The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11

and had some interesting eAPeAienSSs
among the natives.
In Cochin China he spent several
months. His time there was devoted to
hun ting for the peculiar deer indigenous
to that country. He also visited the Tor
ests and hunted for the extraordinary
beautiful leopards that abound there. In
Cambodia he also hunted for this game
and for many other varieties. Cambodla
he says, is a magnificent game country. i
abounds in big game of nearly all kinds
and is, according to Lieutenant Polo
the paradise of sportsmen. In Tonquln
where he met many friends from France
he also hunted for leopards, as well as
tigers. 1t was with the tigers he had his
most exciting experiences. The iieuten'
ant told about these yesterday.
II suppose it falls to the lot OF few
hunters" he said, ''to have the rare sea-
son of enjoyment which Ihave for over
year past experienced. In nearly all the
countries | have visited-at least where
remained any length of time
went on hunting forays. But it was IN
Cochin China, Cambo and Tonquin
that 1 enjoyed myself the. most. There
the wild game abounds in profusion.
"Cam bodia, which is very beautiful
country, with flowing rivers and pic
turesque scenery. IS a great country for
tigers; they are very big and powerful,
though l cannot say their skins are al
ways the best. But when it comes to size,
strength and agility they beat any tigers
that l have ever seen.
ssIn company with several friends of
mine we went after these tigers. We were
armed mainly with fine express rifles.
There were some other guns used that
were supposed not to possess any particu-
lar merit. They were all, however, useful
in these experiences; for they were
thrilling, and required not only great
vigilance at times, but a promptness of
action only necessary in wilderness
where vicious animals abound.
ITO get these wild animals in Cambodia
we organized large party, being made
up of a number of the most experienced
tiger-hunters, and we had with us a re-
tinue of natives who beat gongs and rang
bells and made all kinds of queer noises
in order to drive the tigers from their lair.
We invaded the forests. we did not seek
for the tigers in the open, for in Cambodia
they are most numerous in the thick
woods.
"When we had selected what we consid-
cred a rendezvous of the wild beasts. we
surrounded it with the native gong-beaters
and bell-ringers. We had previously taken
the precaution to erect a high scsffold. or
platform, and on this we, who proposed to
shoot the tigers, took up our position. If
it were at night, we had blazing fires to
light the forests.
I'VE were very successful in our endeav-
ors and before we had got through we sue
ceeded IN killing no less than seven tigers.
Besides these we killed large mum ber of
leopards. When the natives on the out
skirts raised their cries and sounded their
bells and gongs, the animals whatever they
were fed toward US, and then all we had
to do was to exert our utmost skill in
bringing them down. Some of the ami
mails, especially the tigers. were very
fierce, and had we thrown ourselves need
lessly before Them we would have had
some personal encounters that might have
resulted in death.
'sAs it was, nothing of this kind hap
pened, but may say that it is certainly q
very vivid experience that one has, espe-
ciaIly if it be at night, when among
the soughing OF the branches and per-
haps amid the occasional falling of rain
YOU hear at first the weird sounds of the
bells and gongs, the far-away shouts of
the natives, and then presently see the