The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-05-10
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A KANGAROO HUNT.
Exciting Sport IN which the Country
Youth OF Australia Indulge.

Exciting Sport ia which the Country
Youth Of Australia Indulge.
Kangaroo hunting, for pure sport,
forms one of the great pleasures of the
country youth of the Australias, and IN
fact of most of the adventurous of the
younger portion of the different COM
munities. 1t is sport requiring the
greatest GOODNESS and daring, if one is to
gain the coveted prize-the tail. pre-
sumo the fox hunt indulged in by the
Englishman or American has, though in
much less degree, the attraction a kan
garoo hunt has for the average Aus
tralian. suppose what makes the sport
so very exciting is the danger encounter
ed in pursuing the animal, the country
presenting so many obstacles dangerous
alike to man and horse, and the break
neck pace it is necessary to keep up to
follow the semi-hying "marsup" until
such time as he may become tagged out,
when, like a hon at bay, he will fight till
the last gasp.
While there is not any Of the ceremony
or dress incident to fox hunt in chas-
ing the kangaroo, there is no doubt il
is fully as enjoyable, the necessary re-
quirement being, if you are going to have
any fun, that you can ride and handle
horse perfectly, have fairly fast horse
and two or more fleet dogs. A party so
equipped will start from some given
place and make for the nearest rendez-
vous or camping ground of the kangaroo,
the object of the party being to get as
near as possible to their haunts before
being detected, all possible precautions
being taken to make no unnecessary
noise.
The kangaroos having a wonderfully
keen sense of smell, should the wind
favor them, it is sometimes not easy to
get very near them before they are
aware of their danger Their sense of
hearing being very acute, the least noise
made the better. They are, however, a
very near sighted animal. Immediately
the kangaroos perceive in what direction
the danger is coming from, if any, they
begin to act in manner worthy of the
greatest admiration. 1t is exceptional to
find them in groups of less than from
twelve to twenty in number.
The young members of the group are
the first to leave the camp, diverging
and scattering i'm all directions. Next in
order come the "old women" who get
away and follow the same tactics last of
the group to leave being the "old men,"
who remain as long as they think they
safely can, and then scamper off, each
one in an opposite and different direc.
tion, their aim for pursuing such tactics
being to puzzle and outwit the dogs,
which they frequently do. All this is
done within very short space of time.
When it is discovered that men and
dogs have been perceived it is the signal
to begin the chase. There is a rush,
'pell mefl;" the fun begins. Over ridges,
down gullies, through swamps, creeks,
broken country, rocks, etc, men, horses,
dogs, go at breakneck pace, the point
aimed at being to keep the "marsup" in
the open country. Should he succeed in
gaining the densely timbered forest, only
the more venturesome follow. They are
rewarded, however, by having tagged
out the victim, and the dogs begin to en-
| joy their part of the play.
The kangaroo, not being able to run
further, selects some tree, with his back
to which he faces and awaits his foes.
he has not long to wait. Your veteran
kangaroo dog exhibits rare caution in
conducting (for the kangaroo the un-
equal battle; but the younger and less
experienced brute will make a rush and
try to grab the silent victim by the
throat. He usually regrets his impetu-
osity, however, as those lower, powerful
limbs of the kangaroo, used with light
ming like rapidity and in terrible despera-
ton, send the dog bowling back with
wound that he, if he ever RECEIVERS, win
carry the marks of for the rest of his
natural life.
The dog who has been in hundred
wars or more will act in very different
manner from his younger brother. The
point of the marsupiars anatomy he
favors most is the tail, the object being
to unbalance the kangaroo and throw
him down; once they succeed in 80 doing
the silent victims moments are num-
bered; the throat is rushed for and it is
good-by, kangaroo. Then the tail is
taken as a trophy of the chase, and the
sportsmen repair to their respective
homes. Barrie in Shoe aud
Leather Reporter