New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-27
ANIMALS IN INDIA.
THEIR LIFE AND POPULAR RELATIONS.

Indian Animals In their Relations With the People
By John Lockwood Kipling. C. /. f.. with llustia-
tons. svo PIP. XII, 40l. Macmillan Co.
The primary purpose of Mr. Kiplng's handsome
book is TO show that the ascrption to the people
of India Of n tenderness toward animals surpass-
ing that found in the Western World is not in
accordance with facts; but the author soon
gldes into o pleasant line of talk about animals
and their ways, and only occasionally reverts 10
his original design His contention is that the
Hndus are, as rule not controlled by the ancient
vedc laws and principles. He maintains that as
matter of fact the Vedas have long since CEASED
70 have any influence on popular thought ana
action; that the people really treat anlhais
with cruelty, subject 20 superstitous exceptions :
and that even their sacred animals are often'neg-
lected and not iufrcquently abused. Even among
the Parsces who have long had what are cailed
beast hospitals, Mr.. Kipling asserts that nothing
curative is done for the inmates OF these places
who are really only provided with food and smell
ter, no care being taken to attend to their dis
cases and injuries The mass OF the pople en-
Libit a shocking indifference to the sunerines OF
wounded animals. This is due partly to their
religious beliefs, which forbid them from assist
ing creatures stricken down by karma, as In the
nature of impous attempt to interfere with
the laws of life. Thus. if horse breaks its leg
it is left by the roadside to die lingering death
No Hindu would kill it, as we say, to put it
out of its misery" but would shrink from such a
deed as in the highest degree sacrilegious The
beasts which sacred, however, as for instance,
monkeys, are allowed great privileges. These
creatures tax. toll of whatever food products they
prefer, raidng tie shops in the towns TO the Sc
rious injury of the dealers who dare not protest
or interfere with them. Where the monkeys most
ccngregate as around the temples dedicated to the
worship of Hanuman. the famous monkcy-god,
whose feas:s are recorded in the Ramayana. the
siRians constitute q firStclass nuisance. Iney
not only help themselves freely 20 food, but they
are expert thieves and take anything that catch
Is their fancy, merely for The sake of gratifying
their mischievous tendencies. Mr.. Kiping has
collected quite a number of good monkey stories.
The birds are placed in the same category as re-
CARDS immunity. No native would think Of kill
ing them, even when their dcpredatons upon the
growing crops threaten the owner with famine
The most that is done in the way of self-protcc-
ton is to erect platform in the middle of the
field and station boy there 10 make noises IN
tended TO frighten away the fcathered marauders.
The Indian crow is the most impudent offender.
II is quite common for people eating in the open
air TO have the food snatched out Of their hands
by these audacious birds, who will sometimes go
by entering through the open window. In many
respects the Indian crow resembles his European
and American congener. Everywhere he is impu-
dent and full of guile; but in India all his worst
qualities are exaggerated by ages of indulgence.
Next TO the crow in mischief-or perhaps tefore
Lini-comes the parrot. The wisdom OF the
village" says Mr. Kipling, says that public ca
lamities are severe, and are visitstions of God.-
drouth foods, locusts, rats parrots, tyranny and
INVASION
1t is interesting and suggestive TO learn that
though the defence OF their own cultivation by the
Indian farmer has not induced him to make war
upon the predictions birds, greed Of gain has led
30 the Inauguration of wholesale slaughter among
them. The decree of Western fashion that birds
must be worn in womcns hats and bonnets was of
fatal import to the birds of India, who have been
pursued and slain ruthlcssly ever since. Perhaps
some day Fashion may take within 10 adopt snake
skins for decorative purposes in which event the
proportion of lives annually sacrificed to venomous
reptiles in Hindustan may be somewhat reduced
but Fashion generally takes care not to adopt any
fancy which may be useful or benelicent. The
Indian parrakeet is often trained as public per-
former, and goes through all the tricks taught
elsewhere 10 canares, white mice, etc. There are
all kinds Of superstitions connected with the par
ret. Mr.. Kiping tells the following story about
one Of these In the Punjah Hmalaya there is a
whimsical superstition that when a parrots cage
hangs over the door whence a bridegroom issues
to be married, il is highly auspicous, but that
something dreadful will happen il he passes under
il on any other errand. This fancy once caused
some trouble TO a political officer of Govern
ment in charge of hill State The youthful RaJa
was to be married, and on the eve OF the event
while there still much business TO be done, he
do
the palace the inmates of which promptly hung a
parrot over the door. 1t was necessary, for many
and urgent reasons, to withdraw the boy from his
female relatives but the little council of the State
was sorely puzzled. 1t would be awful thing
to make the Raa pass under the cage. Could he
lie brought on ~ some other door behind, OF even
fshed up through a hole made in the roof? Al
last grave old Vazir came III and asked with an
innocent air: Is il quite certain that the cage
is there p 1t was quite certain. Then,' said
the old gentleman silly, My eyes are dim, for
did not sec it as passed.but now The Council
went TO see were greatly relieved TO find the cage
gore, and made great pretence Of wondering how
il came about. While they were celebrating Will
Characteristic Hindu hesitation and tiidty, he haC
ordered mental, Indifferent TO omens, to carry il
off. So the young Raja was rescued from his fac
tious womcn-fok, and came OUT
Mr.. Kipling relates curious story apropos of a
popular article of faith The people believe that il
impossible TO poison monkey, and this belief ha:
been held for ages. Thus the compiler of al
Arabic encyclopaedia in the tenth century wrote
that most Chinese and Hindu Kings keep wise and
dumb monkeys tasters for their tables, relying
implicitly on their judgment of what is poisoned
and what is wholesome" But here is the story 4" A
native gentleman told me of cultivator in the bill
rrhg Vrerc
that I've determined TO get rid of his enemies. 81
lie daily set out plattcrs OF boiled rice which they
greeJily ate. When they had learned the habit
OF coming in crowds, he one day set out ric'
poisoned with tastelcss drug. He heard great
Ter and uhininn rnmnl his 1rcac hcrols plat