Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-21

The animals prowled about the travellers
all night but left the next day, their num-
bers greatly decreased by the repeated voeys
from the rifles
The hyenas, to which the wild dogs are close
ly allied, often hunt in packs, running down
their prey in similar manner. The spotted
hyena is particularly dreaded in Northern At
rica and Central Asia They are extremely
ferocious and powerful, prowling about at
night, invading cities, houses and tents, steal
ing and attacking everything that comes with
in their reach
When Colonel Bruce, the famous Aprcan
traveller, was at Maitsha, he had some strange
experiences with them.
One night, he was called out of his tent
for some reason, and, on returning perceived
a pair of fiery, cleaning eyes staring at him
through the darkness He called for the ser
wants, who rushed in with light, and there,
standing over the head of the bed, was huge
hyena, with several pounds of wax candles
in his mouth ready to make off.
The colonel seizing pike, struck the brute,
that even then did not seen inclined to give
up its booty; but second blow sent the
spear through it, the animal striving to reach
its opponent, tearing up the tent and creating
general devastation, finally slipping up the pole
SO far that the colonel was obliged to draw
his pistol and shoot the animal.
Such adventures are of common occurrence,
the animals being continually on the watch
for prey; from candles to good fat donkey.
In Abyssinia they are extremely numerous,
living among the hills during the day, and
prowling about the towns and villages at night,
and believed by the superstitious natives to be
evil spirits changed into this form by magic,
50 that they can prey upon human beings
Though so ferocious, they have been tanned,
H. II ..,cV
don as pet.
According to Colonel Sndham. the East In
dian traveller, in some portions of India they
are domesticated and utilized as we do dogs.
In South Africa, where the hunting-dog is
found, lives the spotted hyena or tiger-wolf,
a savage creature, much more dreaded than
the above, as they seem to show preference
for human flesh This is SO well known that,
in the Mainland country, the natives build
their houses with special reference to these
brutes
They are shaped like beehives, eighteen OF
twenty feet wide, the floor being raised gradu-
ally until within a few feet of the wall, where
it abruptly terminates, leaving space in
which their cattle are tied.
Beyond the cattle is fire, and with their
feet to it, the occupants go to sleep. Yet,
notwithstanding this protection, the tiger'w9t
forces an entrance into the interior, passes the
calves and the fire, and steals children from
their mother so gently that the loss is not
noticed until too late.
The gait Of these animals is extremely cum
bersome When starting they appear lame,
hobbling off, but gradually working into
run, and when thoroughly under way, attain
ing a remarkable degree Of speed for so cum-
sy a creature.
Their method of attacking beasts larger
than themselves is Characteristic. They ut
ter hideous howls and groans. making faces,
comforting their visage into strange and ugly
shapes, and finally, when the victim is thor
oughIy terrified, the tiger-wolf hobbies away
in pursuit, perhaps laughing in its sleeve at
the result of the ruse.