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December 30, 1901.]
him and he got a well-aime shot at the bull. The others in the herd stampeded, but the bull, after stumbling round for a moment, made a rush directly at him. He was ready for it, and it fell almost at arm's length, with a bullet in its brain. The officer says that he intended to get a native servant and one or two men and go back that afternoon for the tusks. Plans of the host interfered. He said nothing of the adventure, for fear the host might not feel quite right over his having made that use of his hospitality, and supposing that the host might be saved trouble if ho knew nothing of it. He wanted the tusks so badly, however, that on his return to Manila he decided to make full coufession and say that he would be most glad to pay for any trouble in securing the tasks, if men could be sent out to get them. He described as well as he could where the shooting occurred. Men who went out found no trace of a carcase, which the fficer thought ought to make itself noticeable, as he soberly judged the ball to be about seven feet tall, although when it was rushing at him it looked as big as a hous'. At about this time, curiously, a pair of elephant tuks, each six feet long, reached the Sandakan customs for sale or shipment. A Chinese trader from Semporna said he had got them f.om a native, who had found a dead elephant. The tusks were specially fine ones, and the trader expected to sell them for ten shillings per catty. They weighed 55 catties, nearly il pounds, and at the trader's price would yield 275 local dollars, from $30 to $135 gold. The animal from which they came must have been taller than seven feet, but it may be that the officer chose to keep well within bounds in the estimate in bis letter. A record at Sandakan, apparently anthentic, tells of tusks each 32 inches long which came from an elephant nine feet seren inches tall.
Everybody has experience with crocodiles, They make some of the streams dangerous for small boats. It is not uncommon for a croco- dile to steal up behind a boat containing several natives, lift a paddler out by the arm, and make off with him. There is no use in looking a crocodile straight in the eye, expecting him to back away
521
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. the banks of streams, for the purpose of drawing that admonition. A reassuring note from the crocodiles to that spot; but they do it at the hornbill will set the native right again, but bidding of their masters, the natives, and without it the day and task in hand are finished, scamper away after them to a place in the and there must be a renewal as fresh as if it streain where they may all plunge in together were the beginning. It is the same practice and cross in safety. The laugh is on the that some of the tribes in Mindanao follow, crocodiles at any rate, and the dogs certainly whether or not under the influence of the same do their part in putting it there.
birds. In the prevailing stillness of the wilds When a crocodile casts a spell upon a native, a warning note always sounds so distinctly that the native cannot recover antil the crocodile is there is no mistaking it. What would happen dad. Any native will declare that countless to a native who scoffed at a goat-sucker. and experience proves this assertion. There is an
went on about his business is not quite clear, Fold chief named Haji Drabime in the Kudat except that among his possible misfortunes district who was moved by the crocodile and might be a visit from the man-eating ghosts dog story to relate crocodile incidents that had who watch from the hills their chances to come under his own observation, to A. C. Pear-pounce upon the wanton and reckless.
A native is a good guide for game or bird, sou, Assistaut
the Treasurer General of Government. Haji says that one day when he for he knows all the forest life, from the sun was on the Beukoka River, his eyes failed him. bird, the humming bird of the East, ethereal, There seemed to be a mist and darkness.prightly, and sparkling with irridescent hues although it was mid-day. In alarm he spoke to his wife, in the boat with him. She knew intui- tively that the spell of the crocodile must be com. ing over him, and begged him to arm himself at once, as the spell does not work when a man is armed. Before he could get out his kris. a crocodile tried to climb into the bout. Haji seized a pole, sharp at the end, and thrust it into the mouth of the intruder, which sank back into the water. For three days and nights Haji could not sleep Whenever he closed his eyes, he saw the crocodile about to bito him He grew sick in mind and body. An old man then war ed him that until the plantations. A planter keeps a mongoose a protection against snakes of intrusive killed the crocodile, its influence would be upon him. That night he set a trap. He did not disposition. No one is surprised to be awakened the crocodile approach it, bat toward in the night by civets in his room, arguing out their differences so like civilised cats as to morning he went to sleep with a quiet heart. When be awoke, he went to the make him homesick. A traveller who drifted trap, and found the crocodile dead, with a
over to Sebongan tells of an interview there big wound in its throat, made by the pole. with a native who entertained him, which Mr. Pearson tells of a meeting that some of might be repeated within a day's trip from his employers had with a crocolile recently the coast, in almost any part of the territory, which will be proof conclusive to the native by anyone curious regarding things primeval. mind that the theory of Haji regarding the
Are elephants about here?" asks the guest. Mataod duration of a spell is right. In the first
(loads of them), the host replies. "Rhinoceros ?" "Mataod." Deer?" "Mataod." encounter, which occurred near Kudat, one
Buffalo" "Mataol." Wild boar "{ Just of his men Was 20 badly hurt that he
then the floor threatens an upheaval from a died. Mr. Pearson sent out other coolies, terrific ontbreak of noises between a squeal and two of whom became insane. The remain- der of them took the advice of Haji, and snort, proceeding from directly beneath where
That is one." set a trap for the crocodile. While one of the words to that effect, replied the host quietly,
are talking. men was at work on the trap the spellbinder appeared, and the man stood still and helpless not in the least surprised or disturbed by the
see
The other two coolies attacked with their
among the blossoms on which it feeds, to the giants of the woods and the tough-hided cruel monsters of the streams. All the wild life knows the native and regards him as part of itself, there to prey and be preyed upon when occasion requires, but ordinarily harmless. Among the natives who settle down and have permanent abiding places, the birds and animals make themselves quite at home, nesting under the roof and finding shelter from sum and storm and at night within the enclosure of indeed, is almost as free in the bungalows at Wild life, stilts that support the floors.
as
[
the
men
+
or
intrusion. A white man who studies his own
stolid and unconcerned over all externals as was
He has never heard of that sure means of cowing Fons and tigers, and besides he likes to do things his own way. A native surprised by a crocodile is said to fall instantly under the sort of spell that a snake casts over a bird, becoming utterly powerless to move or to cry out. The crocodile may indulge his appetite piecemeal or in bulk, So far as may be judged, spears, and the crocodle swam off with the interest in these parts will learn to become as the natural preference of this destroyer was for spears in his back. Since the man spellbound this native over the visit of this boar, as big soon recover and nothing has since happened Booloodcopy, upon which it fastened and im-
to him. Haji stands ready to make affidavit that as a donkey, to the shade of his establish- ment for a noonday rest, and who found his proved its breed for generations. until the
the crocodile is dead. Mr. Pearson knews favourite corner occupied by a black panther. normal adult crocodile length became twenty about the tricks of the imagination, nervous The natives are intensely superstitious and feet, with a stroke of five horse power per fool
fright, and such things, but he says he has no fear many things needlessly, and such ad- in its tail. Of late, like the rest of the world, it doubt that many people who have visited or miration and respect for whites as they fee has become accustomed to Chinese and will not
resided here could tell experiences which would has been won by exhibitions, often forced and willingly do without it. Weariness of mortal
be received at an English din er table with a
uunatural, of superiority to whatever may strife, in Chinese Booloodcopy, Dusun, Dayak
Do ite
How very strange" and a quiet, befall. The fatalist is the native ideal, and the or any other human apecies, may always find
meaning smile.
white man who betrays concern over anything, sure and quick relief within reach of a cro- codile's tail, or by looking him in the eye. The
temper, excitement, surprise, grief, or excess of eye is the place to look, indeed, if one is nu-
emotion in any respect, loses the mastery with the friendly, for a bullet there makes subsequent
essential to his complete success procedings post mortem.
When the government recently announcil that all dogs must be licensed and tagged, or shot, the sympathy to be expected for a dog where Englishmen live found frequent and general expression. One story went the rounds which pleaded in the dog's behalf that he could outwit the crocodile. In substance the story was that when a dog wished a day in the country, he always arranged for plenty of company. On reaching a stream, all the dogs would gather close together on the bank and make all the noise they could Every crocodile within hearing, his mouth a-water, would hasten to the spot. When the meeting became full, the dogs would suddenly scamper down the bank for a few hundred yards and swim the stream safely while the delegation of crocodiles sat wondering what it all meant. The dogs returned home by the same device at another part of the stream. That scheme worked as often as the dogs decided on a picnic, the crocodiles never seeming able to see the joke or to circumvent it. When some sceptic called for the documents on this story, it came out that the original narrator might have been quite truthful. Dogs do kick up a racket at
-
The crocodile is a good dog-catcher, in spite of the tricks that dogs play by their barking, and is specially partial to "wild boar, which is also allowable game for inan. Neither do nor boar seems to know enough to recognise the difference between a log of wood on the bank a stream and a crocodile playing possam there. They have no time to know anything after one swish of the crocodile's tail or one snap of is jaws.
|
natives
The white ant may not be properly game, but opinion throughout the tropical East would protably subscribe unanimously to a scheme It does all that promised to make it extinct. the things in Borneo that have distinguished it elsewhere. When the occupaut of a Wild life, except in the elephant and bungalow, resolving to correct the sprawling room and to keep it as rhinoceros, has not retreale-i far from the endition of his settlements. It abounds everywhere, and is dainty as if he had a wife along, puts amazingly quiet. The human kind may pass his boots and clothing carefully away in a among it without startling it, for it has not yet wardrobe at night, and finds in the morning
One may
the wardrobe merely a glaze of varnish which learned to regard man as an enemy. examine at tolerably close range the plumage falls in dust to his touch, he will lack in and markings of a great variety of birds, some true Borneo culture if he expresses any emotion. of them strikingly beautiful They call, but bare The white ants have been there in the night no song beyond a twitter attuned to the rustling and taken away all the wood of the wardrobe of the foliage that shelters them. There are a and all its contents and belongings except shoe ozen distinct species of the kingfisher, all nails, the key of the door and the small hard- gaily plumed, the white crane or paddy bird. ware that held the contrivance together. If green and gray pigeons, snipe, golden plover, the planter had coin in his pockets, the ants rails, hornbills, sandpipers, frigate birds, left that for him, so that he might be encour An occurrence of th's kind various kinds, Java sparrows, aged to buy anew. hawks of and starlings. The goat-sucker, regarded by is of course not commou, but it is among the can s'at tales that come down from the interior. Borneo the natives as a bird of ill omen. off a contract or a journey by a single note of climate certainly suits the white ant, for it warning. No native would dare be heedless of builds houses here of mud and straw, which
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