Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-07-07
Barnum's New Monsters.

Barnum has recently received an en-
tire cargo of rare animals of his own i'm
portaron, from Borneo and other Islands
of the East which he is exhibiting at the
American Museum. Among them are some
of the largest specimens Of baboons and ana
condas everseen in this country. They were
imported in the ship Juno, which Barnum
sent out to the East Indies expressly on
this business. The N. Y. Express has the
following interesting notice Of the capture
of these animals
Barnum sent out the Juno in February,
1851, and that vessel first landed at Bor-
neo. Next to New Holland this is the lar
gest island in the world but the climate Is
so insaIubrious and the inhabitants SO
treacherous, that little is known of its inte-
rior. Some of the natives extract their own
teeth. and insert Jumps of gold instead, by
way of ornament: for gold is found there
in abundance. Diamonds, too, are plentl-
full on the south and west coasts, OF large
size and great beauty, the petty prince OF
Maltan wearing one worth million and
quarter of dollars. Four of the men desert
ed here from the ship to make fortune
by gathering gold and diamonds, and three
died from exposure on two weeks explo-
ration of the island. A large and remafk-
ably handsome ourang outang was all that
the party were able to capture on this oc-
casion; and with this prize they set SAIL
with a determination to return few
months later IN the season.
The ourang outang in question is the one
at the museum. 1t is large, comlca,
sprightly animal, full of humorous tricks,
and already tanned to perfect gentleness.-
He is eminently sociable in his disposition,
fond of caresses, very afectionate towards
his keeper, and easily won by any little acts
of kindness. He is capital burlesque on
humanity.
After leaving Borneo, the good ship Ju-
no pursued direct course for the north
western coast of Africa, where upwards OF
three months were passed by the hunters
in securing ten immense Ostriches. These
colossal birds lnhabit the sandy and burn
ins deserts, and as they are feeter than the
fastest Arabian horse, are most difficult to
CATCH and when caught, they sometimes
kill their captor with a single blow. In
capturing these ten ostriches, MIR. Bar
NUNS party pursued nine of them with
feet horses, taking fresh horse as RAPIDLY
as one got tired land thus running the birds
down. They never pursue straight course
but run in somewhat of circle this plan,
therefore, was not so difficult, and succeed
ed. Every one of the nine, however, ultl-
mately died from the fatigue and exhaust
ion. The tenth was caught by Yankee
hunter, who, clothed in the skin of one OF
the birds, approached closely enough to en-
trap the one alluded to. This is the bird
now at the Museum, which is Of vast size
and we'll proportioned. 1t has been made
very tame and docie, and has an eye OF
the most gentle description. 1t would look
we'll on the race course with those extraor-
dinary instruments of locomotion.
The Two anacondas and the two boa con-
strictors which measure, together, over
one hundred feet in length, are serpents OF
the largest kind known In the world. They
were taken in Guiana, in tropical South
America. They fold themselves around
the trunk of tree, and then drop and
swing about like dead branch until their
prey approaches to pasture or get water
Al such time they fling themselves upon
him, encircle his body IN their deadly folds
and crush him to death, even if it be bull
lock. The serpent next covers him with
saliva, gorges the animals head in its
mouth. and little by little with its wonder
full muscular force, swallows him whole
Two of these serpents in the Museum
were captured without serious danger. One
of the anacondas, however, crushed ma
tive hunters leg, in his fury, and the 9th.
er boa constructor was discovered by still
more serious calamity. One of the party
was discovered to be missing, and for two
days his companions hunted for hlm in
vain, in every direction. On the third day,
penetrating thicket of the most entangled
kind, they observed huge boa, and the leg
of human being protruded from his
mouth. 1t was their missing companion !
He had evidently fallen asleep after the
noon time meal beneath tree occupied by
the boa, and had become its unconscious
victim. AS the serpent was IN this gorged
state, incapable of flight or resistance, he
was easily captured. These serpents are
among the most interesting object in the
whole collection. The cost of getting these
creatures must have been enormous, but
they are very valuable and pleasing adj
diton to the other attractions of the Muse
UNI.