The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-01-27
HUMAN TREES.
How the Bheel Robbers of India Escape
From Their Purswsrs.

! How the Bheel Robbers of India Escape
From Their Purs"srs.
All those v,S,o feel sufficient interest
in the subject TO stddy or notice the
facts must at times bp struck with
amazemtnt at the wonderfnj resem-
blance OF certain insects and other ami
mails to vegetable snd inapimate objects.
So exact is this resemblance in some in
stances Us 10 deceive the most expert
enced. Wallace, the great naturalist,
was very anxious to secure 3 specimen
of certain brilliant butterfly, but was
unable for some time 10 capture one on
account of the creatures sudden unac-
countable and mysterious disappear
ance. He finally discovered that the
outside of this insects wings was an
exact representation of 9 leaf. when
the butterfly aligbted upon u shrub and
closed its wings it completely deceived
even this experienced scientist. Some
species of Holsters found ut Bermuda so
closely resemble submarine stones, even
to the coating of sea weeds, that have
passed by an aquarium containing them
supposing the tank to be
uninhabited. The common katydid,
whose copstantly-repeated notes, late in
summer. warn US of the approaching
frosts, has repres ntative in South
America, whose wings not only resem-
BILE green leaf, but, to add to the de-
ception, the tips of the wings are ragged
and discolored, having the exact appear.
ance Of leaf that has been disfgured
from the attacks of caterpillars. l once
add one in my studio, and it was with
great difficulty that l could convince
visitors that it was not an artificial
| insect with wings made of real leaves.
| In the snOw-covered regions of the
North the foxes, hares, bears and birds
witt very few exceptions, az sumo tue
| prevailing white color OF the surround.
| ing objecls. Man has not been blind to
these hints. There are various tribes
OF savages who successfully initiate
stumps and stones by remaining i'm
movable IN crouching positions so as to
| baffle their pursuers.
This mimicry is carried to wonderful
degree OF perfection in India. That
strange country, as DR.. Latham says,
"ot teeming, ingenious, and indus
trious but rarely independent popula-
tion. 1t is country Of all ancient lit
erature and ancient architecture" A
country where such a society as the
murderous thugs is possible; a country
" here robbers are educated from child
hood for the profession IN which they
take great price, openly boasting OF their
skill. One of our most skillIul and
adroit bank robbers would be considered
by these India experts but hung ing
| amateur.
The scientific manner in which these
robbers prepare Tor their raids shows a
thorough knowledge of the dangers OF
heir calling, and the best guards against
the same, choosing darkness for their
| Nv hon thpir Anclr haA;oa
least observable they remove their
clothes, anoint themselves with Gil, and
with single weapon, a keen. edged knife
suspended from their neck, creep and
steal like shadows noiselessly through
the darkness. If detected, their gre lsy
and slippery bodies assist them in elud.
ing capture, while their razor bladed
hnlfe dexterously sewers the wrist OF
any OBTAINING hand But the most in
genious device to escape capture is that
SHOWN by he Bheel robbers. 1t often
happens that band of these robbers are
pursued by mounted Englishmen, and
unable, to reach the jungle, tind
themselves about to be overtaken
upon one OF thos, open plains
| Whicn have been cleared by fire,
The only shelter in sight being the
Dlackened trunks or leafess branches of
small trees that perished in the flames.
For men so skilled in posturing this is
shelter, enough. Qrickly divesting
themselves of their scanty clothing,
they scatter it with their plunder in
small piles over the plain, covering
them with their shields so that they
| have the appearance of Jumps of earth
and attract no attention. This accor-
| plished, they snatch up few sticks
| throw their bodies into contorted posi-
ton, and stand or crouch immovable
until their unsuspicious enemies have
| galloped by.
When all is safe they quickly pick up
their spoil and proceed upon their way.
The Rev. j ID. Woods, gives an inter
esting account of these marvellous
mimics. Iquote the following:
Before the English had become
used to these maneuvers, very ludi-
crous incident occurred. An officer.
with q party Of horse, was chasing a
small body of Bheel robbers, and was
fast, overtaking tnem. Suddenly the
rot bers IL behind a rock or some such
obstacle, which hid them for a mo-
ment, and when the soldiers came up the
men had mysteriously disappeared.
Alter an unavailing search, the Off ,er
ordered his men to dismount beside II
clump OF scorched and withered trees
and the day being very hot, he took off
his helmet and hung it on branch by
which lie was standing. The branch in
question turned out to be the leg of a
Bheel, who burst into a scream OF
laughter, and flung the astonished
officer to the ground. The clump OF
scorched trees suddenly became meta
morphosed into men, and the whole
party dispersed in different directions
before the Englishmen could recover
from their surprise, carrying with them
the OH GERS helmet by way of trophy
l-Sctent fc Americn1l