About Rats.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 28 April 1890, Page 2

About Rats.

♦ . — Over twenty years ago the country on this coast was not thick iy pop* ulvited by human beiugs, but it certainly was with rats. Circumstances settled that wo should visit the camp of a surveyor on Ramkawa islaud in the Manwatu rivor near the Gorge. Here our friend had made his temporary home, and for further accommodation had pressed into use the abandoned raupo whare's left by the aboriginal owners. It was showery the day we arrired at the camp, and it was late in the evening before we were shown the arrangements for sleeping, impiO" vised tor our, and another riaitor'i, comfort. In one whare upon the ground was laid n thick coating of fern, with a plentiful supply of bankets thereon, and a wooden log for a bolster, but 10 placed as to leave a foot between it and the wall of the house At the end of the log was a cleft manuka stuck in the earth, to hold a candle, the light being a good twelve inches from the ground. At the other end of the bouse, was a camp bedstead, made of manuka poles, and the whole raised two feet from the ground. On retiring to rest, our superior officer had the bedstead, which he joyfully acceptod, and the surveyor and ourselves had the floor bunk. Just before getting between the blankets, the surveyor enquired whether we had any objection to rats, as he " thought " there might be a few about. Now we had, and still bare, an intense objection to these animals, but there was something in 'the look of our bedfellow that prompted us to make the outrageous itatement that " w« were not a hit." We however enquired why the candle was so elevated, when we learnt that it was co placed to be out of reach of such visitors I Thus before blowing out the light our friend groped about behind hia head, and suddenly ejaculated " Oh,' I've got it," and the " it" happened to be a stout manuka pole, two feet in longth and two inches in thickness. " What on earth do you want to go to sleep with that weapon for ?" we enquired, "if you are not careful you will be fetching ub a wipe over the head." He laughed ! "No I wont hit jv>u, it ts oniy for the ra'a/'H Pleasant shop to tako a night's rest in, where cxndies had to be elVated, and truncheons had to be grasped, to permit you to hold your own ! We wished we were " with our mother again" and no mistake. Directly the light was oat down went our head under the blankets, and we determined nothing should induce us to spenk or move until daylight again appeared. The dropi fell heavy on the roof, a patter of hundreds of feet were heard outstfe, aud than a sound as of a strong breeze playing through the leaves of the forest foretold the entry of the enemy through -the raupo walls of our temporary home. Our bed neighbour got hit stroiif right arm to work, and thud, thud, |here and there, as busy as could be, till we nearly laughed outright. Fortunately we didn't, for apparently it was awkward to lie on the broad of your back, and to j make effective shots at the rats who were endoav«»urm« to dr ig you out of h#sl »»y the hair of your head, | without hurfciug yourself, and it was also fatiguing, so th'it " I say, are you i asleep, wako up I say, don't y.<u feel tho rat?," came often from the lips of the woiker we only suored the louder, i though a chill shivered our spine ns we feit these active little beggars run up and down over us, out Hide the blanket. The shower ceasing, our tormentors left, having some other fun to attend to whilst it was dry, but each time it rained, in they poured, in bigger numbers, and our active bedfellow was hard at it. Once he gave us a severe start, as he sat up in bed, materially disturbing the blanket we had rapt a-omdns, and went hammering away in»»t < ieiously and in such close proximnity to our head, just because a rat bad bit hie ear." We ' Wduld have liked to havo remonstrated with him and recommended tok'ng it calmy, only we

wanted him to think we were r n!oer>, ] and preferred his doing all tho ilghu- 1 ing. This is odd, but the night i ended, though atone time we iin. i agined we had been consigned to 1 utter darkness and to a place where the wicked are said never to be at i rest. On the return of daylight, and the departure of the rats, our aptrits rose, and we gently inquired how our friend had pass d the night. We d-d not gain an overidvil answer as the poor fellow was worn out and was just sinking into a quiet and well deserved slumber.