Most Perilous Hunting.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1922, Page 4

Most Perilous Hunting.

BIKE OF AN ANIMAL COLLECTOR

TERRORS OK THE JUNGLE. Mr Charles Mayer’s “’['rapping Wild Animals in Malay Jungles” (Unwin, 8s (id net), is a hook of rare qualify. I: is the.story, brilliantly told by lie author, (»f his thrilling advcntuios and narrow escapes In bis hti.-iiii >s i f col looting wild annuals for menageries and Zoological Gardens: The author began life some forty

years ago as a circus aiUiulant in the l nited States, and lie has some extra ordinary tales of the slant methods pursued with “had men,” sc I to force tlieir way in “with guns." Four such broke into his circus and stark-:! promiscuous shooting. They were simply hit on the head with .lieavi stakes! The ciew buried the four men wliil • the show was. on. I thought there

wuiihl lie trouble before we could get out ul the town, but the men weien't even missed. From America lie went to Sumatra, and there his ical adven I ures began. He secured permission of the Dutch authorities to live among the Malays, as lie found that, lie must understand their language and lie certain of their sympathy before lie could do much in the business 111 collecting wild beasts. 11 is first, great capture was a gigantic jr. ilinn, or lion-poisonous lion constrictor, 32f1, long. As it was sleeping, gorged with prey, running nooses were slipped over its head and tail, in order to haul it by tbe head into a great crate, while the tail was kept taut. A TERRIBLE DEATH. Unfurl unately the Malays at the tailropes became excited, and the huge snake got its tail loose. lie caught one man, who had not been able to get out of the way, and wrapped the lower part of Ids body round him. 1 went for the snake’s neck, which is the most lender part of him, hoping to sink my lingers in on the nerve centre and disable him. By jumping forward the snake had loosened the llond-ropo siifl'icieiiHv to turn on me and sink his fangs into my forearm. I sprang hack. The unhappy native who had been caught was crushed Lo pulp; “blood spouted from his mouth and cars, anil he was thrown limply about.” Mr Mayer succeeded in gaining the confidence of the Sultan of Trongganu, one of the Malay Stales, whose territory was a veritable preserve of wild beasts, and there lift tranpoil no fewer than (!() wild elephants in one single undertaking. The work was not done without grave risk; three natives were killed and 12 hurt in the process, but they regarded him as a god, and, lie says', were ready to follow him anywhere. Several of the elephants were babies. They soon became playful atpl affectionate. \Ye made pets of them and amused ourselves with weaning them They were mischievous little animals, full of fun and inquisitiveness. He denies that elephants are extremely intelligent. One of the strongest features iff the

domesticated cli'i'linnt's cliiir obedioneo. It:-! icnsoiiiiiK far for liolo.v tillin' of :i duo those u lio luice liml to do plianls will agroo in .savin" oi.mil qualities ciinnii; lie e and t-liat their vices air frw Dicin' iu exceptional animals. ■artor is its ultirs are . lint all with clotliat their xavfo'iate 1 , mi:! only