New-York tribune., 1909-11-14
NATIVES POOR MARKsMEN.

The Indians are inordinately fond Of alli-
gator steak. a treat however, which they
do not often enjoy. owing 10 the scarcity
and the poor quality of their firearms.
These Indians probably owing 10 the fact
that hunting IN the tangled forest in which
they live is extremely difficult. have taker.
less 10 the use Of firearms than any other
savages who have come into anywhere
near such close contact with the whites.
As a consequence such shooting they DO
attempt Is execrable. Since they are un-
able 20 obtain all the alligators they want
by shooting. they have evolved severai
other ingenious plans OF taking them cap
tive one Of these. when successfully car
ried ou., furnishing a performance that IL
is worth journeying from New York to the
Amazon 10 witness
Found quite generally through a large
part Of the Amazon jungle is a little ami
nal called the yaccs. not unlike a large
guinea pig in size and appearance, which
protects itself. after the manner of our
North American polecat, by emitting a most
pungent and disagreeable odor. The yacca-
however. is much better armed in this par
ticular-probably some special provision
against local enemies-than the poIecat. ana
the presence Of disturbed member OF the
species may be detected a mile or more 10
leeward The liquid which it secretes for
this purpose is of a most remarkably yola-
tile nature. a single drop of IL evaporating
in a few seconds 10 a pungent gas Of near
IL a hundred cubic inches in volume. The
glands which produce this liquid in a full
grown specimen OF yacca hold nearly an
ounce in reserve at all times, which amount
is more than doubled under stress Of ex.
citement
The Indians have found that by taking
the young OF the yacca a few days after
birth-they are found in utters OF ten or
dozen in nests among the gnarled roots Of
the forest trees-rearing them with pigs ct
puppies. and sfterward keeping them In
close confinement aud away from All ex-
element. they may he brought 70 maturity
upon the home premises. and even handled
without unpleasant consequences. This
enables the resourceful sboriginals 10 keep
always on hand a supply OF their favorits
bait. or. more properly speaking. ammuni-
tion.
Through a fortunate provision-fortunate
for the Indian, not for the alligator or
yacca-the yscca never appears OF It's own
accord near the water, for which element.
except for drinking, IL seems 10 have the
greatest antipathy- For this reason the
alligator has never learned. except in indi-
vidual instances, what nauseating potion
this tempting looking ball OF plumpness
really is. invariably swapping IL up without
an apparent shade of suspicion the moment
he sees II struggling in the water. where IL
has been thrown by the benevolent savage
waiting unobtrUsively on the bank. The
whole success OF the scheme hinges on the
manner in which the yacca is taken. IL ne
is masticated 10 any extent before being
swallowed. the alligator gets nothing more
than a severe stomach ache. and perhaps
lesson in not being too hasty in swapping
up every wriggling bail Of fur that he sees.
But Just as surely as the greedy silurian
bolts the yacca whole he puts the crimp
on the rivets OF an inevitable finish.