The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-02-08
WITH THE CHETAH.
Thrilling Sport That Is Practiced in Hindus-


tan.
"Hunting with the chetah" is sport which
has been known for moro than 1000 years. It
Is still sometimes practced in India.
The chetah, commonly known as the hunt
ing leopard is taken, bound, and in a wagon,
to the scene of the sport. When his prey Is
sighted aud the wagon has been brought suf-
icisntly near, the animal is loosed from his
bonds says a writer in the Century.
In few minutes, that to our anxious minds
seemed interminabe, we managed to diminish
the distance TO the requisite point, and again
the straps were liberated. The hood was then
slipped from the chetah's head. He saw the
animals at once; his body qaivered all over
with excitement, the tail Strengthened, and the
hackles on his shoulders stood erect while his
eyes CLEANED, and he strained at the cord,
which was held short
In second it was unfastened, there was a
yellow streak in the air, and the chetah was
crouching low some yards away In this posi-
tion. and taking ad vantage of a certain uneven
ness of the ground which gave him cover he
stealthily crept forward toward buck that was
feed ing some distance away from the others.
Suddenly this antelope saw or scented his
enemy. for he was Off like the wind. He was,
however, too late; the chstah had been too
quick for him. All there was to be seen was
| flash, as the supreme rush was made.
This movement of the cbetah is said to be,
animal world. far surprising the speed OF a race
horse. Certainly it surprised all of u.s. who
were intentiy watching the details of the scene
| being enacted in our view. The pace was so
marvelously great that the chetah actually
sprang past the buck, although by this time the
terrified animal was fairly stretched out at
panic speed.
This overshooting the mark by the chetah
had the effect of driving the antelope, which
swerved off Immediately from his line, into
running round in q circle, with the chetah on
the outside.
The tongas were galloped up, and the excite
ment Of the occupants can hardly be described
| In my eagerness to see the finish. jumped of
and took to running. but the hunt was soon
over for before l could get quite up the chetah
got close up to the buck. and with a spring at
his launches brought him to the ground.
The leopard then suddenly released his hold.
| and sprang at his victims throat, throwing his
prey over on its back, where it was held when
| we arrived at the spot The chetsh was then
| crouching low. sucking the blood from the Jug
ular vein, while tenaciously cliuging with his
| mouth to the antelopes throat. The buck gave
| only few spasmodic jerks and appeared to be
dead, although probably not so In reality, but
| only paralyzed by fear.
| One of the men stopped down and plunged a
| knife into the bucks neck close to the spot
where tho chetah still held fast. This coup dc
| grace not only terminated the poor things ex-
| istence, but caused the blood to flow freely,
which one of the men proceeded to catch in a
| large wooden bowl with long handle, that he
| had brought for tho purpose.
| When this was full the hood was thrust over
the ehetah's eyes. his fetters were replaced and
| he was ultimately induced to let 90 his hold of
the antelope by the bowl of steaming hot blood
being slipped under his nose. Into this dainty
| reward for his trouble he at once plunged his
/ head. and with ferocious eagerness Tapped up
| the whole of il.