The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1904-08-17
LEoPARDs IN INDIA.
HOW THESE FIERCE BEASTS ARE
HUNTED IN THE JUNGLE.

Hen In one OF His Flying Leaps.
Leopard shooting is often productive
of exciting Incidents, and the recollec-
lions OF one days sport. as recorded
by 'RaouFs In the Indian Sporting
Times. are full of interest. He and a
friend, whom he calls M" as soon
as they got to the place OF rendezvous,
were met by the usual motley crowd OF
villagers. Then they pointed out to US,
says the writer, a rather heavy look
ing bit OF cover in a ravine consisting
mostly OF azaleas and wild cardamoms.
The villagers were positive the leopard
was still in what appeared to be his
stronghold; that IL was from there he
had delivered his last attacks. Close
to the cover the leopard was said TO be
in was a grove OF mango trees. and
thither II. and took our stand, while
we sent up couple Of the more active
among the spectators to climb a tree
that partly overlooked the jungle The
men had taken up with them a good
supply OF clods. They had not thrown
in many OF these missiles when there
was roar, and out charged a splendid
looking leopard. which, finding the coast
clear. as the men had now retired to
a oaAC DLOhC away lOMdEu
south. We had a couple OF snap shots,
but evidently missed. Just when our
attention was taken up by this brute
another leopard broke away toward
the north, and the men on the trees.
who had seen it. said 1t was a much
smaller one than the first. They told
US also that they had marked 1t down
in a small but thick bit OF cover a cou-
,nn 80 - Frt.s
cover consisted of a stunted seesum
tree thickly oyergrOwn with wild con-
volvulus.
As we got nearer NJ. swore he could
see something move on the tree. Closer
inspection revealed the fact that this
was really the case. Kneellng down
and taking careful aim as to where
had thought had seen the creepers
move. 1 pulled the trigger. This was
Immediately answered by a muffied
sort of growl, followed by the loud
thud of heavy body falling. Seeing
no further movements in the under
growth. we cautiously approached it,
and one OF our followers, bolder than
the rest. soon came across the body of
the leopard. extended on its side and
quite dead. II was soon hauled out In
the open, and 1t proved to be a three
quarter grown cub, measuring five feet
three inches as 1t lay. This shot fired
at random proved a wonderful huke,
for the bullet had gone through the
right eye of the leopard, killing it on
the spot We were wondering as to
where the other could have got to
when we were suddenly startled by the
cry of "PheoT' repeated several times.
This cry OF distress from some rowing
1ackal appeared to be coming from
some mulberry plantations short dis
tance OF and TO the north. We at once
made our way thither, followed by a
motley crowd of villagers.
In order not to let the men run the
risk OF being mauled we gave strict
orders that no one was to get among
the mulberry, but to throw clods from
outside. The cover was Mt first drawn
blank, when the crowd, emboldened by
the nonappearance of Master Spots.
entered the plantation peIImell. We
were ourselves retracing our footsteps
and were on our way back when we
suddenly heard an angry growl, follow
ed by succession of cultural coughs
On looking round we found the leopard
bounding away with tail on end, and
MS it cleared the ditch round the plan
tatiOn IL met the crowd of sightseers.
4 most exciting and wonderful sight
met our gaze now. The tahsildar,
or rent collector, was the first Spots
eyes met. and he was on him in a twin
king and, knocking him over, actual
Iy knocked over no less than seven
other men, one after another, without
even touching the ground. The brute
seemed literally to fy from one victim
to another. most of whom were clawed
on the back as they turned round to
get out of the way.
1t was simply impossible to think of
firing In this melee. and while the
scrimmage lasted we marked down our
now fully reused foe in a small piece
of thatching grass. Close to the patch
which the leopard had taken shelter in
was mango sapling. L suggested to
NJ. that, being the lighter and more
active of the two of US, he should
climb into the tree. from which van
tage position he might easily see ev-
erything In the grass. We cautiously
advanced to the tree, and NJ. was soon
up one OF its branches. some eight or
ten feet or so off the ground. Having
drew to a safer place and took my
stand behind a small thorny bush,
from where could fairly we'll see all
\that was going on in front. NJ. had
not been very long up when he shout
ed to me that he could see something
moving and at once fired. This was
Immediately answered by the leopard
charging out and making a dash for
the tree. Fortunately for NJ. the brute
spranG some three feet short. We
found afterward that the first shot had
disabled it considerably. thus prevent
ing it from making good its spring.
1t was now my turn to have my share
of the fun, for Spots. on catching sight
OF me. made straight for where was
standing. l just managed TO get be-
hind the bush when something yellow
flashed past me. Just as II flashed
past me had a couple of snap shots
the brute going head over heels and
after a couple of somersaults falling
dead Contrary to our expectation.
the leopard was not what we had at
first expected 1t to bel e., the mother
of the cub we had already shot-but
was a big male-LUndon Globe.