River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-04-20
BIG GAME RESORTS
Wild Animals That Roam In the Jungies
af NaIaxsia


OF the three great islands OF the
Malay peninsula, as a big game resort.
Sumatra is said to be the best. Borneo
the worst. In Sumatra all the great
mammalian varieties are TO be found
the tiger, the elephant. the rhinoceros,
tapir and orang-outang; in Java, the
elephant, iapir and orang-outang are
missing. but the rhinoceros and tiger
are represented. In Borneo all these
large animals are unknown now,
though, doubtless, they existed there
in former years.
Sumatra offers less inducement IA the
general order of visitors than the other
two mentioned above, for several rea-
sons. The climate is worse, veDomous
snakes are more numerous. and the
greater part of the island, which is still
unopened up, is occupied by Batak
tribes, who do not encourage stran gers.
This part Of the world has been ex-
tensively colonized by the Dutch, who
seem to have made themselves univer-
sally hated. owing TO the hlgh-handed
manner with which they treated the
natives If the stranger can succeed in
persuading the Malay that. though
white, he is not a Dutchman, he will
probably be well received. People who
have had an opportunity of Judging of
their character, pronounce these ma
tives to be peaceab BILE, docile, sober and
Industrious, and the most truthful of
the Asiatic races; and, in addition, skill
full workers
The shilSari viii find the going bad
in such regions as have no roads. For
hours. sometimes. he will have to wade
waist deep in Shiny slush, not unfre-
quentIy finding himself. like the Irish
man in the story, mp to the ankles in
mud" but. as he forgot to mention.
mead downward" Added to this.
he must be prepared to view every
thing through a perfect maze of mos
qgitoes. Such is the home of the white
rhinoceros, and thither the hunter
must venture who wishes to get a shot
at him.
This, it may be remarked. IS by no
means synonymous with bagging his
pachydermatous majesty. Indeed, he
oftener than not turns the tables on
his pursuer. and this considerably
takes the gilt off the ''shkariar GIN
gerbread. The monster is said To be
the only animal that will attack man
unprovol1ed, and considering that. UNI
wieldy though he looks, he can go as
fast as horse. the encounter is no joke.
The retreating hunters best course
is To seek safety up n tree; though, nm
less it is a pretty stout one, this will
not better his position much. Even if
it is he may be freed there for con
siderable time. Unless a European is
quite fever proof, and provided with
special firearms, this branch of sport is
better left untried.
However should he be sufficiently
venturesome to attempt the Sumatra
iungles in spite of the above enumer-
ated draw backs, he will probably find
an undisturbed and xell-stoclIed hunt.
ing ground, the island being, as the ma.
tives say. fairly creeping with tigers.
The czarowitz has survived his trip in
these parts, so that there is no reason
why others should be deferred, so long
as they use ordinary care.
Monkeys abound in endless variety in
all these islands, but especially in Bor-
neo. The most remarkable birds were
the hornbils, peacocls, pigeons of va
rious kinds, and a very handsome
pheasant; also, several water birds,
waders and lovely kingfshers. There
are said to be no lese than two hundred
and forty species of land birds known
to inhabit this island of Java, while at
least forty are peculiar TO it.
On the other had. no less than sixteen
genera found in the adjacent islands
are absent from this one. Rhinoceros.
leopards, wild dogs, and other smaller
game, are to be met with. and deer are
abundant, but there are no antelope or
goats
TO the botanist Java would he full Of
interest, the beauty and Sasietv &c T.
fora being amazing. The island is
very rich in fresh-water fishes, reptiles
| and insects of all kinds--too rich in the
last two named. some people think
l.. Field, in Golden Days.