Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-08
About Leopards

The palanuuin bearer, who was lying rou-
ed up in his blankets in the same veranda,
slept soundly on meanwhile, unconscious OF
his proximity to the stealthy, footed creature;
These leopards are cowardly animals, and
will never attack human being If they can
avoid it. Their special fancy Is for little dogs
and they will SO haunt the neighborhood OF
any house where dogs are kept that the great
est care is necessary to prevent the little quad
rupeds falling victims to the big ones.
As the weather became better, they grew
less bold, and it was only toward the end OF
the season that we saw them again. When
snow fell on the farther hills, they were
driven to seek food lower down, and then
again they began to infest the station. Oh
ten, in the month of October, when COMING
home late at night, 1 have heard the hoarse
sort of purring noise they make as they rub
their sides, bike huge cats, against the trunks
OF trees. The men carrying my palanquln1
would then set out and walk very loud to keep
up their courage.
No leopard would come near SO noisy a
party, and the only danger on such occa-
slons Is OF the men taking panic and drop
ping the palanquin, when the situation would
be awkward. This however, never happened
to me; and ] was equally fortunate when rid
ing.
One evening we were riding quietly home
In the short cleaning, when a large animal
jumped from the jungle above into the road
| close In front of US. 1t ran swiftly along thu
road for short distance and then disappear
ed.
My companion advised that we should hurry
a little, as our horses seemed uneasy. So we
trotted on, and when we came to the spot
where we had lost sight of the leopard. there
it was, lying on the outer edge of the noun
tian road, its eyes blazing like green lamps
in the dusk and its body half hidden in the
grass and shrubs
not help fearing the wild beast might spring
upon us, as we had to pass so close to it.; but
it lay quite still.
When we had passed, I looked anxiously
around, and saw it rise and walk off calmly
into the underwood.
My companion assured me the real danger
was not from any onslaught on the part of
the leopard, but lest our horses should take
fright and bolt with us along the narrow path
in the uncertain light
On another occasion we were not SO fortu-
nate. l had been to picinc luncheon with
some friends in a glade near the lovely val
ley of Kujiar. We walked back. having oir
palanquins carried behind us; and when dusk
began to fall, we put the dogs which had ac-
companied US into the palanquins, knowing
| it was no longer safe for them to run by our
side.
At length one lady became tired and called
for her palanquin. 1t was. brought, and set
down for her to enter. As it touched the
ground, the little dog jumped out to welcome
his mistress; but in moment his pretty
ganibols were cut short.
Like a flash a great creature sprang into
the road, and swapping up poor little Prim,
vanished with the rapidity of thought down
the steep hillside.
We felt thunderstruck, and stood for some
moments in Mortified silence, gazing down
into the bushes where the gliding form had
disappeared; but nothing, was to be seen OF
heard.
The elastic tread of the leopard left 10
sign or track, and so noiselessly mad it passed
that we could not tell whether it had slipped
at once to the bottom of the ravine, or
whether it was then lying only few feet be-
low us, hidden in the brushwood.
Little Prim must have been killed by the
first clutch of the cruel claws, for he never
uttered a single cry: We hurried home, griev-
ing much over his dreadful fate, and the gen.
tlemen Of the party Immediately returned to
nothing then was to be seen of the leopard
Shooting parties were frequently organized
about this time, but they were not often sue
cessful, owing to the dense jungle that COW
cred the slope and the impossibility of follow
ing the quarry, even when sighted.
The best chance was for a solitary sports
man to spend night in tree, but the leop-
ards, though SO bold in seeking their prey,
under safe circumstances, were extremely eau
tious When danger was at hand, and would
generally leave the bait untouched near which
their unseen enemy lurked. Traps, too, were
placed on low spur towards Bukloh, which
/ they were known to frequent, but very few
were caught there that year