The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1863-10-21
McGREGOR, IOWA, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 81, 1863

and thrust their bamboo lances down the
brutc's throat. Then they run off in va
rious directions, and allow the animal to
become exhausted by loss of blood, until
they can approach without danger and dis
patch it. There are many tigers, spotted
and striped, and tiger-cats, but they rarely
attack men, because they have no want Of
game. There are also two varieties of the
bear, which, however, shun the vicinity of
man. Stays and deer are also very numer-
Gus, and during the inundations are brought
by hundreds to the market-placc of the
capital. these animals, as the water rises,
fly to the higher spots on the plain, where
they are killed by the Siamesc. Apes,
with which the forests swarm, GARY on
their tricks unimpcded in the immediate
vicinity of Bungkok, and impudently plum.
der the gardens. Many otters live in the
rivers; they are frequently tanned and be.
come as familiar as dogs. Rats and mice
are an enormous nuisance.
Amongst the Siamese birds, the crows
most attract attention. They exist in ex-
traordinary numbers, and when they seek
their night quarters in Bangkok-the tenn.
ples-they almost darken the air. These
birds display an almost incredible impu-
dence. Before day break they stalk about
the streets in dozens, to steal everything
that comes in the way of their greedy
beaks. They do not hesitate to snatch ed
| ibles from the hands of children, and even
of elderly persons, force their way into the
kitchens, knock off the covers Of pots and
take out the meat, which, if unable to swal
low on the spot, they try to conceal in some
corner, on a roof, or up tree. They fight
boldly with dogs and cats for bone, and
when so engaged will hardly get out of the
way Of passers-by. If they are shot at, o,
stones thrown at them, they collect in hun
dreds and make an awful row, which is
quite unbearable. However they combine
with the dogs in acting as scavengcrs, clear
ing the towns and villages from all rottina
substances. In consequence Of the great
quantity Of water aud fish in the country
it swarms with aquatic birds. Vultures
are also seen in large aocks, especially the
black ones with bare necks, which at the
same time perform the duty of sections. In
Siam, We must remark in explanation, the
dead are not buried. The rich and well.to.
do have their dead buried, while the corpses
Of the poor, whose relations cannot afford
to pay the priest for the incremation ser.
vice, are torn and devoured by vultures and
dogs. For this object the corpses are pre-
viously cut into pieces, which are laid out
on stone platform. On the trees around
hundreds Of black vultures keep ups con.
slant watch, and plump dogs lie about the
in the neighborhood. So soon as the re.
lations have retired, the animals and birds
rush on the corpse, and in a very short
time only the bones are left, which the re
lations eventually collect and keep in an
urn. The reptiles are strongly represented
by crocodiles, lizards, and snakes; among
the latter are many that are poisonous, and
also water snakes. Among insects, cent.
pedes and scorpions are numerous, and
feared as poisonous. Ants are q regular
plague, especially the white ants, of the
size of q rice seed, with q white transpa.
rent body ard brown mandibles. Woe to
the unhappy trader into whose corn or
sugar warehouse these creatures creep un-
noticed. In three days the largest stocks
are devoIred or destroyed, and he is poor
man. Owing to their enormous propoga.
ton, these ants would soon ruin the whole
country If they did not undergo in autumn
a metamorphosis which devotes them to
destruction. They then develop large
wings, arc compelled to quit their subter-
ranean abodes, aud owing to their uncer-
tain flight become the prey of birds, es.
pccially ravens, which thus do man great
service. The coasts and canals of Siam
are prolific in fish, that with rice they sup.
ply the staple food of the lower classes.