Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-09-20
Wolf Nurses in India.

The Wolf iri India is looked upon rs it former
ly was in Northern Europe. as a sacred animal.
Almost all Hndoos have superstitious dread Of
destroying or even injdring it; and village COM
munity within the boundary Of whose lands drop
OF VOLTS blood has fallen believe itself dorped TO
destruction. The natural consequences is, that Id.
the districts less frequented by Europeans, these
animals are very numerous and destructive, and
great numbers of children constantly carried
off by them. Only one class Of the population;
the very lowest, leading vagrant life, and, bi-
yuuacklng among the jungles, will attempt " Kill
Or catch them. Even these, however although
they have no superstious fear Of the vol, are al
ways found to be well acquainted with its usual
dens and haunts, very seldom attempt its capture;
in all probability from the profits they make ofthe
gold and silver bracelets and necklaces worn by
the children whom the wolves have carried TO their
dens, and whose remains are left at the entrance.
In all parts of India, it appears, numbers Of chill
dren are daily murdered for The sake of these daH-
geruus ornaments
The wolf, however, is sometimes kinder than
man. In the neighborhOOd of Sultan pvor, and a.
mong the ravnes that intersect the banks of the
| Gomtee river, this animal abouDds and our first
instance of a'Yolf nurse" occurs in that district.
A trooper, passing along therver bank near Char
|
lowed by three wheIps and little boy. The boy
wenton all fours. apparently on the best possible
terms with his fierce COMPANIONS, and the wolf
protected him with as much care as ifle had been
one of her own whelps. All went down to the
river and drank, without noticing the trooper, who,
as they were about TO turn back, pushed on in or
der to secure the boy. But the gruund was upe-
ven, and his horse could not overtake th,m. All
re entered the den; and the trooper then assem-
bled some people from Chandour, with pickaxes,
| who dug into the den for about six or eight feet;
when the old wolf boted, followed by her three
cubs and the boy. The trooper, accompanied by
the heetest young men Of the party; mounted and
pursued and having al last headed them, he turn
ed the wheps and boy (who ran quite as fastJ
back upon the men on foot. They secured the
boy and allowed the others TO escape.
| The boy thus taken was apparently about nine
or ten ssars old and had all the habits of wild
animal On his way to Chandour he struggled
hard to rush into every hole or den he passed
| The sight Of d grown up person alarmed him, and
he tried To Steal away; but he rushed at child
with fierce snarl, like that Of dog and tried to
bite it. Cooked meat he would net eat, hut he
seized raw food with eagefhcss. putting il on The
ground under his hands. and dev0prihg il with ey-
ident pleasure. He growled angdIy II any one
approached MIN WnilSt ealDgj Dul ibaue no ouJec-
ton to a dog's coming near and sharing his food.
| The trooper left him in charge of the Rajah Of
| Husunpcor, Tho saw the boy Immediately after
he was taken Very soon afterwards he was sent
by the Rajah's order to Captain Nicholeii's at
Sultanpoor; for although his parents are said 10
have recognised him when first captured, they a.
bandoned him on finding that he displayed more
of the VOLTS than of human nature.
| He lived in The charge OF Capt Nicholett's
servants nearly three years, very inofensive, ex-
cept when teased, but still complete ANIMAL
He could never be induced to keep on any kind of
clothing, even in the coldest Of weather; and On
one occasion tore to pieces aqut. stuffed with cot
ton, and ale portion of it, cotton and all, every
day with his bread. When his food was placed
at distance from him. he ran to 1t on all fours;
like wolf; and it was only on rare occasions that
he walked upright. Human beings he always
Stunned, and never willingly remained near them.
On the other hand he seemed fond of dogs and
iackals, and indeed all animals, and readily al
lowed them to feed with him. He was never
known to laugh or smile, and was never heard TO
speak ill within few minutes OF his death, when
he put his hands to his head and said it ached,
and asked for water, which he drank and died.
! Euglish paper.