Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-04-05
"RIl: GAME, IN INDIA.
Chicago Times, |


! Hunters who wish to bag "bip
game should lose no time in visiting
the unhappy hunting grounds that are
situated among the jungle of the Madras
/ Presidency, India. Hunting, which is a
pastime in most countries, is a necessa-
nv occupation, if not duty, in this
neck of woods" If the human in
| habitants should not keep up an active
war against the ferocious animals. the
latter would soon exterminate the for
mer. A constant warfare for the su-
premacy Is going on. he official re-
wild beasts killed 1l75 persons, while
hum IN beings killed 2056 dangerous
wild .easts. Among the dangerous
beasts killed We're five ferocions ele-
plants. This was not large number,
but it must be kept in mind that one ele
plant can do great amount of damage.
lie goes III ough "A country spreading
dssoiation like a tornado, uprOots trees,
oyerturns houses. denolishes carriages.
aud kills domeaticated animals and
men. Each of the elephants killed last
season had killed his man" Among
the animals killed we're 27S tigers. 1890
p.nthers aud leopards, 2l3 bears, and
q wolves. No less than 920 huge ser
penis were also slain. These monsters
had killed 2o6 human beings. Bears
are credited with killing IL. and pan
theirs 26. The tiger is held in the great
est terror. Il is far more dangerous
than the lion. l. is the representation
of hanger. cru 'lty and canning. Its
appetite appears to be never fully salts
fled. In early life 1T dew 1urs tae help
less young Of other wild animals. As
it becomes larger and stronger it attacks
full grown domesticated animals FL
nally it gets sufficiently bold to parsue
men. 1t turks BY the w,yside. or near
wells and springs. ready to leap upon
the traveller or the water seeker. LeOp
ards and psnihers are dangerous enough
but are less destructive of human life
than tigers.
The character of the wild animals Of
a country exerts a most powerful infiu-
euce on its settlement and the pros
perity If its irh ahtauts. In this rs-
spect the territory occupied by the
| United States was most remarkable.
/ In the opinion of an eminent natural
ist. il contained no wild animal that
was not of more benefit than dissdvan-
tase to the settlers. Is abounded In
| fur bearing animals. whose skins were
| in great demand in all the great centers
/ Of wealth and civilization. These
skins constituted a source of wealth to
the early settlers. Hunting and trap
ping were profitable employments when
people could not engage IN farming.
| Some of the skins were converted into
garments and others into money. The
skins of buffaloes were made into gar
me,,ts. employed as coverings for beds
or used as projections Ia sleighs
Moose. deer, antelope and bears
| furnished meat until domesti.
Gated animals could be introduced
and raised in sufficient numbers 10 sup
ply the people with food. Their fa'
and hides we're useful for great varie
~ of purposes. Rabbits, squirrels
ground hogs, opossums and coOnS alsT
; furnished valuable meat and skins. Fol
and bear did some damage, but wer,
useful in keeping IN check many OF th'
. small animals that rank as vermin
|, They were easily caught In traps o
killed by the use of fire arms, and thei
skins were very valuable aud brought
, high price at a time when agriculture
; products raised at distance from wate
|, communication could not be sold TO
} money or exchanged for articles 81 100
and clothing. Ali the native animal
/ of this country are OF easy extermina
7 ton. Most of them disappear oefor
the march Of civilization, and only STA
a. long as they are wanted by the ID
habitants. The Hind"os might lea
I happier aud less exciting lives II tnei
game were as valuable and as htti
; troublesome.