The National tribune., 1899-05-25

ical sky, cries Of prowling wild beasts
sounded with all that suggestive mean
ing derived from contrast. Fire-lights
cleaned upon fantastic picturesque fig
ures, a murmur of flowing water, OF sub
dued human voices, and sOitly-surring
leaves, mingled with snortS from horses
stamping impatiently. Beyond every
thing else in this country, cool breeze
gushed down from the mountains into
that vacuum which blazing day had
made.
These surroundings were very stimu-
lating TO after-dinner talk among men
who had seen and done things which,
compared with the experiences of ordi-
nary life, were like visionary acts in some
diStempered dream. So in easiest IN
dress this party sat around their mess
table, each contributing his quota as oc-
casion arose, and it would have been
very much 10 the Improvement of many a
closet naturalist if he had listened while
this camp-chat went on. 1t is likely,
however, that most people do not realize
what kind of an establishment a per-
fectly-appointed Indian hunting encamp-
ment is. Here, then, is the one with
whose fortunes we are concerned. Two
wall-tentS pitched on either side OF q
spacious marquee TO eat and lounge in,
and all with looped-up flaps for coolness'
sake; thus showing peg studded poles
that did duty as wardrobes, and Light
angarebs, or bedframes, which could be
Other furniture there was none, unless an
array of rifles and hog g-spears, with can
vas stools and bullOck-trunks, can be
included under that designation. An
open air kitchen lay behind the marquee,
a perfectly primitive arrangement OF mud
freplaceS and earthenware utensils, with
which native cooks, who tolerate no mod
ern innovations, do wonders.
lmpromptu graSs-thatched shelters
housed our shiliaris on one
side, body servants, grOomS, packers, etc,
on the other. Everything was neat and
well kept about these temporary dwell
ings, as, also, at the lines in rear, where
seven elephants stood Shachled to trees,
with hoppled camels, pack-ponies, and
our Arab or Australian hunters to ride
after wild hog. Some sport Of this latter
kind was ON the tapis for next morning;
but meanwhile we discussed first spears
at former runs and the prowess Of de
funct tuskers, with a pleasing assurance
that tigers were then tapping from those
waters which flowed near By, panthers
stealing among shadowy thickets close
around, while lordly elephants roanled,
and deep p-chested bison lay upon the
forested hills beyond. Here, also, wide
antlered sambur stays beiled ia hoarse
hollow tones, big blue nilghai crashed
through dense scrub where surly and
often dangerous black bears conducted
their nightly prowl5, and every little while
Il w0lf's wild howl came out Of surround
ing darkness.
1t was this latter suggestion which
started Hardinge on some talk that well
merits being recorded. 81 don't think,
he said, anyone ever becomes wholly in
different TO a VOLTS internal voice. 1t is
not so much because we have all been
frightened with these creatures while
children, as Tor the reason that their un
earthly intonatonS strike q keynote
which arouscs certain Interpretations
and wholly bodeful feelings few persons
are entirely free from. No. no." the Cap
tain continued, at a GiSparaging remark
with regard TO lupine fcrOcity and for
midabicncsS; "whcrcYer two wolves get
together there is dangcr-or. at least. its
possibility. The Indian species is smaller
than that OF either America or Europe,
and yet more human beings perish here,
throughout Indo- China, and certainly in
Burma, than anyone not cOnye!sant with
Official reports upon Asiatic CarG!VOra
could possibly believe. While ! was for
est officer, two days ride south OF this,
beyond Ram TAX, loss Of life among
coolies working on the Jubbulpur road
became for a time very serious. Two
wolveS-never more than two, according
TO any account received-would waylay
men, and while one sprang upon their
victim from behind the other tore out his
entrails.
"Ihcre is TO doubt about these facts
whatever, and although no one talks OF
i
to know from personal experience that
such creatures actually exist. Not in
packs, you understand, for nobody ques-
tonS what these can do and have done;
but by couples, or even singly. Few per
sons study authentic records relating 10
wild beasts OF destructive orders; conse-
quently, innumerable misconceptions and
aosuEoitics respecting their character be
conon prevalent"
There vas now general demand for
those observations to which HaTdinge had
referred, and he went on as follows: al
might point out" he said, 1.-The fact thatin
every country where they existed without
being met by an immediate and abso-
iuteiy overwhelming opposition, wolves
through sheer terrorism have STAMPED
themselves upon the myths, traditions,
folk tales, religions and poetry of mankind,
and upon all their darker superstitions.
as embodyins dread and supernatural
powers.