The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-17
How the Insect-InfeSted Wild Naks
UnwIIIingIy Serve HunEry
Ravens a Good Turn.
HOW FRESH WATER IS FOUND
MANNER IN WHICH NATIVES "HUNT
III ANTELOPE OVER TIE PLAIN"
DisagreeabIe Characteristics Of Most
Of the Native Tribes-An EN-
perfence of Guests.


I"Among the Farthest People" copyright BY
". c J. Reid
Crossing the Tols-Koun about midday
and ascending the valley 10 its eastern side
by an extremely easy gradient, We crossed
a low pass called Pakwa-Kan altitude.
$500 feet. estimated, and, in turn. de-
scended 10 the valley intervening between
this and the next range. We would have
crossed the second pass also this same
day but tina before we reached its base
violent squalls Of hail and snow overlook
US. so we decided TO encamp and hold over
until morning. While following this valley
our horses and yaks Jared sumptuously:
for, although we found but little grass, an
abundance Of coarse weeds and young
cedars. on which the tender leaves were
sprouting. formed excellent pasturage. or
binary animals, unaccustomed 10 such I'M
nutritious diet. would soon weaken and die.
but the cattle Of this region. which are
used to this Spartan fare, soon become fat;
and, when killed, prove, contrary TO what
might be expected. capital eating.
As soon as the yaks had been picketed
on this evening were were surprised TO
hear loud bellowings from their direction.
On going TO ascertain the reason for the
uproar we discovered that the commoton
was caused by the arrival Of a large flock
of ravens, which alighted on the backs of
the cattle for the purpose of feeding on the
ticks with which their hides are covered.
BY means Of their long claws these birds
are enabled TO cling to and search every
part of the beast. 1t was evident, however.
that our yaks had never experienced .
similar visitation; no wonder. therefore.
that they were somewhat taken aback at
being thus unceremoniously assailed. The
ravens are the most important representa-
tives of bird-lfe in this region. sometimes
covering the plain like a black cloud. They
are also frequent companions of the wild
asses and other animals. to which, besides
being of service in Kidding them of many
Of the insects that infest their hides. they
perform the important part OF sentinels.
on many occasions has this watchful bird
sadly interfered with our hunting ven
lures, for the moment it 4r.1tts daf--
and its keenness in this direction is z,
markable-it flies almost perpendicularly up
into the air-uttering sharp, shril notes.
which never fail TO attract the attention Of
the beasts whom they guard. who. without
waiting 10 ascertain the cause, almost in
stantly seek safety in precipitate flight
ENTERPRISING RAVENS.
| Inc next day We moved as laf as lmldOus
below the confluence of the Nga-Gol with
the Ma-Chu. during a wind and snowstorm
of such severity that it seemed as IL a tor
nado had visited US, churning the snow
covered slope into careering rollers until IT
resembled a wild strip of shallow. wind
driven sea, beating on an aIluvial shore.
During the day We encountered a vast
number Of sand wells" varying from ten
diameter at the top or twenty feet. The
construction Of these pits indicated great
perseverance, and skill. and had evidently
been formed by a pastoral people possessed
of large herds OF cattle. 1t is astonishing to
note the small number Of streams and
lakes in this region whose waters are fresh
in fact, during the summer season. when
there is but little rainfall and the small
oozes have dried UP. the lack OF water is =
serious menace TO travel. No ordinary hui
man being. not possessed Of the keen ma
tive intuition would ever dream OF looking
for water in some Of these Localities whsrs
wells are sunk, since il usually lies ten or
twenty feet below the ground. giving no
indication whatever OF its presence. Appar-
emily not having been used for some time.
most OF those we saw were partly filed
with sand and debris, but a few were in
tolerable order. They contained no stand
ing water. but plenty OF moisture, and by
inserting a stalk Of the reedy growth
fringing their banks into the porous soil
delightfully."- cool and palatable water could
be drawn out. Yaks and other animals APP
parently had been at work at many. but
were clearly disappointed.
SwIFT-MOVING ANTELOPE.
~ - No. Ill -
piled with game, but its treacherous char
acter forbade any attempts at stalking.
although Burton, during the afternoon.
was able, BY a Iong-range shot. to pick on
a small antelope Of the species procspra
picticaudata. The speed Of these animals is
by no means inconsiderable. notwithstand-
ing their bulky bodies and short legs. 1
doubt if even a tolerably swift horse could
overtake one OF them, yet some OF the ma
tive hunters track and run them down on
foot and kin them with spears. IL is one OF
the most curious sights imaginable 10 see a
troop OF these animals at full speed. run
ming with a curious. rolling motion. as IL
it were a labor 20 balance their over
weighted bodies. and whisking. at regular
intervals, from side 10 side. their tails.
tufted at the end. while their taperIng
necks, swaying backwards and forwards.
follow the motion OF their bodies. Large
focks Of geese, ravens and sand grouse
were also 10 be seen. and during the morn
ing we came upon a native game fisher
man" stealing along with a net in his hand
and ready 10 throw II when he saw any
birds. the process. like everything else one
sees here. being perfectly primitive. Carry
ing the net on his left arm crooked, cleared
and prepared for A throw. with one end in
his right hand he would steal along In a
STOPPING position until he approached with
in striking distance OF a flock feeding "a
the seeds OF the coarse grass. when. with
a gentle jerk. and without any noise. he
would throw his net. which opened and
spread as it fell. SO that a little thing.
which could easily be put into a hat. ex-
banded sufficiently 10 cover a surface OF
twenty or thirty feet. The skill with which
he handled this primitive weapon was liz
tie short OF marvellous. While runnlrr
along beside Us he threx several times.
n in a short time had secured several
dozen grouse.
When two miles sOutl. OF Imtaou We