Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-04-21
IN The JunaLEs OF MALAYSIA.
Wild Game in the Islands of Borneo,
Java and Sumatra.

Wild Game in the Islands of Borneo.
Java and Sumatra.
OF the three great islands of the
Malay peninsula, as a big game resort
Sumatra is said to be the best, Borneo
is the worst. In Sumatra all the great
mammalian varieties are to be found
the tiger, the elephant, rhinoceros, tn.
pir, orang-outang, siamang, etc, in
Java, the elephant, tapir 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 days. Sumatra offers
ess inducemcnt to the general order of
visitors than the other two mentioned
above for several reason. The climate
is worse, venomous snakes are more
numerous, and the greater part of the
island, which is still unopened up, is
occupied by Batall tribes, who do not
encourage strangers,
This part of the world has been en-
tensively colonized by the Dutch who
seem to have made themselves univer-
sally hated, owing to the hgh-handed
manner with which they treated the
natives. If the stranger can succeed in
persuading the Malay that though
white he is not Dutchman, he will
| probably be well received. People who
have had an opportunity of judging of
their character pronounce these natives
to be peaceable, docile, sober and in
dustrious, and the most truthful of the
Asiatic races, and, in addition, skillful
workers.
The shil1ari will 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 unfrequently
finding himself, like the Irishman in the
story, "up to the ankles in mud" but
as he forgot to mention, head down
ward" Added to this he must be pre-
pared to view verything through per-
feet maze of mosquitoes. Such is the
home of the white rhinoceros, and
thither the hunter must ven
ture who wishes to get shot
at him. This, it may be remarked,
is by no means Synonymous with
bagging his pachydcrmatous majesty.
Indeed, he oftcner than not turns the
tables on his pursuer and this consid-
erably takes the gilt off the 'shi-
karial' gingerbread. This monster is
said to be the only animal that will at
tack man unprovoked, and considering
that, unwieldy though he looks, he can
go as fast as q horse the encounter is
no joke. The rctreating hunters best
course is toseelI safety up u tree; though
unless it is pretty stout one, this will
not better his position much Even if il
is he may be "treed" there for a con-
siderable time Unless q European is
fever proof and provided with special
firearms this branch of sport is bette,
left untricd. However, should he be
sufficiently venturesomc to attempt the
Sumatra jungle in spite of the above
enumerated drawbacks, he will prob
ably find an undisturbed and we'll,
stocked hunting ground the island be-
ing, as l have been assured, fairly
creeping with tigers" The czarowit2
has survived his trip to these parts, sc
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
| Borneo. The most remarkable birds
were the hornbills, peacocl1s, pigeons OF
various kinds, and a very handsome
pheasant also several water birds, wad
ers and lovely kingfshers There ara
said to be no less than $40 species O.
land birds known to inhabit this isle O.
[ Java, while at least forty are peculiar
to it. On the other hand, no less thar
sixteen genera found in the adjacent
islands are absent from this one. Rhi
noceros, leopards, wild dogs, and Other
smaller game are to be met with, anc
deer are abundant, but there are NJ
antelope or goats.
To the botanist Java would be full o
interest, the beauty and variety of it
fora being amazing. This island il
very rich in fresh water fishes, reptiles
and insects of all kinds-too rich in thu
) two last named, some people think
, London Field.