The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-10
INDlA'S WILD BEES.
One of the Greatest Dangers to Which
Travellers In Asia are Exposed.

One of the Greatest Dangers to Which
Travellers In Asia are Exposed.
OF all the many dangers to which thu
wandering sportsman end traveller in
the wilds of India is exposed the most
singular is that Of being attacked and
stung to death by legion of the large
brown honey bee, called in the vernac-
ular language .Sarung." This fero-
clous insect needs no greater provoca-
ton than the report of gun, the smoke
OF campfire, or even the fracture of
his huge pendulous home by gust of
wind! He prefers the vicinity of water,
and hangs his honey receptacle to the
sides of steep cliffs, though inaccessible
structures of masonry, such as the arches
of city gates, bridges and palaces, in in
habited places, are often selected for his
stronghold.
remember at one gateway of Luck
now the heavy combs long existed with
out any hurt to the passengers; they
grew in size and weight till they were
dlslodged by a high wind; then the
winged army assaulted every living
thing it met. A proclamation was issued
by beat of drum that no man or beast
could pass that way, and this state of
siege lasted three days, the shops being
closed. Recently horde of this much
dreaded insect has established itself on
railway viaduct in Central India.
Printed notices are circulated that the
passengers must close their windows
before arrival at the spot, the noise and
vibration rendering these bees very war
like.
L have had many narrow escapes from
the flying furies, and once had the sa t.
lsfaction of seeing them turn their rage
from me, who had just fired heavy gun
at close quarters into big buffalo, to
the animal himself as he rushed head
long into the swarming masses crawling
up the trunk of an ancient tree. Such
sight as | shall never see again was tho
dusky cloud of swift avengers descend
ing on that bulls body, clad in sting
proof hide. With tail in air and head
lowered, the ponderous quadruped was
galloping over the bowlder-spread arm
OF river, dashing heavy stones around
his hoofs in a hasty retreat to the dense
forest. l, too, had betaken myself into
leafy concealment, through which l
speedily ran away. Many and unex-
pectcd accidents sometimes ending ia
tally have L known, for these bees give
no quarter. When their victim Jumps
into river, they hover over the sur
face till he reappears, and then stimuli
taneously swarm on his head; hence men
are often drowned.
Here is a sample of the disasters the
angry tenants of an old colony can in
flict: A troop of horse artillery had ar
rived in pleasant grove to encamp in
course of march. The men were busily
occupied in preparing for their rest,
and had begun to picket their horses,
when the smoke from cooks fire an
nOyed an unseen. bee haunt; as usual,
the irascible inmates swooped down on
every intruder, biped ard quadruped.
There was a general skedaddle. Man
and horse bolted across the plains, some
of the horses throwing themselves down,
and in their agonies smashing the sad
dies on their backs, many of them not
being caught for twenty-four hours.
Yet the aboriginal men, called Ghoods,
in the Nerbuddah districts, possess the
art of taking those great honeycombs
hanging in such tempting profusion
along the precipices along the rivers,
singing themselves by rude ropes Of
twisted bark, which, to my eye, looked
very hazardous. l did not venture to at
tend as an eyewitness, but was in
formed that these men rub their naked
bodies with the pounded leaves of
Ocymum sanctum Sacred BasiD, and at
the same time produce smoke from
some pungent herbs, under the fumes of
which they carry on their operations
with impunity. The early dawn is the
period chosen for the exploit. The honey
is of excellent quality, and this, with the
wax, constitutes large article of trade
for these wild men.-N. Y. Ledger.