Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-07
INDIAN BEAR CATCHING.
The Methods Adopted by Natives for
the UndOing of Bruin.

From the New York Sun.
The additionally inventive American
when travelling in northern India cannot
fail to be interested by the ingenious meth
DDS employed by the natives for the de-
struction of wild animals continued Mr.
Thorpe. THE theory entertained by the
natives is that nearly all of the animals
which menace their lives and property are
merely greedy imbeciles; hence the methods
adopted for their destruction are usually
simple and remarkable for the total abb
sence of that personal risk which American
and English hunters of big game deem es-
sential to the thorough enjoyment of their
sport. The idea of the natives is to make
the animal destroy himself if possible which
is well illustrated by a method employed
in the Punjauh for the undoing of predatory
bears.
The bears of northern India are not so
strong, daring fierce as tigers or lions,
still they are dangerous foes to encounter
when pressed by hunger. In one respect
they are more formidable than tigers. be-
cause the unarmed man can always escape
from a tiger by scaling a tree, whereas the
bear, being an expert climber, can easily
ascend to the pursued mans retreat; so for
this reason he is feared as much by the ma
tives the big cats. Whenever a bear Is
discovered prowling around the outskirts or
a village the natives select tree with a
stout bough stretching out horizontally
some fifteen or eighteen feet above the
ground and fasten to it, about ten feet from
the fork, a quantity of odorous goat flesh,
honey or some other delicacy particularly
acceptable to the beasts palate. Just above
the bait and foot so in front of it Is
suspended a huge stone, weighing perhaps
200 pounds, by means of a rope attached
to an oVerhanging bough- This stone forms
a pendulum with its bulk protecting the
bait from bruins claws.
Tempted by the honey, goat flesh or
other succulent dainty, Mr.. Bear climbs the
tree and makes his way clumsily along the
bough until barred from further progress
by the swinging stone. This he attempts to
push aside with his paw, but, being wholly
ignorant of mechanics, does not calculate
upon the result of this communication of
motion to the pendulum, and so permits
the stone to swing back and deal him a
rousing thump. Naturally the unexpected
assault puts him in a rage, and he pushes
the offending weight away with renewed
vigor, only to be the recipient of a still
more painful blow. Too stubborn in contest
and always determined foe, the bear con-
tinues to push the swinging stone with ever
increasing energy and to receive its assault
until he is knocked off the bough and falls
stunned to the ground, where, If necessary,
the natives, who have witnessed the con-
test between stone and brute from places OF
concealment rush up and dispatch him.
Another automatic method frequently
used in the Punjaub to destroy marauding
tigers and lions Is like this: A bow OF eX-
ira stoutness is fastened in position about
two feet from the ground and heavy ar
row is so arranged that the bowstring will
be released and the arrow discharged with
terrific force on swapping trigger, as IN
a crossbow. Next piece of meat is placed
In front of the arrow and attached by
cord to the trigger. Great stakes are driven
into the ground on all sides of the bow and
arrow except directly in front to prevent the
lion or tiger from reaching the bait side
ways and to guard against the accidental
discharge of the arrow. So when the eX-
ers the opening in front of the Enclosure and
the bait placed there in an appetizing way,
springs upon the meat and receives the ar
row deep in its breast.
TN the mountainous districts of northern
India the natives are much troubled by
wolves, and for their destruction often rely
on a method which is entirely automatic
and needs no subsequent Intervention on