country. + +As we were approaching Flinders' Bay on our return, a kangaroo was +started some distance ahead of us; presently I observed an old dog, +who was wont to "run cunning," suddenly stop close in front of me. The +next moment the game, closely pursued, dropped in a bound, not six +yards from where I stood, and before he could rise again, old "Ugly" +had his prize by the throat. This proved to be a doe, and on examining +her pouch a foetus was found in it, perfectly detached as usual, and +about three inches and a half long. The generation, growth, and +alimentation of the foetus of the kangaroo and other marsupial animals +(ultra interine and detached from the parent, as it appears to be at +all stages,) is a mystery in physiology which has yet to be +unravelled. + +A "medico" who was of our party, did not neglect this opportunity for +research. With a view to the investigation of the subject at leisure, +he dropped the foetus into his glove for conveyance home. + +Outside the station of Flinders' Bay, we came upon a small limpid +stream, brawling over a rocky bed, which seemed a suitable place to +refresh the inner man with a sandwich, and a thimble full of Cognac. +Segars were then lighted, and, shouldering our game, we resumed our +route. + +The sun was low, when we descended the steep hill whence we opened a +view of Eagle Hawk Neck and the Pacific, and after a long and toilsome +ascent of the "Saddle," by a path which abounded more in loose sharp +stones than any which it has been my misfortune to fall in with. +However, refreshment was at hand, which we were quite in condition to +appreciate, for we will back a day's kangarooing against any other +sport, for giving a zest both to victuals and drink. + +Our host, C--, was famous for his kangaroo soup; this is made of the +tail of the animal, and when well prepared may vie with any oxtail, +if, indeed, it be not superior, having the advantage of a game flavor. +The flesh of the kangaroo resembles in taste and appearance that of +the hare, though drier and inferior in flavor when roasted. The only +part thus cooked is the hind quarter, which should be boned, stuffed, +and larded, and after all, the play is not worth the candle. Not so, +"kangaroo steamer." To prepare this savory dish, portions of the hind +quarter, after hanging for a week, should be cut into small cubical +pieces; about a third portion of the fat of bacon should be similarly +prepared, and these, together with salt, pepper, and some spice, must +simmer gently in a stewpan for three or four hours. No water must +enter into the composition, but a little mushroom ketchup added, which +served, is an improvement. + +Although averse to the diet of bush vermln, so often extolled in these +colonies, and although carefully eschewing all parrot pies, red-bill +ragouts, black swans, kangaroo rats, porcupines, and such vaunted +nastinesses, we strongly contend for the excellence of "kangaroo +steamer," as a most savory and appetizing dish. We cannot reproach it +with a fault, save its tendency to lead one to excess; the only +difficulty is to know when you have had enough. + +We were able to do ample justice to the the Alexander Selkirk of his +post, reigning in solitary grandeur, for he had not a single associate +within ten miles, could always boast of a well-stocked larder and +cellar. What with his garden, poultry-yard, and dairy, hunting and +sea-fishing, he was tolerably independent of the tri-weekly visits of +the boat which brought the commissariat supplies. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Forest & Frontiers, by G. A. 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