, 1889-05-09
KANGAROO HUNTING.
THE ExHILERATING PAssTIME OF
AUSTRALIAN CArTLEMEN.
Old Men Ksngaroos mad Ride which
Came Near Terminating Ina
Water Hole.

Queensland, for distance Of several nun
dred miles, ia chain of mountains known
as the Coast Range South of this chain,
extending for hundreds ut miles inland, is
vast grazing country covered with rich.
grass. and dotted here and there with
clumps Of bushes and groves OF trees--some
OF the latter, those of tho eucalyptu fami-
ly, having no boughs within City or even
100 feet Of the ground.
The country 10 intersected by many
small streams, some Of which run but
few months in the year, the rest Of the
time being quite dry, or Containing only
water holes, and the bushes and erase
which fringe the banks of these streams
are favorite uu
RESORT FOR KANaARoos.
was located ia this section for several
years prior TO 70. engaged IN cattle rails.
ing. a. d occasionally had great sport hunt
ing these curious Great ures. which abound.
ed In many parts Of my run.
A female kangaroo will outrun the fast.
eat horse, and. II carrying a young one in
her pouch, will som.tim throw the lat
ter away when hard pressed.
l obtained one, on one occasion, In this
manner, and took II home with me, where
it soon became as tame az q house cat.
IL is possible to overtake II male kanRa-
roo with good horse, though by no means
an easy task. and ! shall never forget su
experience | once had when in pursuit OF
one.
Mounting my favorite horse-part En-.
glish Northumberland followed by my
three dogs, set out one bright morning.
resolved to test my horses mette
or the first kangaroo ] came across, male
or female. Two of my dogs we're young
and had never run this kind of game be-
fore. but the other was
AN OLD KANGAROO Doc,
almost toothless, but still of great endur-
ance. The young ones were of the best
strain tor kangaroo huntiDR-a cross be
tween mastif and greyhound, having
much of the strength OF the former breed
and the heetness of the latter-and the old
dog was u retriever. We had gone per.
haps mile from the paddocks, when the
dogs commenced to bark in concert and
soon started what is known as ian old
man kangaroo" driving him from a clamp
of bushes into the open, few hundred
yards ahead of me.
Putting spurs to my horse, I started in
pursuit, running him for at least two
miles at top speed. At the end of that
distance he was brought to bay by the
dogs close to u miall thickst, and what
was my dismay to sea him seize one of
them around the neck and commence oper-
ations upon HIM with his hind feet!
knew that my dog was In great danger Of
being torn open by the kaDgaroo's sharp
claws, and having no weapon with me rx-
cept my hunting knife, | pnlled my horse
almost on his hauuches, and, jumping to
he ground, hastily cut down young
eucaly ptus tree and endeavored to Chamber
back into the saddle with it.
had almost obtained my seat, when my
horse, catching sight Of the young tree.
which had placed across the horn of my
saddle, commenced bucking with me-a
trait common to nearly all horses in that
section. The next instant he shot beneath
two bendee trees in his path, the young
tree being, however, too long to pass
through, and, quite naturally, preventing
me from doing 40, also. As result, the
horse went through alone, kicking me as
he did 80 and leaving me. on my back quite
badly shaken and bruised.
THE CON FLICT.
Hastily regaiping my feet picked up a
stick and ran to ward the kangaroo, which
had already killed one Of my young dogs
and was about turning his attention to
the others.
At sight of me he retreated toward
water hotel near by. the two remaining
dogs closely following him. The latter
paid no attention to my repeated calls and
WAS much afraid Of losing them. also.
A run Of 100 yards brought them to the
water hole and here the kangaroo again
stood at bay
Running up within few yards of him.
thinking only of my dogs, he suddenly
turned and sprang toward me. Stepping
back threw up my stick to strike. when
it parted in the middle. | had not oo.
served in my excitement, that it was
quite rotten.
The next instant the kangaroo's forelegs
encrcled my neck and was pressed close
ly to him. in the sti uRgle which ensued,
my left foot slipped down the steep bank
of the water hole a foot or more, where it
rested on q little ledge, and there | stood;
one foot on the bank, the other on the
ledge, and the kangaroo. with his fore
legs clasped closely around roy neck, nib
bling at my ear and scratching at myi eRs
and thighs with his sharp claws.
Finally, by great effort, succeeded in
TRIPPING HIM
up, and clasped in an altogether too warm
embrace, we rolled into the water hole
As soon as we entered the water, he let go
his hold, and | struck out as rapidly AS
possible for the bank. Upon regaining it
looked around to see what had become of
the old kangaroo.
He was swimming away from me with
all his might, and close behind him was
my old retriever.
The latter evidently knew what to do
under the circumsta noes, and | watched
h,s movements with much interest.
Comir up with the kangaroo, he seized
the latter by the back OF the neck, and
pulling his head under water, held it
there for several seconds. This operation
he repeated half dozen times or more
within couple of minutes. at the end of