The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-08-09

cNOHMOOS MAtsaf 6sSONS
Terrible Rattle Between Some of tn~
Great Beasts an n >altan-s krnas
His Highness the Sulaan OF Pahsng
IN the Malay Peninsula. can claim 10
have introduced decide v novel Tea
tune into Oriental sport since he has
just brought his great bison kraal 10 a
successful issue the bison OF the Ma
lay Peninsula called : ladang by The
Malays, corresponds lmost exactly
with the Indian ganr. but ii has never
been decided by na1uralisfs whether IL
Is the true GaTRnns ganrns or not, as
it Is seldom caught or shot and the few
trophies existing are Imperfect and do
not afford inclusive evidence. They
are magnificent beasts of great size. but
shy In the extreme and excessively
fierce They usually go about in herds
of from half dozen TO a score. some
times singly- and occasionally In cou-
pies. in the steep, densely-woOded hills.
and rarely issuing from their seelnsion
except al night
The Splian- who usually resides at
Pekan, the capital of Pahang. removed
to Pulan Tawer in the end of February,
accompanied by about one Thousand
men, and Immediately set them to
work TO build strong fence along the
edge OF the river. 50 as 10 inclosea The
entire promontory, except that part in
connection with the mainland, which
was 10 be left undisturbed until the
herd were found 10 have entered OF
their own accord which they were ex-
pec1ed 10 DO about the end OF April.
However. there was CONSERVATION and
confusion In the camp when at day
break April 6 it was discovered that a
large herd Of bisons had found their
way On TO the promontory during the
night and still remained there Only
about mile OF the barricade had been
completed. and there remained another
mile and a half 30 be done before The
beasts could be surrounded.
The whole force Of men, which had
been steadily increasing in numbers.
and now amounted TO over ], 500. were
immediately put on TO complete the
fence, which they succeeded in doing
By nighffall. TO the surprise of every
one. Including themselves The bison
were now safe inside In one corner
Of the kraal, some fifty yards from the
river, and well above ii. a smaller in
closure about twenty yards square was
constructed. and into this after CON
siderable difficulty. the entire herd.
numbering twenty-four head. were
driven
Terrified By the noise of the bea1ers.
and wild with fear. the great creatures
appeared almost mad. and rushed about
attacking each other with undescriba-
bic fury. They continued TO charge
and fight like demons. amid the wells
and cheers Of the excited crowd, until
at nighffall len OF the noble beasts Lay
dead or dying Two more suecumbed
during the night and il was pitiable
sight next morning 10 see the twelve
survivors all 5aded and gory-utterly
exhausted. but still vicious and game
Four OF the slain-two bulls and two
COWS measured eighteen hands and
over In height al the dOrsal ridge One
huge bull. the largest OF all, who is still
living. must measure eighteen hands
three inches Large covered bamboo
RATS were constructed, and some of The
bisons have been driven on board these
and sent down TO Pekin. distance of
$50 miles the others will follow in due
course Al the time of writing large
cow and two smaller ones are al Pekin
The large cow which was presented TO
the Resident has been generously Of
fered 10 the Singapore Museum and is
now being skinned and prepared prior
TO being set up there Another has
been presented to the Governor, and Is
now on lis way TO Singapore alive
The large cow measures eighteen
hands one inch al the dof-sal ridge and
sixteen hands three inches in height at
the shoulder 1t is TO be hoped that
the bison will now be identified. SO as
TO definitely settle the rexed question
as TO whether the Malay bison or In
dian gaur are the same species Two
tigers were caught in the kraal but
both made their escape Several deer
and pigs however, were successfully
captured II was intended TO send one
or two OF the live bisons to England. If
possible, As one has never been seen
there However, there is but little
chance OF their ever living in captivity
Or standing the voyage This is be-
lieTed TO be the first large bisoD kraal
on record Field.