The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-04-04

HON WILD ANIMALS ARE REARED
FOR ThE hGMACERlES.

riaii Lion Kennel Must he an interesting.
Place Tor Man III .tru,or.
For the last 2.0U9 years tAc seaports Of
nul tdcru Africa have been the Illilci4a
supply STATIONS Of the geological curiosity
market. Dlring the lHlnN days of tho
Circus laAImus the Roman p|ruvonsul
lii Hippo Resits hal special instructions
TO supervise tie weekly shipments OF
wild beasts. and our meilagerie nne
Still import Il large percentage Of their
live stock from Gran and Algiers. The
latter city, especially, has become Il rem
devious Of international pet dealers. and
ON my last visit 10 Antwerp Captain FL
lard. the travelling agent of the famous
| Haeenbeck sale mena&arie. gave me an
interesting account OF IL lion kennel in
the neighborhood of the ancient capital
Of the Algerian pirates.
In the arcades of the Palace Royale
and all along the steamboat wharves
strangers are troubled by the importu-
mites of beast dealers who bawl out the
merits of their pets. and in the ardor of
competition will not hesitate to thrust a
tame monkey into the arms of a possible
puIClldoCl. al q tClAt uCdl AC PAhALa VI
a French hotel Captain Ellard saw a ma
tive Arab with a dozen young lions. a
rying in price from 10 to Is francs. but
learning that the trader was merely a
salesman OF a wild beast farm in the
outskirts of the Carbah. the hill suburb
Of Aigiers. he resolved to apply at head
quarters. knowing from experience that
stock breeders are apt to keep their best
specimens at home.
The captains guide conducted him
through rubbish heaps and bramble
patches to IN inclosed garden. which al
first look might have been mistaken for
n of the numerous yesiras, or orchard
farms. in the neighborhood OF the al
gerian coast towns. But when they en-
tered the gate a young baboon leaped
down from the low stone wall and raced
toward his mother. who snatched him up
in her arms and hurried off with cough
ing barks of alarm.
Please keep on this side Of the road
said the guide. There's a she jackal
with pups under that bush over yonder
and she's very apt to fly at a stranger
Any way you please. Is that the
owner Of the place." pointing to an old
Arab. who was busy cleaning out a bar
red den-apparentlya natural cave fitted
up for the purpose of a kennel.
Yes. that's the sheikh: that's Ben
Kotfa. said the guide. He used to be
chief OF a little mountain tribe, but the
war ruined them. He's all right now
They can't break up his present business
as long as the people in Franciscan buy
wood devils" tshat-e!-Kamr-a generic
name for c%arniyorous animals, or ''ver-
mint" AS u trappers would call them
The sheikh dropped his rake and vel
coined the captain, who stepped back to
ave his clothes from two baby lions that
had squeezed out of their cage and began
to play with his trousers.
Some half grown brethren of the young
baboon had emerged from their hiding
place under the house and at ono pro
ceeded to illustrate their peculiar talent
by upsetting a dish of milk before the
old Arab could kick them out of the way
Seeing n Of the young lions help him
self to the spilled milk. they grabbed
him by the tail and got their faces
scratched for their trouble, but in the
ensuing scrimmage four pairs Of fists
threatened to prevail against two pairs OF
immature claws. when the old lioness in
the cage rose up with a menacing growl
that sent the 4-handers scampering off
with scream of dismay. One Of the Sc
Nor balloons then appeared IN the scene,
but vanished like a shot when the sheikh
made a grab for his rake. The captain
burst out laughing.
You may believe it keeps me busy to
straighten ont this mob Of rascals," said
the old Arab. but in the long run it's
the cheapest plan to give them as much
freedom as possible. They live just
twice y long and are not SO apt to get
baldheaded with inconsistencies"
But suppose those young scamps
should run into . gang Of your jackals,
would not some Of them be apt to get
badly hurty'
Il don't think they would" said tho
sheikh. They get along in peace just
the same as out in the wilderness. Jack.
ais, you know. live on meat and balloons
IN berries and roots. &c they do not in.
terfere with each others business. II
would be different with some other crea-
lures. have q cageful of wildcats from
Mount Atlas. and when one of them got
put q few weeks ago you could hear my
dogs aud jackals howl all over the town.
ship A dog and all his cousins seem to
have an idea that = small sized cat has
got no right to be alive anyhow. About
the big cats. like lions and leopards. they
are a little more careful"
How many of the big kind have you
altogether"
Five leopards and % lions" said the
sheikh. They are in the main kennel
on the other side Of the wall. but it's
safer to keep the younger ones near the
house."
1T must cost you a pretty penny to
feed all those boarders":
..Yes. but scrap meat is cheap in a
place like this. Why. do you know that
you can get some Of it for less than moth
inO? The CITY several times Maid me Z