The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-11-28
AkiTTEN OF THE AMAZON.
Interesting Ways of Young Cougar
Reared Under Kindly Treatment.
(From the Youths Companion. }


and watching her loaiing at a port of
the Amazon when a fellow passenger
besid mo cried:
What an enormous lead they are
bringing aboard -
Well might he call her so, though she
was then but two months old. Hour
weeks later she weighed over forty
pounds, and was feet inches long
from the muzzle to the tip of her tail
She was, in fact, young cougar or
striped puma-always called tiger in ssthe
Guisnas-one of a litter that had been
captured by an Indian of the Amazon
when they were very young. He had sold
this one to Capt. Crimp of the Hubert,
who was now taking her ito Barbados.
There he gave her t the Marine Hotel
at Hastings. whore l stayed for some
weeks and completed my acquaintance
with her ladyship.
On first seeing her she looked SO dan
geEous that had no expe citation of reck-
oning her among my cat friends, and /
gave her no attention. but the next day
at sea- l saw that she was suffering
thirst.
II give her water once day, and then
she takes very little--of it, ''said the sailor
who had her in charge
So had basin of water put nea her
OF which she Tapped little many times
dag, as cats will, and for this she was
PROBABLY grateful. Moreover, | placed
steamer chair SO that she could lie in
its shade.
The next day, while 1 was reading
hay she ah1 ell
thing placed on my knee, ana looking
Gown saw "Tiger's" chin, and her two
great brown eyes looking IN at me; SO
lt.was plain thai she was affeoti onately
disposed. After this frequently spoke
to and stroked her, with such results
that one evening when she slipped bher
chain and sneaked away unseen they
found her under the berth in my cabin
which she had ''smelled OUT for mine
So, at any rate, the sailors insisted,
probably with good reason.
Her fr endship was not an unalloyed
pleasure, as the sailor, Williams, who
fed her, had occasion to know. Being
fond of her, he would sometimes roll
over and over with h'r a sport which
she evidently enjoyed, but now and then
she would bite him playfully, but so
hard that he had to yell, stout seaman
though he was. After such an OCCUR
renee he would punish her by avoiding
her for day or SO, and then she would
utter what we spoke of as her Glove
call, !" for an hour or more. until he
came and was "good friends" once more
This love call is a very curious sound
chirrup or musical whistle as if from
the throat of bird. When I first heard
1t her head and paws were in my lap,
but did not perceive the sound to be
hers.
Where is the bird ?" asked her at
tendant sailor.
BIRD be blowed. 1t is the tiger"
said he.
gone evening when went into the.trunk
room for some Gle an clothing, found
Tiger seated near me on a barrel, and
as stopped to unlock my trunk her
strong paws olasped me around the neck
from behind and her hot breath painted
in my ear. ] dared not move: her claws
were sharp, and knew they would press
In terribly If tried to put her away;
could only think, what will be, will
be-" Then she laid her soft muzzls
against my cheek. and her hold re-
Taxed. After that had little fear of my
friend.
At the Marine Hotel they Kept her
chained, by light iron chain sixteen
feet long, to an iron stake in the court
yard SO that she could roll in the grass,
lie on the veranda, or go to bed under
arches safely sheltered from rain or
wing. Here had much opportunity
Tor study her pecuiiarities.
She cannot NEW, as domestic cat
Ices. but she purrs gruffly, though never
or more than short time. The pupils
ri her eyes do not contract to an upright
Hit like those of the house cat, but are
tound in all lights. She is fond OF water;
loves to lie in the puddles after rain, and
will often make an artificial puddle to
sprawl in by upsetting h.r water dish.
Like many house cat, it pleases her
to be lifted and carried about by a
friend; she loves to sit in ones lap; to
curl up in a big arm chair also delights
her. OF her familiar pet names abe is
so fond that she wi II soon notice them
II they are uttered caressinaly even from
guiar love call. Invariably she cbirrups
welcome when the hotel doors are |
Dpenei by the Waterman In thesmornina |
which shows pretty clearly THAT she has
missed human companylduring the night |
She enjoys being stroked or scratched on
but allows nobody to NEEDLE with her
bind legs nor with her tail. Taylor, a |
solorad man at the hotel, made rapid
strides in her favor by ruL hing his head
against hers. When l did the same she
showed the liveliest affection, and then
surmised that she had been seek ing
shis caress when she put her paws round
my neck in the trunk room on the steam
er.
She likes to humble friends hand In
her mouth, or to chew gently on a
thumb; when she. djd7this to me In the
dark she would frequ emily stop and lick
my hand as if to reassure me. AS o
favoS she will give her paw to be held,
RndZhe likes to lie in touch with a
hisnd's foot: evidently such personal
CONTACT is with Der a sign of Affection
She is very fond of human company and
when witness is present plays much |
moro gayly than when she thinks sbs is |
unehsesved Music quite fascinates her;
when the music box of the hotel In set |
going, or when the maids sing in the |
kitchen or laundry, she is sure to perch |
On the steps and listen, whether by day |
or by night. os Z n
White cloth and red cloth seem to |
please her particularly. I have seen her
carry white silk handkerchief for ten |
N inutss without tearing it in the least. |
Cnce shs severely wrenched one Of her fore |
paws by leaping with complication of |
bar chain, and during the weeks while
her hurt was mepding she would lie for
bcUrs IN her side. gently rolling a white