The sun., 1907-03-03
AN ANIMAL BUYER In INDIA.
MISSOURI NAN TELLS or NAMING
DEALS WITH RAJAHS.

-IndIas wealth OF servants and How
It PayS-BreedinG snakes for Bounty
LANCASTER, Mo-, March 2.-Louis j
Hall, horse and wild animal dealer, re-
turned this week from India, where he had
been making deals with the Rajahs fOI
elephants. tigers, monkeys, boa constructors
and other gentle animals which delight
the heart of the American small boy and
some Americans that are not small.
On this trip Mr. Hall travelled more than
three thousand miles, his long journey EN-.
braoing three different sizes Of railways
Every Rajah, he says. is furnished with a pri-
vate secretary by the British Government
The Rajsh wears all the panoply OF power
but the secretary pulls the strings.
my dealing was with the Rajahs," said
Mr.. Hall. Things went something like
this: When the Rajah wants to start on an
expedition of any kind he calls his men at
arms together.
"The sons Of thunder and lightning will
meet you on yon peak at daylight with
their spears and battleaxes,' commands
the Rajah in stentorian tones. Have
horses and elephants ready and provisions
for a three days march, Then aside to
the secretary: About right. eh, JonesT
-'That's the stun, your Majesty replies
the emissary OF Great Britain.
"We1l have a war dance, q fish fry and
something on the side, announces the
Rajah.
That's all right, most noble, grave and
reverend Grand Duke says the secretary;
but you don't want to give 'em more than
bottles apiece. No cutting up, you under
| stand
The Rajah accepts the suggestion Of
the secretary with peculiar Difference.
He knows what is behind il and he doesn't
want trouble.
THE India elephant is the finest in the
world and is easier to train than the big
beasts Of Africa. They are getting scarce
in India now, and that Is why had to travel
30 far to make arrangements for sufficient
supply for the American market. well
trained elephant in America is as easy to
sell as a good horse.
There are many ways Of trapping the
animal. One is to dig a great pit on the
mountainside one side OF which slants in.
When the bottom lands are wet the ele-
plants 20 to the uplands and slide into
| these pits. A large, docile elephant is
chained to the prisoner and hauls him
up the incline.
Another way involves a greater risk
to the life OF the hunter. The pits are
excavated on the lowlands, near the forest
Around the pit il n strong fence, having
two wide gates. One Of these gates is left
open. ,.t
"The hunters 60 into the jungles and beat
up the quarry. The elephants charge ont
into the open, bent on murder. One man is
selected TO toll the enraged beast into the
fence. -.
-The animal follows, nercSly .darting into
the open gate and falls into the pit. The
hunter runs around on the edges through
another gate, which he opens and closes
like fash OF lightning. The elephant is a
prisoner hard and fast. But should the
hunter stumble or fail to get out OF the way
quick enough the great pass Of flesh tram
pies him into the eartbv
-One Of the peculiar features Of india is
the requirement to maintain a large staff
Of servants IL you desire to appear as a
man of any sort Of degree. You ought TO
have at least fifteen or sixteen. You can
get that many about as cheap as you can
two or three.
when a servant enters your employ he
wants to know, before making terms,
whether he will be permitted 20 place the
orders for supplies. You see, he gets a COM
mission from the shopkeepers. found it
cheaper to make that concession than to
attempt to purchase things myself
Each servant has his own particular de-
partment to look after, and will not raise
his hand to do any part Of another servants
work. II you suddenly remember that
you have left your pipe in on the table and
request the Lord High Chamberlain OF
your hats to bring you that pipe he won't
go near IL, but he will run down street and
wake up the fellow whose duty it Is to look
after the pipes and tobacco and make him
come up and get busy.
~If you want some one to fasten the collar
on the back Of your neck you must be care
full not to ask the superintendent in charge
OF the boots and backing to do tit is not
his job.
traveller is met by a reception committee
Of some two or three thousand coolies,
every one Of whom Is anxious to tote his
baggage to the gates, but no further. At
the gates Of the station you settle up with
the first lot Of coolies you have employed
and enter into a contract with the next gang
to take your grips 10 the carriage.
when the carriage reaches the hotel IL
costs you something TO get your STUFF carried
IIp TO your rooms. ! remember in leaving
one Of these central India inns ! was waited
upon by a guard composed OF something
one by expressive movements Of the hand
and body, indicated some service for which
I was indebted.
Down toward the end Of the line was a
bald headed little shaver that ! didn't recall
having met anywhere and l wondered to
what extent he was my creditor and what
for The chief cook said that this man had
scared half a dozen red ants on OF my table
and had thereby placed me in his debt.
IF India could sell her snakes she would
be the richest country on the globe. II is
said that more THAI - 900 Hindus passed into
the great beyond last year as result of
snake bites.
They won't kill the reptiles: they are
confident some highly respected ancestor
has passed into them. IL would lie better !
to be bitten to death by an ancestor than 10 |
kill EN- and thus GO to the bad place. so !
reason these people.
There are other sects. however, which |
do not entertain the same respect for the !
6eadly era Wlers. but they will not take the |
trouble 10 kill them unless paid for IT, Some |
tins ago the British Government offered |
a good price for the scalps cf deadly snakes. !
: ne people ~ this class instantly got busy !
and began breeding snakes.
1T is said that while that reward was in |
force all ether businesses we're laid aside |
IN order 70 take advantage Of the muniicence |
Of the empire. OF course the Viceroy soon |
learned of the inflated condition oS the |
snake industry and the reward was with
drawn
This summer Lancaster will he. possiblr,
ss great a market for all sorts of Jungle
animals as u is now for horses and mules.
There " more money in t.le handling OF
81. ..,l Il