The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-12-08
HUNTING THE CHINcHILLA
Dynamite Used In the Capture OF the Little
Fur Bearing Rodent

Fur Bearing Rodent
Killing chinchilla with the aid
dynamite is one of the lucrative p.
times of the South African Indians
which enriches the commerce OF the
world very considerably. This season
more than ever before chinchilla has
been the fashionable fur used In tine
manufacture Of cloaks, muffs and Ior
the trimming of costly hats.
High in the mountains the nimbie-
footed chinchilla are caught and killed
by half-savage Indians. Tact and
skill are needed to allure the cautious
little animal from its hole In the earth.
Originally the Indians used to use
cactus prongs. which are long ana
sharp. to capture them in their hoies
nv impaling them on the end OF tnls
natural formed spear. This pune
tured the skin and impaired its value.
The trappers tried to smoke the chin
chilla out by making great nres near
tho entrance of the burrows, but the
smoke. it was found, caused the skin
to turn yellow, which seriously de-
nreciated its value. Now the more
progressive Indians use dynamite.
After locating the chinchilla they
form a network of grass and hardy
nlants. which Is placed around the
hill ON which the animal digs Its
holes. A dynamite cartridge, with
fine fuse attached, is then dis
charged in the center OF the net,
which frightens the chinchilla so that
they leave their holes and. scamper in
side the net. The Indians then dash
into the arena with clubs and Kill
them by striking them over the head.
This is considered the easiest and best
method of killing them, as it does not
In any way damage the skins, which
vary in value from So to $15 each.
When it Is considered that as many
as 100 animals are killed in one sortie
of this character the value OF the
skins to the Indians, who are shrewd
commercial traders. may be imagined.
Some of the tribes own ferrets'
which they use to good advantage
They nav as much as So for one. The
ferrets are taken to the mountain
tons and sent through the burrows
chasing the chinchilla out into. the
omen. where they are dubbed to death
with celebrity by the waiting lnolans
The skins are removed immediatei!
and placed on shrubs to dry. Tn'
evening meal of the trappers oftel
consists of the bodies Of the slain rod
ents the meat of which is white ant
tender The hearts of the latter ar
given to the ferrets. as a requital 10
their work.
A great part Of the trapping is dom
at night. the chinchilla seldom Delh'
visible in the day time. The night
are cool and clear, and there Dein
but little vegetation at the heign
where the chinchilla are caught, IN
mountains are for long period eac
month illuminated by the rays Oh III
moon. enabling the Indians to NOV
obout with great agility for their pre-.
The chinchilla lives principally
, herbs. and often when they come on
TO feed are trapped by the Indians.
: Four times year the tribes descen
into the semi-civillzed village at Gu
, base of the mountains with the
+. skins. There they are met by u
= agents of the various European
" bouses. One American house has Il
representative there, too. Inc occI
!, .;on Of the Indians arrival is usuai
= made a religious festival.
= George Herzig. the only America
.. agent there, s4vs he paid enc tril
4 of thirty Indians for the firm !
whom he was employed as much
D. $50 OOO-in native money, which
:. equivalent to $4,000 in Americ,
), - money-last year for skins. TINS U
= Indians converted principally ID
mule and llama stocks, by whicn III
estimate their wealth. - Chica
- Times-Herald.