Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-19
Breeding Snakes for the Bounties.


AS have already suggested, these figures
give only about one-haif Of The facts. The
largest sacrifice of life was IN the province
of Bengal, of which Calcutta is the capital,
and where the imperial authorities have i'm
mediate control of such affairs. The. gov
eminent offers a bounty OF 81 for every
snake skin, So for every tiger skin and a
corresponding amount for other animals.
During the last yeaI. 14;3of wild animals
were reported killed and 96953 persons re-
.ceved rewards. The nrpfber of snakes re-
ported destroyed was 81, 66SS and ISIS per
sons were rewarded. 1'Iie total amount of
rewards paid was $33 30 winch Is much
below the average and the smallest amount
paid for many years. During the last ten
years the amount of rewards paid has aver
aged about $4,000 annually the falllng
off in 1901 is due to the discovery that
certain enterprising persons had gone into
the business of breeding snakes for the re-
ward and had been collecting considerable
sums from the government by that sort OF
fraud Hereafter they will not be able to
collect claims without showing satisfactory
evidence that the snakes were actually WHO
when killed Or captured.
1t is hardly necessary to say that no one
has thus far been accused of breeding tigers
for the bounty, although large numbers OF
natives are engaged in the business of cap
turing them for menageries and geological
gardens
In the maharaja's park at Jeypore the
man ting tigers, which, they told us, nad
been captured recently only twelve miles
from that city His highness keeps star
of tiger hunters and catcherS for amuse-
ment He delights III shooting big game,
and several times a year goes into the Jun
giles with his native hunters and parties OF
friends, and seldom returns without sew
eral fine skins to add to his collection his
tiger catchers remain i'll the woods all the
time. and he has u pleasant way OF pre-
senting the animals they catch to friends IN
India England and elsewhere.
| notice that the Negus of Abyssinia has
given Consul General Skinner two fine hons
to take home to President Roosevelt, and
am sure the Maharaja of Jeypore would
be very glad to add a couple OF mdn-eaung
tigers if he We're aware of Colonel Roose-
Velts love for the animal kingdom. L IN
tended to make Il suggestion i'll that line 10
him while We We're in Jeypore the other
day, but there were so many other things
to talk about that il slipped my mind
However, it is not too late. His highness
is thinking seriously of going to the st.
Louis exposition, and might easily take
along couple of tigers with the rest of his
luggage He always travels with several
cooks butchers and other kitchen serx-
ants in order to protect his caste a
man of his high. lofty rank cannot eat food
prepared by ordinary people. He also takes
with him on his travels a supply of water
from the Gangcs for drinking, cooking and
bathing purposes, and to one accustomed
to such details pair of tigers would be no
more impedimenta than q brindle pup.
May Go to st. Louis.
As told you in recent letter, the Maha-
raja of Jeypore, being one of the oldest
and highest III rank of the Indian princes,
Represented the rulers of the native states
al the coronation of King Edward 1t was
his first trip abroad and his experience was
SO delightful and the knowledge he ac-
qured was SO valuable that he contem-
plates a visit to St LOUIS next summer, and
will probably continue, his journey around
the world. If he is able to ssgratify himself
in this respect he will fuERish the most
stunning sensation of the season, for he Is
IA man of imposing appearance, traces his
descent directly to the gedsa and dresses in
the old-faShioned robes of his ancestors.
His collection of jewels Is one of the most
valuable and beautiful in the world. Few
of the sovereig Is of Europe. have anything
approaching them, and when he appears in
ceremonial dress at one of..the exposition
functions he will weaE something like 81
0G0C00 worth of diamonds rubies, emer-
aids pearls and other precious stones in
his regalia, But he is not all show. He
adheres to the customss OF his ancestors,
which require him to wear the costume that
they devised and considered proper for
princes of his rank to appear in, but under
the cloth of gold and the diamond coat of
mail that covers his breast Is modest,
simple-minded earnest student, full of good
works. with keen sense of humor and
love of activity that reminds you of the
President of the United States.
Catching Tigers.
The Maharaja of Jeypore catches tigers
in the orthodox way. He has cages built of
iron and the toughest kind of wood, and
sets them upon wheels so that they can be
hauled into the jungle by oxen. When they
reach suitable place the oxen are I'M
hitched, the hunters conceal the wheels and
other parts of the wagon with boughs and
palm leaves, and fix things UP to fool the
tigers In most ingenious way. sheep or
goat or some other animal is sacrificed
and placed in the cage for bait and the door
is rugged so that it will remain open In an
inviting manner until the tiger enters and
lifts the carcass from the lever. The in
slant he disturbs the BAIT heavy iron bars
drop over the hole through which be en-