The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-11
ODD ANlMALTRAPS In INDIA
FTERCEST OF BEASTS MADE TO COM
PASS THEIR OWN RUIN.

tives for Kidding Themselves of Formid-
able Pests-Tigers, Bears and Horrid
Snakes Frequent Victims of These Devices
THE aueerest tiger hunt in which It was ever
my good fortune to participate occurred near
primitive village In tho Punjaub some mil Is
west Of the dirty old city OF Kala Bagh." said
A. @. Thorpe, who recently returned from
northern India after absence OF several
years. No doubt as a child you have been
advised to catch birds by putting salt on their
tails Well. the means by which the tiger in
this case was baEged were equally absurd on
the surface. yet their success was as imme-
date and serious as could be.
One morning word was received In the vii
lnGe that a big tiger had been seen prowling
around in the neighborhood. and the natives
recovering from the panic into which they we're
thrown by the information. at once set about
TO give him warm reception. From q particu-
lar kind OF tree which is found all over northern
India they gathered an immense quantity OF
leaves about eight inches In diameter. thick
and as tough az good linen. Other trees whose
cap made heavy. glutinous paste were tapped
and the tough leaves were smeared with the
liquid. Then the natives carried the prepared
leaves short distance from the village and
covered the ground with them for radius OF
forty feet around big tree. turning each leaf
so that the paste plastcred side was uppermost
Next n small and loudly protesting pig was
twelve feet from the ground and there mado
secure. More than 100 natives armed with
spears hid themselves in the tops o! surround
ing trees. and all settled down to watch the
development OF events.
Two or three hours passed and (also
perched In a leafy retreat) was beginning
TO think that the tiger would not put in
on appearance. when there was the sound
Of stealthy step and the expected an
hp
ing near the pS-baited tree. Guided by
the senses OF hearing and smell. the big cat
had readily detected the presence of the young
porker. and as he came crouchinE along the
pig detected him and set up a deafening squeal
OF terror. Like n flash Of lightning the snu-
Gus body OF the tiger shot onward. but missed
the pig by good three feet. for tiger. as a
general thing. cannot leap more than nine or
ten feet vertically. although it is nothing for
him to cover at single bound IN ore than thirty
feet horizontally.
''Angered by his first defeat the tiger
crouched down and repeated the spring. but
still the screaming. terrorzed bait escaped
him. Determined to try again. the biz cat
gathered himself together in q tense knot. his
yellow eyes glancng with rage and his great
red tongue licking his chops in indication OF
his hunger. However. he did not spring for he
suddenly became aware that his paws we're COW
cred with the leaves and concluded to rid him
self OF the uncean accumulation before dining
on the porker. He stretched out the paws and
wiped them on the ground. only to gather up
few more OF the pasty leaves. Appar-
ently amazed by this extraordinary in
crease OF membranes the big cat then
wiped his paws on his body. thus transferring
the leaves to his sides and belly. This seemed
to relieve his mind and he put his paws on the
ground again as IL preparing to spring at the
pig. To his increased astonishment. he found
the paws again filled with the adhesive leaves
and his rage exceeded all bounds. Temporal
rly he lost sight OF the pig and and fell to
cleaning himself. with the result that his stripes
were soon obscured by mass OF green.
"Ai nom bers OF the cat tribe have habit OF
wiping their paws on their face and head. and
this tiger was no exception: but when the
paste got into his eyes 1t caused pain that
drove the animal almost out OF his head.
Down on the ground lie dung himself and be-
gan to roll over and over in his mad efforts to
free himself from tho leaves. which Of course
continued to multiply upon him until even his
tail looked like a healthy young tree bough.
Then, finding no relief in the rolling UP he
sprang and dashed biindly around in circle
until his head struck tree with resountinG
crash and bowled him over. n shrieking.
writing. hal-stunned tiger maniac Down
and. helpless IN his blindness and pain the
:ureI 10y thousand spear thrusts
The additionally Inventive Anne rican when
travelling in northern India cannot fail to be
by the EatiyS2 for the uLestFTHGeton OF TTbId
Theory, entertained ~ the natives is that nearly
all OF the animals which menace their lives and
the methods adopted for their destructon arc
usually simple and remark able for tho total
and English hunters Of big game deem essen
tial t. the thorough enjoyment Of their sport;
The idea OF the natives IS to mako the animal
tratcd 10y method employed in the PunJaub
The " Sear3 o: nporthern Inda are not so
strong, daring or fierce as tigers or lions. stil
pressed by hunger. In ono respect they are
more formidable than tigers. because the un-
scaling II tree. whereas the bear being an ex-
pert climber car easily ascend to the pursued
as much by The natives IS the hig cats, When
ever a bear is discovered prowln around tho
ou,Skirts 81 Village ,hS natives 5ssss tree
some fifteen OF eighteen feet above tho
The FORK. a Tuantty Of odorous goat i,esh ,.
honey or seine other dc!i"acy particularly ac-
bait and foot or So IN 'front.' Of it, IS saSpcndsd
. huge stone, weighing perhaps 300 pounds.
S3nsh Ihs stone torms " pe"dnnm Win It's
bulk protecting tho bait from bruin claws.
succnIcnt dainty Nr Bear climbs III" tree land and
mak"S his way c.umsily along the bouRh until
barred E9H iur.hsr pr?GrGs' oy hr sWnEnfs n:
paw. but being wholly ignorant o! merhanicS.
docs not calculate urOn the result OF this COM
nIUnIcHtiuu oi motion to the pcnduium. and so
permits the stone To swinG back and deal him
ruu~iGE thumI. Naturally the unexpected
assault pats INN in Il rage. ana h" pushes tho
Offending We, gnt away W!th renewed YigOr.
only l. b' the reri0.eut OF n still more painful
blow. VOC stubborn In contest AMI always a
Determined foe, the hear continues to push the
swinging sion" with ever Increasing energy
and to receive its assault until he Ia knocked
of the J0ugh ant falls stunned to the ground.
where, IL ncrrs sary, the natives, who have wit
S,.l he ,tIt 81 h,ltN AN hrlIf
from Places OF cunc"am"Et. rush up and de-
spatch him
Another automatic method frequently used
In the pun!auU to destroy maraudnE tigers
and lions * !Ihe this. 4 bow Of extra StUGtursS
IL fastourd in position about two feet from the
ground and u heavy arrow Is arranged that
the DowsLriuE Will bn rrIca7rd AMI the arrow
discharged with terrific fore" On swapping a
trigger. as IN q crOsShOw. Next piHc'o ri meat
is placed In front OF thu arrow aud attached 10y