Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-09-08
MISCELLA A N Y.
From Chambers Journal.
WOsGaCEiidcegl.


dom Of Dude, portion of the great plain
of the Ganges, is watered by the Goomtee
River navigable stream, about one hun
dred and forty yards broad, the banks of
which are much infested by wolves. These
animals are protected by the superstition of
the Hindoos, and to such an extent that a
village community within whose bounda-
ries a SINGLE drop of their blood has been
shed, is believed to be doomed to destruc.
ton. The wolf is safe-but from very
different reason-even from those vagrant
tribes who have no permanent abiding
place, but bivouac in the jungle, and feed
upon jackals, reptiles-anything, and who
make trade of catching and selling such
wild animals as they consider too vaable
to eat. The reason why the vulpine raw
ager is spared by these wretches is-that
,coIprs depour children Not, however, that
the wanderers have any dislike to children,
but they are tempted by the Jewels with
which they are adorned; and, knowing the
dens of the animals, they make this fearful
gold-seeking a part of their business. The
adornment Of their persons with jewellery
is passion with the Hindoos which moth
ing can overcome. Vast numbers of wo-
men-even those of the most infamous
class-are murdered for the sake of their
ornaments, yet the lesson is lost upon the
survivors. Vast numbers of children, too,
fall victims in the same way, and from the
same cause, or are permitted, by those who
shrink from murder, to be carried off and
devoured by the wolves; yet no Indian
mother can withstand the temptation to be-
dizen her child, whenever it Is in her pow
err with bracelets necklaces, and other Or
naments Of gold and silver. So much is
necessary as an introduction to the Incl
dents that follow.
One day, trooper, like Spenser's gentle
knight, ''was prlcking on the plain" near
the banks of the Goomtee. He was within
short distance of Chandour, . village a
bout Ten miles from Sultanpoor, the capital
of the district, when he halted to observe a
large female wolf and her whelps come out
of wood near the roadside, and 90 down
to the river to drink. There were four
whelps Four !-surly not more than three ;
for the fourth of the juvenIle company was
as little like wolf as possible. The horse
man stared for in fact 1t was boy, going
oil all-fours like his comrades, evidently on
excellent terms with them all, and guarded,
as well as the rest, by the dam with the
same jealous care which that exemplary
mother, but unpleasant neighbor, bestows
upon her progeny. The trooper sat still in
his saddle watching this curious company
till they had satisfied their thirst; but as
soon as they commenced their return he
put spurs to his horse, TO intercept the boy.
Of ran the wolves, and off ran the boy he'll
r-skelter-the latter keeping close up
with the dam; and the horseman, owing to
the unevenness of the ground, found it i'm
possible to overtake them before they had
all entered their den. He was determined,
nevertheless, to attain his object, and as
sembling some people from the neighboring
village with pickaXes, they began to dig in
the usual way into the hole. Having made
an excavation of six or eight feet, the gar
rson evacuated the place--the wolf, the
three whelps, and the boy, leaplng sudden
ly out and taking to flight. The trooper in
stanty threw himself upon his horse, and
set off in pursuit, followed by the heetest of
the party; and the ground over which they
had to fly being this time more even, he at
length headed the chase, and turned the
whole back upon the men on foot. These
secured the boy, and, according to prescrip-
tive rule, allowed the wolf and her three
whelps to go on their way
"They took the boy 10 the village" says
Colonel Seeman, "but had to tie him, for
he was very restive, and struggled hard to
rush into every hole or den they came near.
They tried to make him speak, but could
get nothing from him but an angry growl
or snarl. lie was kept for several days at
the village, and a large crowd assembled
every day to see him. When a grown-up
person came near him, he became alarmed,
and tried TO steal away but when child
came near him, he rushed at it with fierce
snari, like that of dog, and tried TO bite
1t. When any cooked meat was put near
him, he rejected it in disgust; but when
raw meat was offered, he seized it with a
vldity, put it upon the ground under his
hands, IKE dog, and ale it with evident
pleasure. He would not let any one come
near while he was eating, but he made no
objection to dogs coming and sharing his
food with HIM.
This Wild boy was sent to Captain Mich
oletts, the European officer commanding
The lSt regiment of Dude Local Infantry,
stationed at Sultanpoor. He lived only
three years after his capture, and died in
August, 1850. According to Captain Mich
oletts' account of him. he was very inofen-
sivc except when teased, and would then
growl and snarl. He came to eat ANYTHING
that was thrown him, although much pre-
lerr'hS raw flesh lie was very fond Of in