The Briton Abroad.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 208, 19 August 1911, Page 4 (Supplement)

The Briton Abroad.

\ ‘'Among New Men, Strange Faces, Other Minds.”—Tennyson.

NIGHT HUNTING IN CEYLON.

rnilE Ceylon bear is an “ ugly, quaint little beast,” between three and four feet in length, sometimes weighing over 2001 b. It is found over the greater portion of the low country jungle, and although of no great size compared to boars of other countries, it gives good sport. Tho native fears it more than any other animal of tho jungle, with the exception of a rogue or must elephant.

Tho best season for bagging the Ceylon bear is just prior to the burst of tho monsoon. No rain having fallen for a long time, all the streams and tanks are reduced to mere puddles of muddy water, and to camp in the jungle at this season requires no smau amount of enthusiasm.

Our camp was pitched near a grove of cocoanut trees, by the side of a small stream, in which flow ed a browny semifluid concoction erroneously named water, and this comprised our sole sup?ply for drinking, cooking, and bathing purposes. Eyeflies—minute insects that enter the eye and provoko inflammation—abounded, but luckily, owing to the dryness of the season, there were not many mosquitoes about. In tho green belts of the jungle wo were tormented by leeches—little fellows that can oven get between tho tight folds of putties and inflict an irritating bite. The country around consisted of miles of grass and jungle country, and in the distance a lino of forest. 'lhe grass had been burnt down by the Veddahs—tho aborigines of Ceylon. Tramping across these plains when tho sun was at it; i.i'nith was like walking iu an inferno, despite the strong south-westerly wind which 'o.ows all day long at this time of tiie year.

To get to our camp we travelled as fa» us we were able by rail, then bv bullock wagon, a quaint < ontrivnnee without springs, and covered with a grass hood, drawn by a pair of Burmese bulls, whoso usual rate of progress is about five miles an hour. The road having ended, we finished the remainder of tho journey on foot. Our attendants consisted of three Tamil coolies and several I eddahs, the latter practically uncivilised, but keen hunters Arriving at tho camp as the sun was setting, we wore enabled to have a cup of tea before it became dark.

At daybreak the next morning we set out to look for a likely spot from which t*> shoot. We tramped over five miles of burnt plain, through belts of green jungle, ana finally reached the edge ol the forest. After a little searching wo found a circular pond or water hoi.?, showing tracks of pig, bear, and leoiard. On ono side of it. about twenty yiirds off, was a tree if; which our coolies soon built a “ mesa ” or shooting platform, about 15 feet from the ground. In tho late afternoon, after dismissing our coolies, we. ascended to the platform, and, spreading our blankets. made ourselves as comfortable as we were able under tho circumstances. ’The wind gently rocked us to and fro, and we lay peacefully smoking, shaded by the thick foliage, until the sun went •x-wn, w hen “ the people of the forest ” bf-gar. to arrive for their evening ablutions.

Hirst camo flocks of doves and bronzev. ings, peacocks, and other gaily coloured birds of the forest Timidly at first, then with more confidence, they fluttered in the water, and talked to each other in their gentle notes. Then camo a family of monkeys, who, scenting us. tr.adc oil, uttering their queer, hoarse, grating, bark of alarm; then a largo snake slowly glided into sight, looking no doubt for a meal in the shape of a dove or other small bird. Shortly after came a couple of mongooses, slinking down to the water like s couple of criminals. Our next visitors were three jackals, who after drinking noisily made off. leaving the hole untenanted. For a considerable time nothing mor? arrived, and I was dropping into a gentle doze, when my companion gently shook me. IV? both iistoiud, and heard a gentle rustling of dry leaves, then a shadow passed under our tree, and made towards the water, proving, to my surprise, to be a bear. Calming my nerves. I took careful aim and fired. Benin stopped dead for a moment, then turned round and made for the- flash with a. low growl that meant mischief, but I managed to get in my second barrel before she had gone far, and bowled her over. Though we heard other animals moving about inside the jungle, and several times heard the roar of the leopard, nothing more came to the water that night. »»Ya. A NIGHT ALARM IN NATAL. It was about nine o’clo'ck on the evening of the 22nd February, 1906, when I first had intimation that we were booked for a night’s vigil. Going out on to the verandah, I was surprised to see quite a stream of pooplo coining down the street and all hurrying towards the Town Hall, Greytown, which was about 100 yards distarft. It was not long before I was hailed by one of the passers-by . ‘‘ Word has been brought into town that Bambata is going to attack the

town at midnight, and is now with hi« followers up in the Wattle Plantation." In order to explain things properlv, I should state that Chief Bambata was already in the Natal Government’s i bad books,-’ and had several times uceii before the local magistrate for ’’flowing beer arinks and faction fights "’th his tribe and neighbouring tribes, and for these offences he had been pin; isned. Rumours of rebellion ha. been flying about tor some time, bun *w jnejority oi folk paid no heed. N-n < had been received from various tors as to the insolence of the u and also reports that in some qi JJ .r<s they had l»een ‘‘ doctored for war." This doctoring for war is usually r t - formed by the native “ witch doetdr/’ who used various concoctions to sprinkle on the warriors to them courage, and success in their battles. In the case of _ Ban; beta’s son a potion was used which was supposed to make the fighters invulnerable by turning the white man’s bullets to water. Bambata had been ordered to bring men in that day to pay tho poll-tax at the Court House, but ho openly defied the Government by ignoring the order. Their original plan was to come dow n upon the town during the day in small hntelKW, so as not to create suspicion, r.nd at a given signal to seize all the weapons -they coula lay hands on. Somi'Jiow ;his plan was frustrated, and the final arrangement was that they sheuia wait in the Wattle Plantation until midnight, when the electric* lights in tho town were switched off from th? power station, and, under the cover of darkness, creep into town and .‘tart their cruel work of massacre. No wonder, then, that there were strained aud anxious faces among those ci t.ie townspeople who flocked to the 'I own Hall tl,;,t night. Within :ei hour ficin the time the idarn: y.-;ts given tho precincts of the Town Hah were a scene of animation, the ):>.-li,s and children were all safely housed in the otiikang. Some brought blankets and wont to sleep on the ilooi, knowing that in the event of an attack the noise of che scrimmage would waken them.

Meanwhile, the men folk bad gone to the local gaol, where a largo quantity of arms and ammunition were storea, and there was an eager clamoua-for-rifles and cartridges. Very soon small companies, with a loader each, were told off to guard various positions round tho town, from when? an attack might bo expected. For the majority this was the first time they had been face to face with the probability of a brush with the enemy, and there was a do-or-die expression on their faces as they shouldered their rifles and went out to occupy their positions. As the night wore on, and 18 e’elock ramfe and went, people began to wonder when the. attack would come. Some of tho older wratchers had served in the Zulu War, and many were the experiences that were exchanged that night. Ono old veteran of 65 years was tp be seen sitting on a chair with his rifle across bin knees, and his opinion was that if there was to be trouble it would bo just Ivefore dawn, which is the Kaffir’s favourite time of attack, and from 4 a.m. till 5 a.m. a very strict vigil was , kept..

However, as time wore on, and . the first grey streaks were seen on the horizon, and no sound of that dreaded war cry, ” Usntu,” was heard, people began to grow more confident knowing that in the daylight the Kaffirs would not dare to attack.

A.s the Town Hall clock chimed the hour of 5 a.m., and the fowls in th« neighbourhood commenced their morning salutations, the spirits of tho townsfolk rose, and in groups of twos and threes made their ways to their various domiciles, knowing full well they would be safe enough while daylight lasted. Men wlio had “ done guard n in T«rions parts of the town (and were inwardly thankful that nothing eeriouo bad occurred) were to he seen coining in from al) quarters, and it was strange to watch tho mingled expression of relief and disgust on their faces. , However, the majority were glad to know' that there had been no blood shed, for had the natives come down it is doubtful whether the night would have passed without loss of life on the white side, for no mercy is ever shown by a native to man, woman, or child, so it is left to the readei to gueas tha anxiety that existed among tho defenders that night, Hie reason the attack was not made is obvious, From his position in the Wattle Plantation, two miles distant, Bambata could see the lights of the town, and as 12 o’clock came and went, and still tho lislits remained, he began to have fears that his exu'-dition would not pan out so successfully as he at first anticipated, and. coward as he was, he thought better of it, and speedily returned with his followers to his kraal.

The next dav h<? made his escape through to Znluland, with three or four of his headmen, and at a later stage of the rebellion it was announced that he had been killed in one of the fights there.