The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-10-26


ing 10 approach them particularly haz-
ardous vet II has 10 be done. First, We
try to distract the attention Of the fc-
male from her offspring. Then a ma
tive crecps cautiously up from behind,
and. with one cut Of a heavy, broad
bladed knife. sewers the tendons OF her
hind feet. She Is then disabled, can
not walk, and soon falls 10 the ground.
We promptly kill her, secure the ivory,
and capture the little one. OF course,
we occasionally have a native or two
killed in this kind Of hunt; but they
don't cost much--only IS or 81 apiece.
The sheiks are paid in advance, and
don't care whether the poor devils come
back. and so we don't bother much
about them. Baby elephants we like 70
get when they are about one year old.
Younger ones are too tender, and older
ones know too much. They soon get
acquainted with all the camp, and we
have lots Of fun with them. They are
kindly, docile, and IS full Of capers as
the little niger babies that play with
them.
"But Of all fierce. ungovernable, lus-
tv brutes," the hunter continued, "thc
hippopotamus with young j. the very
worst, and whenever we start of 10 get
a baby If that kind, we calculate TO
come back with one or more men miss
ing. In the water they fight like dew
lis, and in five minutes will crush 70
pieces the strongest boat we can use.
They are as quick as a flash, too, not
withstanding their clumsy appearance,
and the oarsmen have to be wide awake
TO keep out of their way. On shore
they are just rs ferocious, and the way
they can hurry their stumpy little legs
over the ground would astonish you.
They die hard, too. and take heap of
killing. When such job is over YOU
may be sure there is great rejoicing
among us; but as one little hippopota-
mus is worth as much s. half dozen
lions, tigers, and such truck, we are
well content TO take the risk. We can
not get these babies too young 20 suit
Us. One remember, though l was not
in the hunt, was captured the very day
il was born. and the hunters and attend
ants brought il up on the bottle. IL is
the same animal that Barnum adver-
tised SO extensively as the Baby Hip
popotamus. and it j. now travelling
with his show. Ostriches we run down
on horseback, and then catch them with
the lasso. II is an exciting chase, but
not particularly dangerous. On these
hunts we are entitled TO only the young
animals we capture. The beautiful
skins of the leopards, lions, and other
animals we kill, the tuskS Of the ele-
plants, the feathers Of the ostriches,
and all other similar spoils 90 10 the
native sheiks and chiefs; and those old
rascals are as sharp at trade as the
shrewdest old clo' merchant You have
in Chatham Street.
In the encampment the natives as
sist in taking care Of the animals and do
general work, but the mental duties are
performed by Nubian slaves, who are
very cheap and can DE bought in num-
bers 10 suit. Among the natives the
women are looked on as inferior Won
en- never eat with their husbands. The
husband is allowed four wives, and as
many slaves rs he can corral"
A sufficient number and variety Of
animals having been secured, a caravan
is formed to take them across the desert
70 Germany or America. This usually
consists Of about 100 camels, each hav-
ing its native driver: thirty or forty
horses for the white men and the Arat
hunters and their attendants; flock OF
from $50 10 200 goats, for their milk
and also for food, and black slaves Il
look ont for the goats. The wild ami
mails are sccared in strong boxes ans
carried on the camels' backs They ar,
all young, and are fed principally will
goats milk, although occasionally, u
keep them in good spirits and fine condi
ton, they are given pieces Of raw goat
meat. Horses are very cheap there
ranging from Sl5 10 $50 each--the ma
. tives even cheaper, 3 being thought Al
extravagant price per man for the trip
. Milking goats are worth 81 each, AM
others about 30 cents. The journe
usually occupies from soto 40 days, AM
] all travelling il done between 3 and |
O'Clock in the morning and and IL j
| the evening. During midday the sun
. rays are 80 tiercely hot As 70 make labo
: or travelling hazardous. and none i ~
J tempted The route home is much III
same a. that taken going out, and !
i due time the beasts are landed, usual
with very little loss, on the great stoc
wild animal farm Of Charles Reiche
I. Brother, in Alfeldt, Hanover. Thel
!, they remain until needed 70 fill ordel
1 Of showmen in either Europe OF Amer
J, c., while their hardy capfors take thru
months Of rest and recreation befol
I. starting on another trip.
The Reiche Brothers have near
= S25O,OO invested In this enterprise
I which they have successfully conducte
! for many years. The extravaganza
/. the prices paid for some Of the beasts
!. little known. As high as $4,000 hi
n been paid for single hippopotamus
. good condition. To-day 80, 900 won
i hardly buy specimen, as there Is n
a one in the country that il known to
e for sale. A rhinoceros is worth fro
.c 5000 TO $1,000, according TO dcmar
re and excellence. Giraffes sell for 81 ~
- a.. &c 900 .n.,u frx.,., 0<Iu ~ 80 Eu