Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-10-04
ENORMOUS MALAY eIsoNs.

Terrible Battle Detween Some Of the
Great Beasts In u suitan's Krah'.
His liighness the Sultan OF Pahang.
In tho Malay Peninsula, can claim to
have introduced n decldc.y novel fea-
ture into Oriental sport since he has
Just brought his great bison kraal TO a
successful issue. The bison OF the Ma
lay Peninsula, called shading by tho
Malays, corresponds linost exactly
with the Indian gaur, but II has never
been decided by naturalists whether 1t
is the true Gavenus gaurus or not, as
1t is seldom caught or shot, and the few
trophies existing are imperfect and do
not afford conclusive 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 score, some
times singly, and occasionally In cou-
pies, in the steep, densely-wooded hills,
and rarely issuing from their seclusion
except at night
The Sultan. who usually resides at
Pekan, the capital OF Pahang, removed
to Pulan 1awer 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, so as 10 inclose the
entire promontory, except that part In
connection with tho mainland, which
was TO be left undisturbed until tho
herd we're found to have entered OF
their own accord. which they were ex-
pected TO do about tho end OF April
However, there was CONSERVATION and
confusion in tho camp when at day
break April it was discovered that u
large herd OF bisons had found their
way on to the promontory during the
night and still remained there Only
abou. a mile OF the barricade had been
completed. and there remained another
milo and half 10 be done before tho
beasts could be surrounded.
The whole force Of mon. which had
been steadily increasing in numbers.
and now amounted to over 1900. were
Immediately put on to complete the
fence. which they succeeded In doing
by nightfall, to the surprise OF every
one, including themselves The bison
we're now safe inside. In one corner
Of the kraal. some fifty yards from the
river, and we'll above it. a smaller in
closure about twonty 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 beaters'
and wild with fear. the great creatures
appeared almost mad. and rushed about
attacking each other with undescriba'
BILE fury. They continued to charge
and fight like demons, amid the yell'
ind cheers OF the excited crowd. until
at nightfall ten OF the noble beasts lay
dead or dying. Two more succumbed
during the night, and it was pitiable
sight next morning TO see the twelve
survivors all jaded and gory-utterly
exhausted. but still vicious and game.
Four OF tho slain-two bulls and two
cows-measured eighteen hands ant
over in height at the dorsal ridge On'
huge bull. tho 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 thes'
and sent down to Pekin. distance o
$50 miles; the others will follow In du'
course. At the time OF writing larg'
COW and two smaller ones are at Pekin
The large COW. which was presented Il
the Resident, has been generously OF
fered to the Singapore Museum, and L
now being skinned and prepared prio
to being set up there. Another ha'
been presented to the Governor, and II
now on its way to Singapore alive
The large COW measures eighteen
hands one inch at the dorsal ridge and
sixteen hands three inches In height al
the shoulder. 1t is to be hoped thai
the bison will now be identified. so as
TO definitely settle the vexed question
rs to whether the Malay bison or In
dian gaur are the same species. Two
tigers were caught in the kraal. bu
both made their escape. Several dec
and pigs, however. were successful!
captured. 1t was intended to send on
or two OF the live bisons to England.
possible, as one has never been seq
there. However. there is but littl
chance Of their ever living in captivit.
or standing the voyage. This is be
lieved to be the first large bison kraa
on record. London Field.