HUMAN TREES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 607, 17 November 1881, Page 3

HUMAN TREES.

The most ingenious device to escape capture is shown by the Bheel robbers of India. It often Imp} ens that, a band of these robbers are pursued by mounted Englishmen, and, unab’e to reach the Jungle, find themselves about to be over taken on one of those open plains which ha-’e been cleared by fire, the only shelter in sight being the blackened trucks or

leafless branches of small trees that have perished it: the flames. For men so skilled in 'posturing this is shelter enough. Quickly divesting themselves of their scanty clothing, they scatter it with their plunder in small piles over the plain, covering them with their round stields, so that they have the appearance of lumps of earth, and attract no attention. This accomplished, they snatch up a few sticks throw their body into a contorted position and stand an- 4 crouch immovable until their unsuspicious enemies have g dloped by, When all is safe, they quickly pick up their spoil and proceed uponiheir way.

Y'iie Rev. J. D. Woods gives an interest--g account of these marvellous mimics. Y We quote the following:—“Before the English had become used to these manoeuvres, a very ludicrous incident occurred An officer, with a party of horsemen, was chasing a small body of these Bheel robbers, and was fast overtaking them.- Suddenly the robbers ran behind a rock or some such obstacle, which hid them for a moment, and when the soldiers came up the men had mysteriously disappeared. After an unavailing search, the officer ordered his men to dismount, beside a clump of scorched and withered trees ; and °the day being very hot, he took off his helmet and hung it on a brand) hy which he was standing. The branch iu question turned out to be the leg of a Bheel, who burst into a scream of laughter, and flung the astonished officer to the ground. The clump of scorched trees suddenly became metamorphosed into men, and the whole party dispersed in different directions bafore the astonished Englishmen could re-

cover from their surprise, carrying with them tiie officer’s helmet by way of

trophy. *’