The Dickinson press., 1897-12-18
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ssEEaluNTsa iNstIl1sTRaEaA.
ehstIse Tt tlll n "a M. ss d d
sslssaid Che I'd r a 6 lllIji NJ
hnd ivad tiIsiIlail 10 iiS5sl& f1l q
fi1: "One II the most inseS i1td {ing
experiences Of my residence In Aus
tralia, where ! spspts ishopt two
weeks out on a large sheep range
owned by friend of mine. cams
from making the acquaintance Of
one Of the herders, who was q native
black and a great hand to trail bees
to their homes.
Zone day I asked permission to
accompany him on one 81 his trips,
and after a little deliberation he
consented. Before setting out he
provided himself. with q small bunch
Of cotton, a little gum of some sort
and bottle Of water. The care he
took in preparing these articles
aroused my curiosity, and when I
questioned him he; said. that they
were to be used in the hunt for hon.
ey. I failed to see how they could
be of service. but made up my mind
to watch closely and see what he
would do. .1
For some time we rode on in 81
lence. he all the time keeping q
sharp lookout for something which
I had not the. slightest idea of, and
when he suddenly refined in his
horse and started for a clamp Of
Towering bushes followed his ex-
ample and was somewhat astonished
when he lifted a warning finger and
pointed to a bee which was busy
gathering honey.
"Motioning me to remain quiet.
he drew out the water bottle, filed
his mouth, and then took asmall
tuft of the cotton, applied q bit Of
the gum to it and stepped toward
the bee. When he was close enough,
he eQuirted the water on. the bee,
and while 1t was trying to shake of
the water he deftly fastened the
i, cotton to its back and remounted
his horse. M
when the bee recovered the use
Of it's wings, it started of, across the
country, and we followed it It4waa
impossible for me to keep track d
the bee. but my companion neve1
lost sight Of it and followed it .un.
erringly as 1t. few along, uncon
sciously leading an enemy to itf
storehouse. We followed 1t for sew
eral miles until we reached a large
gum tree. An inspection showed
that we had. made. no mistake and
preparations were made for, snaokE
ing out the bees. 's% H''%
HE cut a hole in the lower par
Of the tree and kindled a. fire, across
which he laid number Of fresl
branches to create a smudge. To in
sure the smoke doing it's work prop
erly a sort Of screen was made t!
force the smoke into the hole, ant
In about half an hour the bees hat
become helpless, and We obtaine,
about 80 pounds Of honey. ..
I'VE were just getting ready t
return home when a peculiar look
ing little bird. somewhat large
than q sparrow, began to autte
around our heads and twitter. N,
companion gave, q cry of satiafao
ton and then started off pellmel
after the bird. I was at loss to ex
plain his action. but thought bea
to follow him. - * '
when I caught up with him, b
explained that the bird was honey
bird and wanted to ahew. .him2w 2wher
there; was Z honey tree HSvipj
never heard o{ a,aQk Athjpg;
thought that he, saa4 M IinSskam
of me, hpt His ser1A IN a1Al,
convinced ma and ] Aecida u kee|
on.
AFTER a chase Of several mile
the bird began to hover around
tree, and when we drew nearer v
saw baes issuing from 4 hole ip th
trunk. The former methods for se
curing the honey were put in opera
ton, the bird sitting ON aneasb
limb while the operation was goin
on. After securing the honey 4 POI
ton was set aside: for the bird, Z
my companion declared that unlee
he did 80 the bird would xsfuss t
guide him any more.
I'VE found several other trees an
marked them and reached the hous
In the evening. After supper M
host entertained me with an accouu
Of the amount Of honey which th
herder had gathered, stating that
one week the previous summer b
had secured nearly 1000 pounds.
"since leaving that place I hav
visited number Of large apiarie
In various countries and seen an
number Of devices for keeping bee,
but I have never met any one wh
made such an impression upon N
- that bee hunter with whom
spent day in southern Australia.
Rochester Union and Advertise
A handy device for lifting burr
ing stick Of wood or ooal IN q aI,ou<