Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1900-11-08

story Of AN Exciting Hunt After On
Extraordinary Monster In Java

Extraordinary Monster In Java
| II may probably interest some readers
who have never yet heard Of the brute 70
learn that there IL still existing IN the
island Of Java an aninai-or. father, q
reptile-which seems TO be the missing
link between the fchthyosaurf OF prenis-
sor1c days and the well-knovn saurians OF
present times. This animal is, 1t appears
known to the natives by the name OF I'm
gufn;' and at the suggestion OF my frieno.
Baron Alfons Pereira- consul-general OF
Austria-Hungary. in Tlnis. I propose TO
aarrate how he was some years ago fortu-
aate enough to shoot one OF these strange
monsters
The Baron IL particularly anxious that
Eheuld put the circumstances on record.
as he has always found when he has re-
counted the existence OF and destruction
By him Of one Of the brutes that II has
been treated as mere travellers tale.
Moreover, during the years which have
elapsed since he shot the ungutnS Baron
Pereira has never seen any picture or 40
sount Of the huge reptile in any natural
history book, except a representation OF
an ichthyosaurus; nor has be seen any
ming approach It in appearance in any
geological collection that he has ever Wis
ned. Fortunately, however. the Baron has
recently received in letter, written TO
Count Mailath. one OF his friends, who
made inquiries on the subject in Java, a
iirect confirmation of his own experiences.
and there can therefore be no doubt Of the
existence of this strange beast In the b
land. ..'-'
I shall now try to give the Baron's ex-
perience in his own words. but before
doing so must remark that he has painted
for me an excellent picture Of the inguin
being attacked by the Javanese native,
after he had himself wounded it with his
rife.
But now to the story.
81 was" says Baron Perefrl, lone morn
Ing in February. 1869 travelling in a large
yavanese canoe with the Assistant Resi-
dent Metman, himself a well-known
yportsman Dawn had only just broken
when we found ourselves close to the
mouth of the Batavia river. At this point
the water was salt, and there was con-
siderable swell caused by the waves OF
the sea running up against the tide AS we
advanced the rowers had considerable diff
hculty in making Roadway against the
morning breeze Suddenly there was enor-
nous excitement among the crew OF Ma
lays who manned the boat. 'Linguin! Lin
guin" heard repeated on all sides. Lin
gum! Linguin" repeated the steersman
sitting next to me, Selling me by the arm
as he shouted and pointing exCitedly to-
ward the muddy shore, along which we
were coasting at a distance of about $50
metres.
1T was, as I have said, barely light,
and all that I could make out was the
long and dark form of some large creature
lying on the mud l seized my rife, not
knowing in the least what Nnguin might
be, but at first imagining it to be merely
a crocodile But even with my rife in
hand l hesitated to shoot for the move
ment Of the boat, which was rolling. made
any attempt at a steady aim impossible.
However, the natives with me grew i'm
patient.
Iinguinr they cried again. Shoot!
shoot! =.
standing up, I took a hasty aim and
hred. Instantly there was most trench
aous connection in the mud. I saw huge
creature whirling round and round in the
houfd ooZe first on it's head and then on
It's tail-much like the freWork called
Catherine wheel-while liquid mud was be-
ing scattered about in all directions. A
shout of triumph rose from my crew, and
the steersman, Selling mnrderous look
Ing Malay scimitar, instantly plunged
overheard to wage mortal combat with
the disabled monster. He swan to shore
and boldly entering the mud. which was
more than up to his knees, attacked the
enormous brute.
LAS we advanced quite close to the mud
I was now able to see that the animal ap-
peared to be half crocodile and half
snake. 1t had the body of the former and
the neck and head of the latter. Upon the
approach Of the Malay 1t ceased its wheel
like WRITINGS round and round on its tail
and repeatedly struck out at its new en-
emy with its head, trying to seize him
with its fangs. But every time the lin
E11n darted forward it's powerful head
and neck the native struck out with his
sword each time inf1lcting q, wound and
saving himself from injury. At length q
final blow struck the furious snake-croco-
die fairly on the neck and it fell dead.
with great difficulty the brave Fellow
towed it by the tail through the mud into
the water and brought 1t out to the canoe
when, with a good deal of trouble, we got
It aboard. 1t was so heavy that it nearly
bore down under water the gunwale OF
the boat on the side where we placed it.
Its length was between nine feet and
ten feet. This know from the fact that
the body alone rested on at least two
thwarts of the boat The long. flexible
neck and head fell upon the bottom of the
craft They were much cut about from
the blows of the sword, but a peculiarly
that 1 noticed was that, although where
cut in deep gashes, the flesh exposed waA
all white, like the flesh of a fish; there
was no blood flowing from any of the
wounds. IL addition TO the cuts upon the
neck, the Malay had also nearly severed
one of the fore paws Of the weird crea-
ture. 1t was in consequence almost toe
much destroyed for preservation.
However, I insisted upon the mems
carrying the carcass along with US until
midday, after we had disembarked; but
Mt length, chiefly owing to the numerous
outs upon 1t, 1t became so decomposed ano
offensive that we had to leave IT behind
Mr.. Metman promised me that l should
see plenty more; burt, alas! never in all
the time that I was in Java did l see an
other linguin. "-Lieutenant Colonel An
drew Haggard, in the Wide World Maya.
zine.