Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1886-05-31
THE HUNTING LEOPARD.
4 Singular xfnd o. sport which Is Pracs
ticea Ia ahe Jungle.

spondent TO Our Indian Stations, that
witnessed the only instance ever saw
of the black buck being run into and
killed BY the cheetall, or hunting
leopard. Many consider this a low
kind Of sport. but think it is equal to
partridge shooting. besides being q
beautiful sight shall therefore de-
scribe as well as can what saw. On
arriving with my friends at the place Of
meeting in the jungle we found few
rough-and-ready looking natives in
charge of three carts. or rather small
two-wheeled platforms. drawn by bul-
locks. On each vehicle sat, in an erect
attitude, beautiful leopard. strongly
chained and with hood over his eyes,
similar to those used for hawks. We
were soon under way and driving to
ward the herd Of antelopes which could
be seen grazing in the distance and
which had been marked down before
hand. There was no difficulty in getting
the carts to within 120 yards of the deer.
Then one of the chcetahs, fine male,
was llnhooded and set free. It's depar.
ture from the gharry and its decision in
choosing the most covered line in the
open plain for rushing on its prey were
so instantaneous and rapid as to be quite
marvellous. 1t seemed to vanish from
the cart and appear simultaneously half
way toward the fine black buck 1t had
singled out for attack. When at about
fhirfy Yards from the unsuspicious troop
they suddenly became aware of the
deadly peril they wGs~. IN. One and all
sprang into the al pNth galvanic
bounds, and no doubt expected to es-
cape easily BY flight. But the hunst'
cheetah is, 4 suppose, for a hundred
yards, by far the fleetest Of all wingless
things; and this one was soon IN the
midst of the afiiightcd throng, which
scattered wildly and panic-stricken in
all directions. as their leadcr-a fine
black buck was struck down in their
midst. There he lay, alone, in his death
agony in the deadly clutch Of his beau.
tiful and relentless foe. We eran as hard
as we could and were soon surrounding
the strange group.
Neither animal moved, for the buck
was paralyzed by fear his starting eye
balls and dilated nostrils alone gave
evidence of life. The cheetah, on the
other hand, with his body spread out
over the PROSTATE form of his victim.
seemed to strain every nerve in pressing
his prey against the earth as, with his
long, sharp fangs buried in its delicate
throat, he continued the process of
Btrangulation. He was very motionless.
but his eyes were fixed upon us with
glare Of extraordinary ferocity that be-
came intensified as his keepers rushed
forward and seized the deer BY the hind
leg The brute now growled fiercely,
and, tightening his clutch, looked 50 ex-
tremely dangerous that / wGs far from
envying those who were in such close
proximity to him. But they know their
trade. With long, sharp knife they
cut the deer's throat and caused the
warm blood to spout in torrents into the
face Of the half-wild beast, whose whole
frame now seemed to thrill with ecstasy.
One of the operators, in the meanwhile,
caught a quantity Of the crimson life
stream in wooden bowl, and forced
the steaming fluid under the very nose
of the excited leopard, who, quitting his
hold. at once began to lap with avidity.
While engaged In this process the leather
mood was swiftly clapped over his eyes,
and the collar, with two chains attach
ed, was adjusted round his neck. While
this was going on a third man had cut
of one of the bucks hind legs, and this,
the ..lion's share, was held close to tho
bloody chalice, which was no sooner
emptied than the brute seized the meat
thus provided with a vice-Iiko grip.
Each chain was now grasped bY
different man, who. BY keeping apart SO
that the tether remained taut, kept
II AZ.