FAMOUS ANIMAL COLLECTOR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9594, 4 February 1910, Page 6

FAMOUS ANIMAL COLLECTOR.

No living mau knows more about aumials thau Mr Carl Hageubeck, the great German dealer, and it, is difficult to imagine a more absorbingly interesting book thau his "Beasts and Men," just issued. Of liis own adventures in handling savage brutes, Mr Hageubeck scarcely says enough, but among tiie more exciting lie refers to one with au elephant named Lissy, whose keeper taught her to lift him (the keeper) high above tho ground with her trunk aud then gently set Him on his I'oefc. Hageubeck was seized with a desire to experience this novel sensation. "I therefore weut up to the elephant," he. says, "stroked and fed her, aud, taking hold of her trunk, I called out the word of command, 'Lissy, apport.' Theu followed one of the most vilely treacherous acts of which I,havo over heard. Lissy began to obey the order, but I soon felt she was bent on mischief, for the embrace of her trunk was unpleasantly vigorous, aud I soared high iuto the air. But 1 was not quietly deposited ouco more upon my i'eet. Instead of this, Lissy dashed me violently against the wooden barrier in front of her stall, aud I went flying'over into tho meuagerie." "Dramatic stories of baboon hunting are told. A trap resembling a native hut, well baited with food, is employed, and tbe baboous are easily iaiprisoued by a trap-door device. The herd outside surround tho prisoners and urge them to escape. "On the approach of their captors," says Mr Hageubeck, "they show all the sigus of extreme terror, aud endeavour to force their heads through the walls." The captured males are muzzled, hands aud feet are tied, anil their whole bodies are wrapped iv cloth till they resemble great smoked sausages. The same individual, when allowed to escape, is often caught a second time iv tbe same trap. One was caught three times. Wheu the captives are ta„en away, their comrades do uot desert them, but climb up tbe palm tees and howl out unintelligible words, which are answered with mournful voices by the prisoners. When powerful Arabian baboous were the object of tho huut, ou one occasiou, wheu the trap was spriftig, three thousand baboous hurled themselves savagely ou the huuters, who defended themselves with firearms aud cudgels. The huuters were driven back by sheer force of uumbers, aud tiie victorious baboous made short work of the cage, and released their imprisoned frieuds.