The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-12-08
Wolf Children in India.
Interesting Information TO the
student Of Language.
MAX Muller in the London Academy

Max Muller in the London Academy
Whether children carried off by wolves
could be suekled and kept alive in den
for any length Of time is surely ques-
ton which students of natural history
and even practical sportsmen might set
tie for us oncefor all, while the documen-
tary cvidcrce in favor Of the existence of
such wolf-children mi ght exercise the in
genuity of some of our cleyerest lawyers.
When they have done their work, and not
til! theh,t the woill Of the comparative my /
biologist will begin. therefore proceed
to put together some of the best authenti- |
Gated cases of wolt-children, without,
however,rresuming myselfto pronounce
any opinion. either adverse or favora-
bic
The following extract is from letter
received from the Rev Mr. Erhardt, Su-
perintendent of the Orphanage at Secun-
dra, in reply to his request to- iniorma
ton regarding boy in that institution,
who was alleged to have been found liv-
ing with wolves:
We have hadtwo such boys here, but |
fancy you refer to the one who was
brought TO US on March 5,lS72. He was
found by Hindus, who had gone hunting
wolves in the neighborhood Of Mynpurl
Had been burnt out of the den, and was
brought here with the scars and wounds
still on him. In his habits he was per
feet wild animal in every point of view
He drank like dog, and liked bone and
raw meat better than anything else. He
would never remainwith the other boys,
but hide away in any dark corner
Clothes he never would wear, cut tore
them up into fine shreds. He was only
few months among us, AS he got fever and
gave up eating. We kept him for time
by artificial means, but eventually he
died.
The other boy found among wolves is
about 13 or IA years old, and has been
here almost 6. He has learned to make
sounds, speak he cannot; but he freely ex-
presses his anger and joy work he will at
times, little, hut he likes eating better.
His civlizationha progressed so far that
he likes raw meat less, though he will pick
up bones and sharpen his teeth on them.
At the Lucknow madhouse there was
an elderly fellow only four years ago, and
may be alive now, who had been dug out
of wolves den by European doctor
when, forget, but it must have been a
good number of years ago.
The facility with which they get along
on four feet--hands and feet--is surpris-
ing Before they eat or taste food they
4 smell it, and when they don't like the
smell they throw it away.
FERoCITY OF THE CHILDREN.
A remarkable feature in all the stories
is, that the wolves are invariably alleged
TO have communicated much of their nat
ural ferocity and notably untamable dis
position to their foster children, and at
tempts to account for their somewhat un-
woflike treatment ofthem.
Stories of the same kind. and supported
by much more business-like witnesses,
bave appeared in Indian papers during
the last fifty years. The most important
witness is the late Col Sleeman, man OF
unimpeachable character, one of those
truly grt at men whose names are less
known than their works. He was com
missioner for putting down Thuggee. .and
probably knew more of the real life and
character of the people of India than any
Indian officer.
| According to Col Sleeman,the number
of the little victims carried off by wolves
to be devoured is so great in some parts
of India that people make living by
collecting from the different dens of wild
animals the gold ornaments with which
children in India are always decked out
by their parents Its said even that the
people are unwilling to take part in any
wholesale destruction of wolves for feal
of losing their livelihood.
Frpm number of cases, more or less
, fully attested, of wolves taking compass
sion on child, ,and bringing it up togeth
er with their own cubs select the follow
ing:.
A trooper sent by the native Goverol
VI SHuuOOut w pay tuCub VI SUN
revenue, was passing along the bank o
the river about noon, when he saw a larg,
female wolf leave her dep, followed by
three whelps and little boy. The boy
went on all fours, and when the troope
tried to catch him, he ran as fast as til,
whelps, and kept up with the old one
They all entered the den, but were dug
out by the people with pickaxes, and tht
boy was secured. He struggled hard tc
rush into every den or hole they cam,
near. He became alarmed when he saw
grown up person, but tried to fly at chill
dren and bite them. He rejected cooked
meat with disgust, but delighted in raw
flesh and bones, putting them on tn,
ground under his paws, like dog. The,
tried to make him speak, but could ge
nothing from him but an angry growl o.
snarl
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BOY.
, So far the evidence rests on nativ,