The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-05-26
Wolf NURSES IN |NDIA.

WUkF WVhctS IN lkUIA,
Stories of wild animals that have acted
the part OF nurses toward infants, acct
dentally or purposely exposed, are to be
net with in every part Of the world. and
among races of the most widely distinct
character. It was o favorite legendary
origin for a great hero, the founder OF
o nation or of an empire. The stag, the
bear. the dog and many others figure in
these traditions; but OF all, the wolf is
the most remarkable and the most fire.
+ quently to be met with. What truth
there may be in the old story Of Romu-
LUIS we shall not attempt to decide. Some
: reality, however, underlies the widest
fictions, and we have before us at this
poment very interesting account OF
observations male in Northern India,
which may be worth the consideration
OF some future Niebuhr or Arnold. They
were conducted by distinguished Indi-
an officer, whose name, were we at lib
ierty to mention it, would be an ample
= guarantee for their truth and accuracy
One, too, who has possessed unusual
opportunities for obtaining information
from the wilder and less known parts of
the country. Thefollowing is from this
lrel t. which was published in 1852:
The wolf in India is looked upon, as it
formerly was in Northern Europe, as a
= sacred animal. Almost all Hindoos
have superstitious dread Of destroying
or even injuring it; and village COM
Smunity within the boundary of whose
gand drop of VOLTS blood has fallen
believes itself doomed to destruction.
The natural consequence is that in the
districts least frequented by Europeans
ihese animals are very numerous and
destructive, and great numbers of chill
lren ore constantly carried off by them.
Only one class OF the population, the
cry lowest, leading vagrant life, and
'ivouaoking in the jungles, will attempt
o kill or catch them. Even these, how
yer, although they have no supersti-
ious fear Of the wolf, and are always
sand to be well acquainted with its
.sual dens and haunts, very seldom at
empt its capture-in all probability
'om the profit they make of the gold
nd silver bracelets and necklaces worn
y children whom the wolves have car
led to their dens, and whose remains
re left at the entrance. In all parts of
1dia, it appears, numbers of children
70 daily murdered for the sake of these
angerOuS ornaments
The wolf, however, is sometimes
nder than man. In the neighborhood
Sultanpoor, and among the ravines
at intersect the banks Of the Goomtee
YER, this animal abounds, and our first
stance of "wolf nurse occurs in
.a at district. A trooper, passing along
river bank near Chandour, saw a
rye female wolf leave her den, followed
three whelps and little boy. The
y went on all -fours, apparently on the
st possible terms with his fierce COM
mons, and the wolf protected him
tn as much care as if he had been ono
her own whelps. All went down to
river and drank, without noticing
} trooper, who, as they were about to
n back. pushed on. in order to cut
and secure the boy. But the ground
S uneven, and his horse could not
ortake them. All re-entered the den,
d the trooper then assembled some
ople from Chandour with pickaxes,
o dug into the den for about six or
ht feet. when the old wolf bolted,
lowed by her three cubs and the boy.
e,trooper, accompanied by the feet.
young men of the party, mounted
pursued, and, having at last headed
M, Il burned the whelps and the
'[whu ran quite as fast) back upon
men on foot. They secured the boy
- allowed the others to escape.
he boy thus taken was apparently
ut 9 or 10 years old, and had all the
its of wild animal. On his way to
lndour he struggled hard to rush in
every hole OR den he passed. The
1t Of o grown-up person alarmed
and he tried to steal away; but he
led at child with fierce snarl,
that OF dog, and tried to bite it.
ked meat he would not eat, but he
ed raw food with eagerness, putting
the ground, under his hands, and
,uring it with evident pleasure. He
We'd angrily if any one approached
while eating, but made no objec-
to a dogs coming near and sharing
God. The trooper left him in charge
boy Immediately after he was taken.
soon afterward he was sent, by
Rsjah's order, to Capt. Nicholett's,
nltanpoor; for, although his parents
said to have recognized him when
captured, they abandoned him on
ng that he displayed more of the
-s than human nature.
lived in the charge of Capt.
olett's servants nearly three years
inoffensive, except when leased, but
complete animal. He could never
dnced to keep on any kind of cloth