Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1854-09-09
WOLF NURSES IN INDIA.

The wolf in India is looked upon. os
formerly was in northern Europe, as 81
cred animal Almost all Hindoos have
superstitious dread Of destroying or eve
nlurng it; and village cornmunii,
within the boundary OF whose lands dro
OF VOLTS blood has fallen, believes i,sel
doomed TO destruction. The natural con
sequence is, that in the districts less fre
qncnted by Europeans, these animals ar
very numerous and destructive, and grea
numbers Of children are constantly carried
OIL by them. Only one class of the popu
la'ion--tbe very lowest, leading a vapran
NE and bivouacking among the uneles--
wll attempt 10 kill or catch them. Even
these, however, although they have no su.
perstllious fear OF the wolf, are alwavs
found to be well acquainted with its usual
dens and haunts, very seldom attempt its
capture IN all probability from the profits
they make OF the gold and silver bracelets
and necklaces worn by the children whom
inc wolves have carried to their dens, and
whose remains are left at the entrance. In
al parts of India, il appears, numbers Of
children are daily murdered for the sake Of
lhese dangerous ornaments.
The wolf, however, is sometimes kinder
than man. In the neighborhood of Sultan
poor, and among the ravines that Intersect
the banks OF the Goom,ee river. this animal
abounds; aud our first instance of "wolr
nurse" occurs In that district. a trooper.
passing along the river bank near Chan
dour, saw large female wolf leave her
den, followed by three whelps and little
~ ., he boy went on all fours, apparent
~ ,n,r;on ~ e n7' possible terms with his fierce
os much caro- as II Ss wolf protected with
own whelps. All went down.. one OF her
and drank, without noticing the "SS tive river
who, as they were about 10 turn back,
pushed on in order TO secure the boy. But
the ground was uneven, and his horse
could not overtake them. All re-entered
the den; and the trooper then assembled
some people from Chandour, with pick
axes, who dug into the den for about six or
eight feet, when the old wolf bolted, fol-
lowed by her three cubs and the boy. The
trooper, accompanied by the neetest young
men OF the party, mounted and pursued !;
and having at last headed :hem, he turned
the whelps and boy (who ran quite as
fast back upon the men on foot. They Sc
cured the boy and allowed the others to
escape.
The boy thus taken was apparently about
nine or ten years old, and had all the hab-
its ola wild animal. On his way TO Chan
dour he struggled hard to rush into every
hole or den he passed. The sight OF
grown up person alarmed him, and he tried
to steal away; but he rushed at child
with fierce suarl, like that OF dog and
tried TO bite it,. Cooked meat he would
nottat, but he seized raw food with eager
ness, putting it on the ground under his
hands, and devouring il with evident plea
sure. He growled angrily if any one APP
preached him whilst eating, but made no
objection TO dogs coming near and shar-
ing his food. The trooper left him in
charge Of the Raiah OF Husonpoor, who
saw the boy Immediately after he was ta-
ken. Very soon afterwards he was sent
by the Raiah's order TO Captain Nicholet,'s
at Sultanpoor; for, although his parents
are said to have recognised him when first
captured, they abandoned him on finding
that he displayed more Of the wolf IS than
Of human nature.
He lived in the charge OF Captain Mich
oletps servants nearly three years, very in
offensive, except when teased, but still a
complete animal. He could never be in
duced TO keep on any kind of clothing,
even in the coldesi OF weather; and, on
one occasion, tore 10 pieces quilt, stuffed
with cotton, and ate a portion of il, cotton
aud all, every day with his bread, When
his food was placed at distance from hun,
he ran TO il on all fours, like wolf; aud
II was only on rare occasions that he walk
ed upright, Human beings he always
Stunned, and never willingly remained
near them, On the other hand, he seemed
fond Of dogs and iaekals, and, indeed, all
animals, and readily allowed them TO feed
with him. He was never known to laugh
or smile, and was never heard 10 speak un-
I'll within few minutes OF his death, when
he put his hands 10 bis head and said it
aehed, and asked for water, which he drank
and died-Engiish paper.
kossvTn AND PvLsgy aIe both residing IN
Iondon with ihaiT laInilieA Koshuth's Two