The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-03-18
THE HUNTING LEOPARD.
"A Singular Kind or Sport wiich Ia Prac-
ticed In the jungle

"A shBuiar hihd or Sport which Ia Prac-
| ticed In the Jungle.
think it was hero. writes q CORE.
spondent to orr Indiun Stations, that 7
witnessed the only instance ever saw
OF the black buck being run into and
Killed by the rhcctah, or hunting
leopard. Many consider this = low
KING OF sport, but think it is equal TO
q partridge shooting, besides beng O
beautiful sight. I shall therefore dc
scribe as we'll rs 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 or three carts, or rather small
two-whecled platforms. drawn by bull
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 WY and driving to-
ward the herd Of antclopes 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 12O yards of the deer
Then one of the chcctahs, Il fine male,
was unhooded and set free. Its 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 rs to be quite
marvellous. 1t seemed 20 vanish from
the cart and appear simultaneously half
way toward the fine black back it had
singled out for attack. When at about
thirty yards from the unsuspicious troop
they suddenly became aware of. the
deadly peril they were in. One and all
sprang into the air with galvanic
bounds, and no doubt expected to cs-
cape easily by flight. But the hunting
chcctah is, suppose, for n hundred
yards, by far the tlcctcst Of all winglcss
things; and this one was soon in the
midst of the atfrightcd throng, which
scattered wildly and panic-stricken in
all directions, as their lcadcr--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 ran rs hard
as we could and were soon surrounding
the strange group.
Neither animal moved. for the buck
was paralyzcd by fcar-his starting eve
balls and dilatcd nostrils alone gave
evidence of life. The chectah, 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 is delicate
throat, he continued the process of
strangulation. Ho was very notionlcss,
but his eyes were fixed upon lis with q
glare of extraordinary fcrocity that be-
came intensified rs his Keepers rushed
forward and seized the deer by the hind
leg. The brute now growlcd ticrccly,
and, tightening his clutch, looked SO ex-
| trcmely dangerous that was far from
envying those who were in such close
| proximity to him. But they know their
trade. With long, sharp knife they
cut the dccrS 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 quantity OF the crimson life
stream in II wooden bowl, and forced
the Stcaming fluid under the very nose
OF the excited leopard, who quitting his
hold, at once began to lap with avidity.
While engaged III this process the leather
hood was swiftly clappcd over his eyes,
and the collar, with two chains attach.
ed, WAS adjusted round his neck. While
this was going on third man had cut
Oft one Of the bucks hind legs, and this,
tb" 'liun's snare, was held close to the
bloody chalice, which was no sooner
empticd than the brute seized the meat
thus provided with vicc-iike grip.
Each chain was now graspcd by n
different man, who, by keeping apart so
that the t"thcr remained taut, kept
the leopard between them in such Il way
that neither WAS within reach Of his
claws or teeth. Then the third individual,
VINO had ever retained his hold of the
shank-bone of the leg of vcnison, gently
drew the chcctah 70 the little cart that
had now been brought close up. AS
soon as the beast felt himself against
the edge of his own familiar chariot he
sprang lightly upon it and proceeded to
demolish his Succulcnt morccau at his
ease. / now inspected the carcass OF
tho deer, with view to asccrtainin0. if
possible. how the e. cctah had been able
so instantancoW>li to strike down such
u powerful animal Immediately on get
ting up with it, ! at once observed n
single long, deep cash in the flank,
which was evidently caused by the de-
cisvc blow. But could not imagine
with what weapon the leopard had been
able to inilict this very strengthening
wound, for the chcctah has foot like II
dog and his claws are not rctractilc.
Turning then to the beast rs it sat on
the cart inspected it closely and saw
that the dcw-claw. which in the dog APP
pears such useless appcndagc, is repre-
scnted in this brute by Il terrlblc-lOoking
talon exactly suited to the iniliclion of
such a cash.
Gates o. Happiness.
All men and women should rejoice to