469. To hark back, however, to our subject. Greyhounds of a large rough kind are trained in some parts of Australia to course the kangaroo. A kangaroo when he is brought to bay[90] would disable a great number of dogs, however bold and strong they might be, should they incautiously attack him in front: for while he is sitting upon his hind-quarters, or standing upright, he can by one blow, or rather strike of his hind-leg, which is furnished with huge claws, tear open the strongest greyhound from the chest downwards; and many dogs have been thus killed. As soon, therefore, as a large kangaroo is seen, a well-educated brace of greyhounds are slipped. For some time, by a succession of enormous bounds, the animal keeps far ahead of his pursuers—especially when running up hill, where he is as much favoured by his long hind-legs as a hare is by hers,—and all are soon lost to the sight of unmounted hunters. When he has been overtaken and brought to bay, one of the trained dogs keeps him there; and this he does barking round and round him, threatening every moment to fly at him. The other dog returns to the hunters, and leads them to the spot where his companion is detaining the kangaroo: and so completely does the noisy assailant engage the attention of the unfortunate beast, that the hunters are frequently enabled to approach unperceived, and stun him with a blow over the head. An old kangaroo is there termed by the hunters “an old man;”[91] the flesh of a young one is, however, by many considered very delicate eating. A powerful dog will kill a small kangaroo single-handed; and if properly taught, will then seek for his master, and conduct him to the body.
GREYHOUNDS, FALCON, AND DEER.
470. In Persia and many parts of the East greyhounds are taught to assist the falcon in the capture of deer. When brought within good view of a herd the bird is flown, and at the same moment the dog is slipped. The rapid sweep of the falcon soon carries him far in advance. It is the falcon who makes the selection of the intended victim,—which appears to be a matter of chance,—and a properly-trained greyhound will give chase to none other, however temptingly close the alarmed animals may pass him. The falcon is instructed to aim at the head only of the gazelle, who soon becomes bewildered; sometimes receiving considerable injury from the quick stroke of its daring adversary. Before long the gazelle is overtaken by the greyhound. It is not always easy to teach a dog to avoid injuring the bird, which is so intent upon its prey as utterly to disregard the approach of the hound. Death would probably be the penalty adjudged to him for so heinous an offence; for a well-trained falcon is of great value. You can readily imagine that neither it nor the greyhound could be properly broken unless the instructor possessed much judgment and perseverance. The sport is very exciting; but the spectator must be well-mounted, and ride boldly who would closely watch the swift, varying evolutions of the assailing party, and the sudden evasions of the helpless defendant. The education of this falcon is conducted on the same principle as that of the cheeta.—(Note to [284].) The lure is a stuffed gazelle. It is placed at gradually increased distances. The raw meat is fixed between its eyes, and the concluding lessons terminate with the sacrifice of a few tame or maimed deer; a portion of whose warm flesh is given to the bird as a reward for his aid in recapturing the unfortunate creatures.
THERE ARE BOUNDS TO SPORT.
“By a succession of enormous bounds, the animal keeps far ahead.”—Par. [469]
BARBUDA CUB.
471. An officer, quartered at Antigua, used occasionally to obtain permission to shoot on an island called Barbuda, in the possession of Sir Bethel Codrington. It is a strange spot,—a coral rock just emerging from the sea, its highest point being no more than one hundred and twenty feet above the water. The horses, cattle, and everything on the island are wild, save the manager and two overseers, its only white inhabitants. The former (I speak of the year 1835) was a splendidly built man, not very refined, but full of energy, an excellent shot, and an indefatigable sportsman. No Indian had a keener eye for a trail. A turned leaf or a broken twig told him the path, and almost the distance, of the hog or deer which he was pursuing through the dark intricacies of stunted trees, cactus, and long grass, with which the island is, in a great measure, covered. A small mangy-looking mongrel, with a long thin muzzle, and lanky body, always accompanied him. The sagacity of this brute, and his powers of scenting game, were most remarkable. He generally walked about ten yards in front of his master, and suddenly throwing his nose high in the air, would quicken his pace, and trot up wind. Gradually again his pace would slacken,—the trot was changed to a walk, the walk to stealthy creeping, when he would raise each foot with the greatest caution, putting it down as noiselessly as though shod with velvet, most carefully avoiding the crisp leaves and dry twigs, for fear of making the slightest sound. Presently he would stand stock-still (the inclination to point is, I think, more general among dogs than many men suppose) and look at his master; but he never did this unless the game was well within shot. His master would now peer closely round, and his eagle-eye never failed to detect the tip of a horn, or a dappled spot, showing where a fallow-deer was feeding. If there was a flock of Guinea-birds,[92] (which are numerous in Barbuda,) the sagacious little creature would wait until the gun was close to him, and then, to prevent their running, would dash in and spring them.
