THE WILES OF THE HUNTER

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 270, 13 November 1937, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE WILES OF THE HUNTER

A Struggle Between Man and Beast

CfTIGEK. tiger, burning bright, in 1 the forests of the nijjht" is the poetical way in which William Blake creates for us a scene which for sheer thrills could not be equalled by anything in the world.

There are probably many young adventurers who would immediately

jump at the chance to be present at a user hunt. or. better still, to be an

actual participant in the sport. Perhaps you have visualised a scene suggested by a picture in a popular book, or visited one reposing in a glass case in the Museum.. It is true that he looks harmless enough in the daytime, but when the twilight

come* everything seems magically changed. Should you be left there alone you might imagine that any sudden noise was the breaking off of a twig or the creak of a branch, as the sportsman cranes forward to get a better view. Our friend the tiger, who looked so harmless not so many hours before is now metamorphosised into a creature of gigantic proportions, and looks, as if he is ready to spring from his case. Perhaps your imagination carries you further, and you feel his hot breath fanning your cheek—catch a glimpse of blazing green eyes gazing balefully into your own. Here, then, is a splendid opportunity for you to imagine yourself in the hunter's place and to * decide what moves you should make at such a crisis. Perhaps you have seen your favourite movie hero looking death in the face without a qualm, and fancied yourself also triumphant in a similar position. Warily you raise your gun, there is a loud report, and the thud of a heavy body falling through the undergrowth. With yourself playing the part of the hero, you advance to examine your '"bag." Yes, you note in triumph, shot right, through the heart! You are congratulating

yourself on a fine bag and a lucky escape from death when there is the sound of many voices and the rest of your party breaks out into the open. They ( surround you on all sides, laughing, congratulating and examining the fallen king. Cries of

"What a beauty!" "A splendid shot" and "A killer, all right," reach your gratified ears, and it is with a triumphant smile you pose for a hurried snap, one foot placed firmly upon the tawny back.

Yes, it certainly is a great idea, but the scene does not always turn out like that. Tales are told of those who plunge into the green forest depths and are never seen again or tiger-hunting expeditions which incur the death of one or more of the party. Danger lurks in those mysterious parts, be it in the form of death from snake bites, or the frequent invasions of savage tribes. Even in these modern days there are still a number of unexplored regions on the face of the earth, where man walks warily and in peril of his life. Even with a large selection of modern weapons at his command he has still to contend with the undefeatable forces of Xature. There is danger in the blinding whips of the rain, the fury of the storm, and the merciless rays of the sun. There are many species of strange plants and fungi, beautiful to the eye, but carriers of the deadliest poisons ever known to man. In many ways Nature conveys unmistakably to what a great extent she has control over our daily lives, and that all living things upon the face of the earth must be in harmony with her natural Taws.

Of later years science has thrown a new light on many of Nature's mysteries, but there are still many things which have never been fully explained. Perhaps one of the most inexplicable of these is that powerful attribute ascribed to many animals and a smaller proportion of human bein'gs. an instinct known as

"second sense.". You will still find a large majority of people, of course,

who discredit the veriest mention of such a thing, but they do not evidently believe truth ift still stranger than fiction. Why this particular instinct has so manifested itself in the animal world is still a matter of conjecture. Quite a number of animals are possessed of an instinct which warns them of the first approach of danger. It is chiefly because of this that the hunter has to take more than an ordinary amount of precaution if he wishes to procure a successful bag.

One way of hunting wild animals is known as "stalking" and is an

action which consist* of crawling up against the wind, so that the animal pursued will not scent the pursuer. In this manner the sportsman passes from bush to bush and stone to stone, always keeping whenever possible a watchful eye upon his prey. This method has much in it to commend itself to the-hunter, because it gives an opportunity for him to match his wits against those of the beasts, and to make the struggle a more even one.

Any sportsman to-day has a wide choice of weapons and various kinds of traps to aid him in the chase, but the first hunters of all did not fare so well. Fortunately, New Zealand is free from savage beasts of any kind, but there are some people on the earth who go in terror of their lives. The first struggle against the onslaughts of savage beasts must have been a \ery unequal one, as man had only weapons of stone and flint with which to protect himself. Although of lat* hunting is carried out mainly as a popular sport, it was first of ail necessary to provide primitive man with food and clothes. Early man was handicapped in the very beginning of his task, but, as time went on, he began to realise that he must devise some ways and mean* by which to preserve both hie own life and that of his people. The more wild animals were allowed to increase the greater the danger was there of the extinction of his race. What we would have done in such an emergency is not to be guessed at, but it certainly required a great deal of courage to attempt such a gigantic task. Besides, man could not continue to live for ever on berries and edible roots; he needed meat to give him strength to fight against the forces of Xature. Think of the many uses to which animals may be put, and you will be surprised to find what a number of uses they serve. First of all, let us take the skin of the beasts. Cleaned and dried in the sun, ekins were made into clothes or coverings to protect early man from the biting frosts or winter

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ally Written for "Enzed Junior"

•nows. When the ladies of the tribe asked for something to protect their feet from the rough ground, the men got to work to make them sandal* with crude leather thongs. Mr. and Mrs. Primitive .Man had their own ideas about fashions,-too, and were probably just as proud of their daubs of blue paint and heavy cloaks of fur as we are of our own clothes to-day.

It is quite possible that there were alio certain men in the tribes who were gifted with more inventiveness than their brothers, and who spent a great deal of their time in thinking out new and useful devices. They experimented with the dried skin and found that it wan useful in boat construction, when sewn together and covered with a solution of pitch. Tallow, melted down, served to feed their primitive lamps, or add a touch of brightness to their open fires. These and many other example* could be quoted to show how invaluable animals were for the well-being and happiness of the race.

There are so many different ways in which one may approach the game without disclosing one's own presence that some of then are worthy to be noted here. Did you know that it wm possible to attract a email animal, such as a rabbit or hare, by imitating its cry? One would naturally have to be an expert at the game before hoping for any small measure of success, for animals are uncannily quick to detect any false note. In case any boy or girl living in the country is fired with enthusiasm to catch animal* in this way, it had better be explained that she or he had better practise in an •pen field until note perfect! There are certain little-known tribes of Brazil who attract deer in this way. A South American explorer has been an eye-witness of this feat, impossible though It may seem to be. When they are within easy reach the Indians kill them with their bows and arrows.

Perhaps the most exciting war of all, however, is to lie hidden in a concealed place, and await the game's approach. Thi« method U chosen for killing leopards and tigers, and meets with quite a fair measure of success. It has often been responsible for terrific feats of endurance on the part of the hunter, as eorne animals poesees a cunning quite inconceivable to man.

A tale is told of a man-eating tiger which had terrorised a native village for several years. Many attempts had been made to capture the beast, but all in vain. Time and time again it returned to claim a fresh victim, and many were the wild stories which sprang up around it. Some said that it was an evil spirit who thus sought to wreak vengeance upon the whole of man — others not so credulous thought thai

it wus imbued with an almost supernatural cunning. Life would flow quietly on for a few month*, and then the whole population would bo startled by the appearance of someone who hud caught a glimpse of it - perhaps a native labourer returning in ha«te from the fields. He had had a vision of a wicked feline head, powerful striped body, and flaming eye*.

The whole village hurried immediately to the shelter of their home*, from which they peeped forth fearfully at intervals. Presently, when they thought all danger was past, they emerged again, armed with weapons of various kinds. When they approached the s|>ot where the leopard was last seen, they were confronted by a crouching object which looked as if it was just about to spring. Perhaps one braver than the rest crejit gingerly to the spot, while the crowd hung back in dismay. There wa« a sudden wave of relief when the intrepid- one raised the "leopard" aloft, an old skin left to dry in the sun across a sun-bake.! mound. The crowd then dispersed to their various homes, laughing and adding greatly to the discomfort of the brave hero. Suddenly there

arose a cry of one in mortal fear, and everyone stood rooted to ..the Tlikj was followed by another and another, and then what a sight buret upon their gaze. Au enormous animal stood regarding them with flaming eye*, his tail thrashing angrily from side to side, hw whole splendid body quivering with rage. At hie feet lay a limp figure, and it did not need a second look to guee* what had happened to him. Can it be wondered thai even the little children "were afraid to play in the atreete, and that men and women grew pale and afraid. One such leopard was known to have elain 123 villagers before it met its end at the hand of one who devoted himself to its capture. The hunter who achieved this great feat epent no less than 11 ni?hts in a epecially-built machan, or platform, while seeking I his prey.

There are some leopards, however, who are easily tamed to the service of man, and are much used in hunting deer and antelopes. The Indian cheetah, is it it called, can outrun any other animal, and is wonderfully swift in pursuit. These ani mabs are always blindfolded and leashed before being taken on a hunt, and before they are released have a bandage covering their eyes removed. When the hood is removed from iteyes the cheetah bounds forward like an arrow released from the bow. So well are these animals trained that should a cheetah fail to kill its prev it return* again to it* master.

Another animal which rather resemble* the leopard except for iU colouring, is the jaguar, who confines hi* activities mainly to the rolling grass lands of Paraguay. The** parts make ideal grazing ground* for large herds of cattle, and it is this animal that the rancheros fear most of all for their eavage attack*.

Many tales of long ago tell us of th* noble eport of falconry, a* practised during those times. The joyous company tliat thronged that Court* of king* on pleasure bent possessed trained falcons of their own, and often painting* of noble* show their favourite animal poised aloft of one wriet. Especially was falconry a favourite recreution ofth* aristocracy of the Middle Apes, and was followed more a* a sport thaa the means of obtaining food.

And bo the chase goes on, and probably will until there ore no Trior© animals left for man to hunt. Whilo we cannot help but mlinire the splendid specimens secured by some biggame, hunters we would rather tluic animal* were killed of necessity than providing aomeone with a good day'* sport. Perhaps the time may come when this will also pn««, and many kings of the jungle will be free to I roam the gloomy depth* of their forest home*. ~ "*