The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-06-30
DANGERS OF THE JUNGLE,
Terrible LOGS of Life From Beast
and Reptile.


The accounts published from time tt
time by the government of India, show
ing the loss of life occasioned annually
10y snake-bites and the ravages of vile
animals, still bear witness to a terribl,
mortality attributable to these scouryes
and, we might add, afford clear proof
that the present exertious of the govern
ment of India are inadequate for the
purpose, The latest returns tell the
truly awful tale, that in the year 1885
upwards of twenty-five thousand lives
We're lost from the aforementioned
causes. Nor can the returns rendered
10y district officers be considered as
altogether complete or satisfactory; fol-
owing to the apathy of the natives oil
India and the almost universal belief
among them of the "decrees of fate, u
many cases of snake-bite are never re-
ported, and altogether escape the notice
OF ,ihe authorities.
Then, auain, it should be remembered
Aha& the government returns which give
bhe number of deaths attributable to
snakes and wild beasts, only include
eases in British India leaving altogether
'unrecorded the mortality from the same
causes IN large independent states, such
as JeyPore, Gwalior, Rewah, and many
Others. Moreover, the British system of
Keeping down wild beasts and noxious
reptiles, does not obtain in these large
tracts OF territory under independent
Ha]abs. There, natives are not encour-
aged by rewards to make the destruc-
fion OF tigers, panthers, and others of
The telid9-as also cobras and other
deadly snakes-a genuine pursuit and
means Of gaining a livelihood. Thus it
comes to pass that in out-of-the-way
parts, away from British jurisdiction,
the loss OF life from the above mentioned
causes shows little or no diminu-
ton, but remains very much as in the
days of old
| Among the wild animals figuring in
the list as destructive to human life, the
tiger naturally holds prominent place;
the deaths Of no fewer than nine hun
dred and eighty-fve human beings are
laid to his charge; and yet the animal,
nj left unmOIested and not provoked in
any way, will seldom attack human
Beings. The truth is, tigers, as a rule,
are towards, only too willing to sink
away on the approach of man. In
former years, when tigers were much
more common than they are nowadays,
man.eaters We're by no means rare. 1t
was in those times nothing uncommon
TO hear of high-roads stopped, large
tracts of country left uncuftivated, vii
lagos deserted, and permitted to fall to
rum, owing to the ravages of these
dreadful creatures. Now, however,
Man-eaters have been nearly extermi-
mated; occasionally one is heard of; but
almost invariably his evil deeds attract
the attention of the civil officer of the
district, and an organized expedition is
sent in search of the marauder, and
eventually the animal is killed, either by
the rifle of an English sportsman, or
by the matchbox of some local
shikaree. How, then, it will naturally
DE asked, if man-eaters are so rare, does
IL come to pass that nearly thousand
unfortunate creatures lost their lives in
a single year, by tigers? In the first
place, although man-eating tigers are
now fortunately rare, yet there can be
mo doubt that the tiger, when suddenly
come upon in his lair, or met accident
ally face to face when on the move, will,
on the spur of the moment--more from
fear, probably, than anything else
strike down any one barring his way.
and pass swiftly on. Casualties of this
Knd often occur in wooded parts of the
country. A tigress with young is es-
pecally dangerous, and will often
ii,lr'ously attack any one approaching
the spot where the cubs are. Again,
cattle keepers or gualIas, as they are
termed in Bengal, often lose their lives
oy courageously exposing themselves
%hcn endcavoring to rescue some one of
Their charges from the clutches of the
DESTROYER. At such times the tiger is
especially dangerous. He has probably
TASTED blood, and often will not surren-
der his prey without struggle. Should
cody of men keeping close together
approach him as he croalkes growing
behind the bullock he nus dragged
70 the ground, he will sometimes slowly
ano reluctantly beat a retreat; but often
rendered furious by shower of sticks
anu stones cast at him, and by the shouts
vi nus daring assaiiants, he charges out
WIN flashing eye and a roar Of rage,
a"a strikes down one or more of his as
Sa.lants. ' - '''' 90
a prevalent cause of deatll occasioned
y snake-bites, etc., is the almost univ
sssal habit among the poorer class of
h Ia. OF travelling by nj ght during the
mot weather months. It is exceptional
~ ~ meet with cobra during the day
=; slie'' put after sunset reptiles sally forth
N search of food. A native. generally
s e.', walks barefooted, or wears
t tai low shoe, which affords no pro-
~ me'lon TO the ankle or leg. In the dark
aus AUS; ne treads upon or touches some
maaly snake, is Immediately bitten, and
ptooably before daylight, lies corpse
o ~ The roadside. The same reckless
Sus.Im OF passing after sunset through
} hun inhabited by all kinds of wild
s Stasts' Is though in a less degree, con-
; irah! source of danger, frequently end
ny, ms IN death. 1t has already been re-
al Aea mat the tiger, if left unmolest-