The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-04-24
9eseriptiue Strides,
kangasoo Hunting.

chase OF IL is attended with excitement |
and dangers wholly unique The hunting
the fox 10 England is over comparatively |
smooth ground aud moderate-sized fences,
with weIl-trained horses, while the kanga- |
roo has 10 be chased over nav country, full |
Of holes covered with wild grass, over
bitches, fallen trees, amoug trees aud their
branches on horses that have no superiors
in the world in speed. Then the dangers
that you are 20 encounter when you over
take the kangaroo, though not ID the re-
aliIy extreme, are as great as those met 10
the tiger hunt as usually conducted, while
in the latter you have not the excitement
and danger OF the chase. The place where
| write is about two hundred miles from
the ocean shore, on the banks Of beauii-
ful river, shaded with eucalyptus trees.
These trees are the natural growth Of the
country, cover larger part Of il, and are
believed, both here aud in Europe, 10 so
destroy malaria as TO be sure guarantee
against feyers Of all kinds. The couches
are examined before retiring at night to
see If there are any snakes 10 them; but
mono are found. A native, with two
women, is camped on the shore near by.
Their camp is u half-circIc Of piled up
logs, three feet high, while on the open
side, toward the water, glares brilliant
fire, lighting up them and the 2arkness
with lurid, fantastic sayageness. These
natives resemble the African more nearly
than either Of the other four Of the human
races, and come without doubt from that
stock. Their hair cannot be strictly said
to be either hair or wool, but more nearly
resembles the latter. They are Of good
size, dark brown, well made and don't en-
cuuber themselves with much clothing.
One Of their weapons of war is the boom
erang, and it is a curious affair. 1t Is
made Of very hard wood, three feet long
four inches wide, one inch thick at the
centre, and bends edgeways so as TO make
a third Of a circle. With the hand they
are said to throw this implement I50
yards, cutting off the head Of an enemy,
and having the weapons to return to the
feet Of the sender. | have seen il thrown
that distance and return to the person
who threw it. The full-grown male kan
garoo is called "boomer," and is about
seven and ahalf feet long from his nose to
the end Of his tail, the tail being about
three aud ahalf feet Of this, and one foot
in diameter at its base. He lives on grass,
sometimes invading the fields Of the fron-
tiersman and eating up all be has. He
stands on four legs when feeding, and at
no other time. His tail is full Of powerful
sinews, but it is used only to assist in the
equilibrium while sitting, standing on the
toes and running. In sitting posture he
is about four aud ahalf feet high; but
when he stands on his toes to survey the
country or an enemy, he is taller than a
man. He has a soft, gazelle.like expires.
sion; but the white teeth gleam between
the open lips. His color is brown, tending
in age towards red or gray, according to
the species. They weigh (the male) from
100 To l70 pounds each The meat tastes
somewhat like yenisoD, but is not very
good, though the tail makes excellent
soup. The female is under six feet in
length, aud is different somewhat in ap-
pearanee from the male. The young when
born, are only an inch long, and are first
seen nursing the mother 10 the pouch 10
front, where she carries them. They re-
main iu this pouch till they are eight
months old and weigh about ten pounds,
and long afterward return TO it gu appear.
ance OF danger. When the mother L hard
pressed by an enemy in chase she throws
the young one out of the pouch, who
thereby makes its escape. There are kan.
garoo dogs, very swiitand strong, especially
adapted to hunting the kangaroo, but nc
experienced dog will tackle one Of them
without somebody to back him. They
jump about fifteen feet at time usually
but sometimes twenty or more, aud then
swiitness is prodigious. Nothing eau ap.
parently oyertake them 10 fair race, aud
the usual way is to practically surround
them. When hard pressed they place
their back to a tree for the fight; or, in
preference, they always strike for the
water If there is any near. They try tC
seize their enemy with the fore paws, and
then rip il from top to bottom with the
middle claws of their hind feet, which arr
very sharp, Ii they are in the water they
try TO hold their enemy under il until b.
is drowned. They win always leave do,
TO attack man.
AT 3 o'clock this morning ten men 10
eluding myself, started on horseback, will
four dogs, on a chase. All we're expert
enced in the business except young Eng
lishman and myself We took no FIRE
arms, large stick being the only weapon
to be used. We had no difficclty in find
ing the animals. 1t was disdained to avoi,
such fences ns we found, and we jumpe,
several Of height Of four TO five feet
always approaching them at full run. w,
divided the party, half going to each sid
Of partly open plain. soon saw larg,
kangaroo and two small ones coming TO
ward our party. We waited until the
were near enough to sec US, when thel
made right angle and went of at an as
tonishing pace, in jumps Of fifteen o
twenty feet in length, going FROM eight L
ten feet 10 the air az each jump. w
"went for" the big one, but he quickly 90
beyond our sight, the three having alrcadl
dstanced the dogs.
The kangaroo dogs hunt by sight, lik,
the greyhound. These three were all lost
we learned as we met Of the point aerect
upon. We next surrounded another larg'
tract Of forest plain aud meadow, thi
time dividing the dogs In few mo
ments hundred or more kangaroOs cam,
bounding toward the party with me. Thl
dogs with me started for them, and all tn,
dogs aud men were at once in pursuit
The kangaroos divided into several parties
each dog selecting one to follow, and each
man following some one Of the dogs NJ,
dog went for a bcomer, and ! also, il
company with two others Of the party
The boomer stood up took long look a
US, and then few. We followed him
among the trees aud branches, jnmpin,
logs and debris Of all kinds, aud across
plains al fearful rate. The horses ueedoe
no urging; their blood was up now. IN,
dog "laid 70 IT, but made no sound
When he would get near the kangaroo the
animal would make jump at rightangleI
aud change his course, while the dog would
shoot on distance before turning
a -