The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1869-05-19

WoIF HUNTISG IN FRANCE wolf
Is far less often the object Of royal hunt
than of a popular battue His destruction
is sought by persons whose sole aim Is to
destroy him. and the means least likely to
fail are those adopted for the purpose his
retreat is surrounded BY the peasants and
villagers Of the locality, and sometimes by
the united populations oftw or three can
tons All sorts Of weapons are called into
use; old musquets- horse-pistols. bayorets,
swords, bludgeons. and. above all, pitch
forks. Dogs Of every description Join the
hunt. from the huge farm watchdog to the
common village-cur. \ circle is then for
med round the thicket. and when the na-
Iure Of the ground and the number Of per
sons permit. the ring tightens gradually
TIL the assistants are able TO join hands
4 second circle Is then formed outside,
composed OF strong nets suspended across
the runs and issues. and in order TO scare
the wolf from attempting to pass else
where. the men hang up their caps aud
bl0uses IN the intervening spaces. Up to
this moment everything is accomplished
with the greatest precsuti0n and the least
noise possible, but no sooner are the ar
rangements complete than the dogs are
let loose, and the men begin shouting and
haIOOing and thrashing the foliage with
long sticks Presently the dogs grow fu-
rious- Their instructive aversion for the
wolf becomes redoubled by the conscious
ness Of his presence. and when excited from
time 10 time with q heavy scent. they
howl and gnash with a sort of frenzy.
This excitement Of the dogs soon gains
the men. who. from mere noise and clam
our, proceed gradually to yells and impre-
cations They then set to. regularly abu-
sing the wolf in terms. and the less dispos-
ed be shows himself TO quit the cover. the
more vehement are the Invectives heaDed
upon him. The prevailing apostrophe is,
- B0Uge "a afreuse bette qul manges les
moutOns : but many Others. given in pa
tots, require rendering to be understood,
such, for instance, as the following =
- Show up and fight, you great bony cad
ger. Come out and pay the dogs, you
maDgy thief As Fire his tail. the carrion
bowler" "0ut with INN, burn him. poke
his ribs ali, the eternal vermin Ali the
unclean beast Peuh. the son Of a pole
cat. how he stinks = This last compli-
ment ail1des to the VOLTS offensive odour,
which, as Button remarks is truly disgust
ing. and winch issues with oTerpowering
strength from any place he may have 90
eupied for several successive days. The
wolf meanwhile remains insensible to
the abuse Of his prosecutors. A mortal
fear detains him, and in spite Of the ter
rife din around his lair. be lies close and |
immoTable within few yards of the enemy.
Sometimes. when the woods are too DRY
70 permit Of the use Of FIRE, it becomes |
Necessary to probe the thicket with sticks !
and pitchforks but in times Of moistGre. |
the men make pogder-paste balls and |
throw them lighted into the VOLTS retreat.
This method. if well employed, soon dis
lodges him. The intent posture of the
dogs prepares the spectators for sudden |
bolt. and the next instant the wolf dashes 1
through the ring. and becoming entangIed /
in the nets. the scene closes in confusion. |
amid sthed groans and hard breathing. |
The conduct Of the dogs is peculiar; the |
small ones howl strangely. hiding their
tails and trembling with eonvulsion. The
lzrge ones appear transported with kind 1
Of rabid ecstacy. their jaws grind and chop.
their eyes become wild and bloodshot. and |
their hair bristles on all their limbs. /
When once. however, the dogs have fairly
killed the wolf, they VIII refuse to touch |
MS dead body.-IS- PaltLs-