Evening star., 1901-07-15
HUNTING THE DUGONG,
Primitive Methods Used by Natives in
Capturing Huge Sirenians.

Primitive Methods Used by Natives in
Capturing Huge Sirenians.
From the Scientific American
Why biologists call the fat, unwieldy
dusong siren and why sailors term it a
sea COW will never be known. These
| filmed Sirenians certainly resemble cows
| as little as they resemble the NEUROLOGICAL
naidens who enticed the Argonauts.
There are only four existing species Of
Sirenians, all found in the tropics The
arctic variety CRhytna) became extinct
hardly fifty years after it's discovery in
l'4l. Soon the same fate will overtake the
dugong of the Malay Islands. The habitat
OF this threatened animal extends from the
Red sea and the eastern coast of Africa
eastwardly toward Salamo and Palau Is
lands, covering the entire Indian ocean. In
this vast hunting ground many sea cows
are still to be found, particularly along
the southern coast of New Guinea and in
the Torres straits
The enormous coral reefs of this region
fully answer the needs of the harmless du-
gong. In this inexhanstible pasture, with
Its great crop of sea weed whole herds
numbering from thirty to sixty dugongs
were seen often enough thirty years ago.
Now, according to the Ulustrirte Zeitung
II is rarely that poor half dozen COWS"
ever lift their heads above the surface of
the water In sight of Malay Of Papuan
On account of its most paIatable meat
and fat, the animal forms a staple article
OF food among the natives of the African
ana Malay coasts. The awkwardness and
naTmleSSneSS of the dugong. it's strpiditv
and almost trusting nature render it's cap
ture matter of no great danger No
greater difficulty is presented than the dig
covery of some pasture ground which 1t
frequents at night time The weapons of
the chase are either nets or harpoons
Along the southern coast of New Guinea
the Motu of Port Moresby are known for
their skill with the net. Among them the
hunting of the dugong Is traditionary: for
the Rui' as the animal is called, plays no
small part in the native mythology
Carefully several large sail canoes Gaka-
toD, each carrying from twelve to fifteen
men, are fitted out. When the hunters set
out the entire community is tabooed ST.
lence, strict silence, is imposed upon all
Women and children must withdraw to the
woods, for the mere sight of a woman
Will destroy every chance of success. Dur
Ing the journey and during the setting of
the net absolute silence must also reign
Even the leader of the party is forbidden
to speak: his orders are conveyed only by
signs. With the capture of Rui or mere
| ly of turtle the spell is broken.
If the hunters have been successful a
! long pole bearing bast fiber flag is set up
In the bow to proclaim from afar the well
| come tidings to the tribe. Owing to its
great size and weight, the captured Rui is
| usually cut up Immediately after landing.
| Perhaps the most ardent and skillful du-
gong hunters are the islanders of the Tor
| res straits and the coast tribes of New
Guinea, extending from the FLY west
| wardly to the Morehead river, a region in
which the "Dungai' or ''Dangal as the
creature is usually called here is still fire.
| uently seen. Instead Of nets, harpoons
| are used. A harpoon is a very carefully
worked round, hardwood shaft c'Wap'O
about fifteen feet in length. provided at its
yhna and wit fzrs L,
| its lower end with loosely mounted har-
| poon c'WoioroD. Formerly the harpoon
was made Of bone or hardwood; nowadays
| iron is used, preferably a triangular file,
| the temper of which has been drawn, so
| that series of barbs can readily be made
/ in the metal A "Wap' is a precious thing
| In the eyes of the native, and in value is
l eaualed only by large canoe or a woman.
| The dugong is either stalked or killed in
| ambush In stalking the animal the canoe
| is skillfully brought SO closely to the game
| that the man in the bow can readily hurl
his spear.
When the animal is to be killed In am
! bush light framework C'Nat') of bamboo
| is built on the reef of some feeding ground
| at low tide. Upon this framework the
| hunter takes his station at night time AS
talisman a crudely carved miniature fg-
| ure of dugong is hung up. To the end
| of the harpoon line Is secured some 32J
| feet in length, cOiled at the feet Of the
| hunter AS soon the dugong approaches
4
| water, hurls his spear, grasps his line and
| waits for the arrival of his companions in
| a nearby canoe, The thrust of the har-
| poon or spear is usually not deadly. A
| rope is, therefore, thrown around the tail
| fin, and the creature held under the water
| and drowned.
The methods of hunting the dugong which
| we have described may now be considered
somewhat antiquated, for the natives are
| beginning to use the swift boats of pearl
divers. The change has been brought about
| largely by reason Of the fact that the
pearl divers have long made practice OF
| killing dugongs and selling the meat
salted, smoked otherwise preserved to
| the eastern Australian colonies. The fat
| of the animal is very extensively used for
| medicinal purposes.
| The relentless methods pursued both by
the natives and by pearl divers must soor
| result in total determination Of the du'
gong. Protective measures should bt
| adopted. Only a single variety Of a par
ticular species Is stiil left, and that va
rety should be preserved at all hazards.