The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-29
LIMITING BEASTS IN INDIA.
IN AMERICAN EdTURALTSTS ExPE-
RIRNCB IN THE JUNGLES.

lac 1Iser with n Light Riae-A Hunter |
y,ho seems to Have Been Very Reckless. |
ROCHESTER, June 26-The exploring nat |
prolist william T. Hornaday. who recently ro- |
turned TO Rochester after an extended tour In |
the Eastern hemisphere. has seen and passed
snfoly through series Of thrilling adventures
snce he set sail from New York in October
1876. He started out accompanied by Prof
Henry A. Ward Of tho Natural Science Museum
and Laboratory connected with Rochester Uni
yersity. The latter gentleman. in whose en-
ploy Mr.. Hornaday has been collecting speci-
mems in natural history. left him ut Jeddah.
and went south to Abysslnia. Hornaday sailed
from Jeddah TO Bombay In February. 1877.
Thence he went by rail to Allahabad. ut the
junction of the Indian rivers GanRes and jun
na In that vicinity. and from that time until
he started back to America. many Of his ex-
plots MS collecting naturalist were remarkable.
The returned explorer was found in Prof
Wards laboratory yesterday. and he gave many
interesting "reminiscences OF his long journey
when | arrived in Allahnbad" said Mr.
Hornaday. / engaged five native boatmen.
each at a salary OF 90 month, without board
fitted up an old scow boat. and sailed up tho
Jumna 100 miles above Compore. Our cabin
aboard was comfortably fitted up. and in 1t we
had everything in convenient shape-guns
banging hll over tut Wdllb, ndtcnttt DIX
knives scattered about promiscuously. and in
the centre a big barrel OF brine for preserving
the skins from the gavials or GanRetc croeo-
dies. which It was our mission to secure.
Those native assistants were little backward
at nrst. but / put them through n course OF
training, and II wasn't long before they we're
the best boatmen l ever saw. They would go
anywhere for me-even to the bottom OF the
river-if only furnished them an example.
remember the first crocodiles we saw up there.
They lay on a sand bar at the waters edge
basking in the sun. We landed opposite them.
and improved an opportunity to fire at a fine
specimen. The ball hit him In the neck and
his jaws flow open as though a spring had boon
suddenly pressed. had instructed my men
mat whenever q ball from my rife produced
his effect they were to hasten forward and
grasp tho reptile by the tail, to prevent his
getting into the water. But they we're not ac-
customed to that sort OF pastime. and again
they were backward. The crocodile made for
The water. but he soon came back and showed
himself upon the sand bar. fred again. and
the rife ball this time seemed to carry agony
all through the reptiles frame. He was very
administrative and thrashed his tail around
iorciby enough to leave it's mark where
afraid. Even after they had taken hold on the
tail the crocodile. in his contortions. managed
water. Thus vanished my first crocodile. After
shooting my next specimen on the opposite side
Sp 5 SWAIN WSer across eS the stream With the men in
my wake. We landed near enough 10 be- all but
Into the jaws OF the huge reptile. While We
others OF the same sort. This one we were for
tunate enough to capture He wa. eleven feet
In length, and have his skin here in Roches-
Ter. After this last successful exploit this men
esemed to have gotten entirely over their fright
shOt another very large crocodile from my
hiding Mace hnhlnd HNtpmDOrlZn0
The men fastened. but they only got over to
The sandbar IN time 70 see The game slide into
after him. caught him By the tail. and dragged
him ashore after Juggling like heroes:
the men. but we finally killed him with a re-
volyer shot he measured ten feet eight inches,
and Is one OF the specimens In my collection.
MY little Maynard rifle was not heavy enough
70 kill the largest OF those crocodles, but have
the ss,siactiOa q s1Owns that have tho
Enormous vuturea (oct0gvps cdtriisJ infest all
that region. and whenever we skinned croco;
Spectators would witness the scene. The greedy
birds would IL and maui at the pieces OF meat
fought over very morsel. and ali but went down
each othe .-roats In their greed; We spent
after which for about I two oV weeks was 6nntne
antelope. ravine deer and ordinary small game
then packed and shipped my collection Of
specimens TO Calcutta. and from there went 10
Madras. where there was nothing but intense
Waa In May. the hottest season OF the year, and
hurried on as speedily as possible on a jour;
Octacamund. where the southern India SAM
tarlum Ii located. From that point started on
Ss d.ss oD. lSr ws So 70 h int aSsn
bison in that forest. where was told they
herded In large numbers. One day went into
and only companion. had heard thai he was
good uaeker, and felt quite willing 70 trust
bag and two guns. and struck out early in IhC
morning. After shooting an elk and burying aim
and firing into a herd OF bison without effect
we discovered hne herd OF wild elephants
the first had ever seen; l knew tnat this waa
That fine OF 500 rupees was prescribed for such
nm offence as even shooting at an elephant
myself and guide started OF in the opposite
direction 70 look for our stag. Very soon W.
IDENTIFY our course had been circuitous. But
watched the handsome herd more intently this
time than before. After starting again In an
opposite direction. we ran upon the elephants @
third time, This sight was to me about, the
same IN effect as is to the tipPer longing iool
ivores proved too strong temptation fol
me TO resist, At last. after hard inward
struggle with my law-abiding nature, the
determined to have ono shot at the biggest
fusker in that herd il il ruined my entire exPe.
nluon and sent me home bankrupt Inc
forest was open. but grown with high grass, &c
that | had ample opportunity for satisfactory
Toward me. Each particular beast was swinRne
ntrunk that would hold twice as much as the
trunk OF Saratoga belle. The elephants
came. tearing up great punches OF the waist
high grass and swinging II up into theil
mouths. To novice they presented an impos
Ing spectacle.
' Fortunately for my purpose. the monstroui
old tusker at whom had lonRinRly directed MI
gaze on the first two occasions was behind th'
rest OF tho herd. l fully decided then 20 stalk
him and bring him down with my Maynard
rifle lot No 40 calibre only. My guide had be-
taken himself to his heels / saw that the OBJ
Ject OF my temptation must pass close by a large
tree. near the trunk OF which stood. hid my
body behind 1t and awaited his approach. Al
he passed he was headed in a different direc
ton than had anticipated. / could have struck
him with carriage whip easily from where
stood. But as 1t was necessary TO lodge bal
In his brain to have It take effect and as h'
presented broadsIde toward me- | knew
Il was worse than useless 10 FIRE, 81
came out from my hiding place and followed
fhe herd. had never before really known
what wild elephant was. and appearances
would indicate that / did not then. In follow
:nR that one tusker and keeping my eye upoT
MIN, did not notice the others OF the hero. RnC
before was aware OF the Objection had takef
or where would bring up found myself ~
nearly in the midst Of the herd rs would be I
rinRmaster in n menagerie. At first this FAC
was not pleasant one to contemplate. from MI
standpoint. What II the elephants should TAKE
a.