Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-04-11
\ Night in AN African Tree.

Night In am African Tree.
Night is 4 favorite time with almost
MI wild animals for feeding or moving
about. Especially is this the case with
those African creatures which during
the day pass their time in forest or
caves: Elephants particularly select
the night for feeding, and they will then
quit their dense cover, and wander on
plains where they would fear to show
themselves during daylight. On more
than one occasion We passed several
hours of the night concealed among the
branches of Il tree, in order to have the
opportunity of watching the habits of
some of those animals whose nature it
was to lie hidden during the day.
On the first occasion that We ever
tried this experiment., We had taken for
our companion friend, who was Meth.
or gifted with patience nor with that
enthusiasm which is necessary to rem
der night in a tree a pleasant change.
We remained in. this tree some two
hours, our companion, by his frequent
movements and the noise he made, rem
dering it unlikely that We should see
any animal whose hearing was acute.
The bright moonlight, however, that
renders everything by night almost as
visible as by day, tempted us to VEN
ture on other occasions to undertake
night adventures. And on more than
one night VIC were rewarded by wit
Messing events that do not fall within
the experience of every person.
One night in particular we recall as
very interesting one. It was after an
afternoon ride near the bush down by
the lmvoti river, where We had seen
the fresh spoor of several elephants,
that we decided upon passing few
hours III large tree that stood apart
from the main bush, and from the
branches of which a good view could
be obtained of the ground. For q COM
panion, we selected our usual hunting
Catfre, who was always ready for sport,
and arming him with one Of our guns,
we started at about ten o'clock at night,
reached the tree after half an hours
walk, aud soon were settled amidst its
branches.
A walk by night in country where
there are such animals as lions, leo
pards, hysenas, snakes, elephants, buff
falo, and other formidable creatures.
requires consi lerable caution; for 1t
wo1,ld be excessively awkward to run
against one of these animals, or to turn
II corner of bush, and suddenly find
yourself face to face with one of them.
There are, too, some creatures which
make practice of following men at
night-the hy@na in particular, as We
experienced on more than one occasion.
Having taken our stations in the
tree, We waited patiently for a view of
some animal. In spite of it's being
commonly considered ga comfortable
place" we believe that there is no seat
more uncomfortable for length of
time than q seat IN tree. First, it is
very hard; secondly, it is impossible
to chalge your position much !; thirdly,
there is always risk of falling, partic.
ularly if You get sleepy and dose, and
it is almost impossible to lie down, or
even recline. But when it offers q &C.
cure retreat from wild animals, it has
its advantages.
For fully half an hour we saw moth
ing. although the rustling of the bush
Indicated that various animals were on
the move. The noises one hears at
night in wild country are very sinpu-
lar and when heard during the still
ness Of an African night, few sounds
are more striking than the weired howl
or moan Of the "strand wolf" or
hyRna. The cry also of the iackal is
particularly wild, and can be heard
from a very great distance; whilst the
peculiar note of various nioht-birds ia
heard as they fit around the tree in
which they discover an intruder on
their domain.
After listening to the various sounds
that occasionally were heard, we sud.
denly discovered several animals almost
under the tree in which we were con-
cealed. We dared not move, for to
move was to make a noise, and to make
noise would alarm tho animals, what
ever they were. It was therefore nee.
essary to get good view of them with
out meving-a proceeding of some diff
ticuity; but We accomplished it, and
found the creatures were bush-pips-a
large pig that lives entirely in the bush.
and is about as watchful and cunning
as any animal that inhabits Africa, its
power Of hearing and scent being both
very acute. It knows quite well when
any danger threatens it; and is not
without powers of defence, tor it DOS
sesscs sharp tusks that will rip up a
dog or man as though razor were
usee.
1t was scarcely worth while to alarm
any larger animals that might be near
by firing at these pigs, SO we were con-
tent to watch them as thev turned mn
the ground, and fed on the roots thew
got.
Suddenly, without any apparent
cansr, two or three of these pigs gave a
sharp grlnt, and ran off into the bush.
We thought that they had by their pow
Ct Of scent discovered our proximity to
them; but we shortly found their alarm
was due to much more dangerous
enemy than man-an enemy whose cum
ming was greater than even that of the
oldest boar among the party, and whose
strength was such, that full-grown
pig was comp arei to him little more
than IL rat to cat. The animal tn ut
caused the alarm was a leopard.
Whilst we were wondering what had
caused the sudden departure of the
pigs, we heard g. r,lstling of leaves and
branches, sudden rush, a sound as of
struggling, sharp squeak Or two, and
I'll was quiet again. We strained our
eyes to distinguish the forms of the
victim and It's slayer, as the two lay
half concealed among the thick under
wood. at length we made out the form
Of the leopard, lying on the body of the
pig. The ferocious animal had adopt
tl it's usual mode of seizing it's prey by
the back Of the neck, and had succeed.
ed in breaking the neck of the pig in a
few seconds.
Here was a creature we'll worthy oul
lead, SO We quietly changed our posi-
ti"n to bring the gun to bear on the
Nlkl,x,,r.1> H.