SHOOTING A LINGUIN IN JAVA.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 437, 20 May 1899, Page 1 (Supplement)

SHOOTING A LINGUIN IN JAVA.

Among the more interesting articles in the Wide World Magazine for Februry is one from the pen of Lieutenant>Colonel Andrew Waggard, D. S. 0., who writes on the linguin :—' It may probably interest some readers who have never yet heard of the brute (he says) to learn that there is still existing in the island of Java an animal—or rather, a reptile—which seems to be the missing link between the iohthyosauri of prehistori day* and the well-known saurians of present times This animal is, it appears known to the natives by the name of ' linguin ' and at the suggestion of my friend, Baron Alfons Pereira, CousutGeneral of Austria-Hungary in Tunis, I propese to relate how he was some years ago fortunate enough to shoot one of these monsters. ' 1 was,' says Baron Pereira, 'one morning in February, 1869, travelling in a large Javanese canoe with the Assisiant-Resident Metnian, himself a well-kuown sportsman. Dawn bad only just broken when we found ourselves close to the mouth of the river Batavia. At this point the water was salt, and there was a considerable swell caused by the wavei of the sea running up against the tide. As we advanced the rowers had considerable difficulty in making headway against the morning breeze. Suddenly there was euormous excitement among the crew of Malays who manned the boat. ' Linguin ! Linguin !' I heard repeated on all sides. ' Linjuiu ! Linguin ?' repeated the steersman sitting next to me, seizing me by the arm as he shouted, and pointed excitedly towards the muddy shore, aloDg which we were coasting at a distance of about 150 metres. It was, I have said barely light, and all that I could make out was the long and dark form of some large creature lying en the mud. I se'zed my rifle, nob knowing in the least what a linguin might be, but at first imagining it to be merely a crocodile. But even with my rifle in hand I hesitated to shoot, for the movemect of tha boat, which was rolling, made any attempt at a steady aim impossible. However, the natives with me grew impatient. ' Linguin !' they cried again. 1 Shoot. ! shoot!'

Standing up, I took a hasty aim and fired. Instantly there was a most tremendous commotion iu the mud. I saw a huge creature whirling round aud rouud in the liquid ooze, first on its head and then oa it 3 tale—much like the firework called a Catherine wheelwhile liquit mud was beiug scattered about in all directions. A ehout of triumph rose from my crew, and the steersman, seizing a murderous-looking Malay scimitar, p'unged over board to wage mortal combat with the disabled mouster. He swam to shore, and bodily entered the mud, which was more than up to his knees, attacked tho enormous lirure. As we advanced quite close to the mud, I was now able to see that tho animal appeared to be half-crocodile and half-snake. It had the body of the former and the neck and head of the latter. Upon tho approach of the Malay it ceased its wheel-like whirlings round and round on its tail and repeatedly struck out at its new enemy with its head, trying to seize him with it 3 fangs. But everytime the linguin darted forward its powerful head and neck the native struck out with the sword each time inflicting a woand and saving himself from injury. At length a final blow slruok tho furious snake crocodile fairly on tha neck, and it fell dead. With great difficulty the brave follow towed it by the tail through the mud into the water and brought it out to the canoe, when with a good deal of trouble we got it ou board. It was so heavy that it nearly bore down under water the gunwale of the boat on the side where we placed it. Its length was between 9ft. to 10't. This I know from the fact that the body alone rested on at least two thwarts of the boat. The long head and neck fell upon the bottom of the craft. They were much cut about by the sword; but a peculiarity that I noticed was that, although they were cut in deep gashes the flesh exposed was all white, like the flesh of a fish, there was no blood flowing from any of the wounds. In addition to the cuts upon the neck, the Malay had also nearly severed one of the forepaws of tho weird creature. It was in conseqence almost too much destroyed for preservation. Howerever, I insited upon the men currying the carcase with us until midday after we had disembarked ; but at length, chiefly owing to the nnmerous cuts upon it became so decomposed and offensive that we had to leave it behind. Mr Metman promised me that I should see plenty more, but, alas! never in all the time that I was in Java did 1 see another linguin.'