The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-05-25
sagacltv of t,e uEaua,


charged in ls4s to Nigeria, says NJ. Ber-
thoud. the French naturalist, some OF the
natives gave me young hyena, which
soon became attached to me after the man
ner of a faithful and gentle dog, This
creature became the inseparable compan-
ion Of my rambles. With an instinct aid
ed by her uncommonly acute sense of
smell, she served me guide, and with
her felt certain OF never going astray TO
whatever distance might penetrate, either
into a forest or a mountain ravine, or
among those immense sandy plains which
so much resemble the sea. As soon as
wished to return-or even before it. if she
herself felt weary-the hyena, with dilat-
ed nostris, snuffed the soil, and after a
lew moments spent in careful investigation,
she used to- walk rapidly on before me.
Never did she deva,e from the track by
ceived by the mark which my foot had
made in stopping to pluck some rare herb.
or the evidence of where my hand had
broken a branch from stunted shrub.
From time 10 time shensed to stop and
seat herself on her launches like dog,
fawning for caress. and after having OBJ.
tanned it she would trot on again. If any
noise was heard in the midst Of the pro-
found silence of the desert. she used to
erect her ears and make inquistion with
her quick scent and hearing. If the re-
suit produced nothing alarming. she would
gaily pursue her route. If an Arab ap-
peared she bristled up herlong name, took
refuge between mylegs andrenained there
until she saw him pass on. after exchang-
ing with me the salutation which every
meets on the way.
One morning, enticed onward by the
strong phantasmagoria of mirage in the
sandy plain near Thehassa, found my
self atlength in the midst of desert. !
could see nothing on every side but sand.
heaped up like waves. and over which, the
burning heat of the atmosphere formed
that sort of undulating reflection which
produces the illusions Of the mirage. Fa-
! ,igue at length overcame me; suddenly |
fell to the ground without strength, n.y
h al burning. and ready to perish with
thirst. The painting hyena came up TO me.
and smelt OF me with apparent disquetude
Suddenly she darted off so abruptly, and
with such fearful rapidity, that though,
she had left me to my late. | tried 10 rise
aud follow her, but could not. Ten min
u,es passed, and saw my faithful PET re-
turning. She rushed toward me. and be-
gan to lick my hands with her cool tongue.
while her lips were dripping with fresh
water. | observed that the track through
the sand was marked by drops OF moisture.
The certainty of finding water at once
restored my strength. ! arose and man
aged to follow the hyena, who walked on
slowly in advance, turning her head from
time to time toward me. Ere long reach
ed hole scooped out of the sand, its bot
ruU as nIorst; ourcu,rrutrrrd ru wrrrr.-i
tried TO dig it deeper. but my hands, scorch-
ed by the sand, reached no water. Mean
time the hyena wandered about seeming
the ground. Suddenly she began to work
with her paws, and made a small hole,
which speedily became filled with water.
| Although somewhat brackish. it seemed TO
me delicious. | drank of 1t freely. bathed
my hands and face. and then proceeded
homeward. following my faithful guide.
Such was the extreme acuteness of this
creatures sense Of smell. that at the dis
tance of FIVE or six leagues fror, the house
which | inhabited, at Philipsville. she used
TO discover the existence Of the carcass oil
a dead animal. Then the natural ins,inci
of the wild beast awoke. and would not be
restrained. She used to manage to elude
my vigilance. dart off with marvellous ra pid.
ity. and ere long return. gorged with flesh
and half dead witt, fatigue: 1t was in one
Of these gastronomic excursions that losl
her. A panther. which had committed
great ravages in the district. attacked and
wounded her so severely that she died in a
few hours after her return home S
Thomas Francis Meagher thus speaks
of the d a In tafuancas Of mold in hi