Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

is mine. In death as in life, mine and mine "He must have been a great fool to starve only!" and again he threw himself, still hold-himself to death," said Jobson, "when he ing her to his heart, headlong on the earth. could have killed himself in a shorter time with his hatchet, or even by drowning himself in the pool!"

Then went Os-ko-ne-an-tah sadly from the spot, followed by all his people. Still lay Toke-ah there, grasping the form of his dead bride. The bright star glittered above the two, and then grew pale in the advancing dawn, but still he stirred not. Brightly rose the sun, striking the scene into sudden joy, but still he stirred not. Noon glowed, and then the sunset fell, but To-ke-ah still lay there with the dead one in his arms. Night darkened. Again the star stole out in the red twilight, again grew bright and gleamed above the spot where To-ke-ah rested, but still no motion there. Once more rose the sun, and his first beam rested on To-ke-ah, but still there he lay with the dead one lying on his bosom.

"What a barbarian you are, Jobson!" said Allthings, "every thing is matter of fact with you. Do be still!"

"Well, but I don't see the common sense," persisted Jobson, "if he was determined to kill himself, of leaving all the pies and things that they brought him, and starving himself and getting wet in the bargain, when he had a shorter way of doing the job!”

66

Suppose you go and ask him, Jobson!" said Paddock, smiling; "I don't know his reasons, if he had any. At all events, I tell the tale as I heard it, and can't alter it!"

The Count had listened to the story with all his ears, but evidently, from his imperfect knowledge of the English language, without half understanding it.

"Pauvre demoiselle! so she did a-a-8— what ye call dat, (making as if pitching headlong,) a-a-a

"Tumble!" ejaculated Jobson.

[ocr errors]

Oui, oui, oui, toomball, toomball down de-down de roches-roches, pauvre demoiselle! did she se blesser ?"

"She went down the torrent, Count, in her canoe and was dashed to death!" exclaimed little Annie Mapes.

"Oh, oh, pauvre demoiselle!" answered the Count, sorrowfully. "The lovaire did courir from her-ah-ah-pauvre demoiselle!"

[ocr errors]

No, no, Count!" returned Annie impatiently, "her lover did not forsake her. She thought he was dead, and went in her canoe after his body!"

"Pauvre demoiselle! and did she trouver him?"

"No. She was killed, and her lover had been detained in the chase, and he came afterwards and found her dead, as Mr. Paddock has just said!"

At last he rose, and delving a grave in the sod with his knife and tomahawk, deposited therein the form of the maiden, and refilling it with his hands, stretched himself upon the mound. Os-ko-ne-an-tah had in the mean while often approached him, but the moment he appeared, up sprang To-ke-ah with his threatening tomahawk, and only when the father left, did that tomahawk sink, and the Brave again resume his posture. Eight days and nights passed, the most tempting food and the coolest water were placed near him upon the rocks, but still he stirred not. Food and water were untouched. At last, at the close of the ninth day, a thunder-cloud heaved up its black form in the west. Forth rushed the blast, out flashed the lightning, and the thunder was terrible to hear. But in the pauses of the storm there came a strain of guttural music from the grave of Jo-queyoh-it was the death song of To-ke-ah. Short and faint and broken to the listening ear of Os-ko-ne-an-tah came the song, and at length it ceased. Cautiously approached the father with a torch, for even then he expected to see the flash of To-ke-ah's hatchet over his head. Cautiously he approached, but the form stretched above the grave of his daughter, was motionless. Cautiously he bent over him, and then he turned him with a sudden movement, so that he could look up-loss!" on his face. To-ke-ah was dead! The faithful warrior had departed in the shadowy trail where Jo-que-yoh had gone, and both were now engaged in the feast of the strawberry in the bright hunting grounds of Hah-wen-ne-yo. When morning came the grave of Jo-queyoh was opened by Os-ko-ne-an-tah, and the form of To-ke-ah, still arrayed in the weapons of a chief, was deposited in a sitting posture by her side. Again was the grave closed, and often did the young men and the maidens of the tribe repair thither, the first to celebrate the praises of To-ke-ah, and the latter to sing the virtues of Jo-que-yoh. Paddock ceased amidst the plaudits of the company.

"Oui, oui, oui, me understand, he try to run away and fall down-me understandoui, oui, oui-me understand."

[ocr errors]

No, no, Count, you are all wrong; he starved himself to death from grief for her

"Oui, oui, me understand; he try to run away-fall down-get no food in de roches

but he sing to keep courage up—oui, oui, me understand-bootiful story, bootiful story, Monsieur Paydook! vrai bootiful indeed! He lay there long temps-six, eight, ten day, you say! and den he sing, sing, sing, to keep courage up, for want of food! Bootiful story, bootiful story!"

Finding it was in vain to enlighten the Count, Annie gave over her task, and the Count kept repeating, as if to himself: “Oui, oui, bootiful story, Monsieur Pay-dook, bootiful story! bien bootiful story indeed! pauvre demoiselle! pauvre demoiselle! Joe-what you call it. She too good for Monsieur Took

Ear. He run away-he fall down-he sing. | light we left the hollow, put our steeds in motion, passed through the meadow, skimmed over the valley road, and then turned to the right, up the turnpike leading over the "Barrens," homeward.

She die to get rid of him: (Shrugging his shoulders and grimacing most laughably.) He run away-he fall down-he sing! pauvre demoiselle!"

"I think he must have been crazy!" said Jobson, "not to eat when he could get a chance, and he hungry too, lying there a week or more; and only think, on the damp ground all this time. I wonder he didn't

catch the rheumatism !"

"No crazy, Monsieur Jobsoon! no crazy! he sing to keep courage up. I sing sometime to keep courage up ven I think of la belle France of Paris! Bootiful story, Monsieur Paydook! vrai bootiful story! Mooch oblege, mooch oblege!"

How fragrant were the odors of the pine in the pure dry air, as we slowly toiled up the ascent of a mile towards the hut of old Gaunsalis, and then up and down over the hills, as the yellow bird flies, we travelled homeward. Past "Lord's Pond," through the turnpike gate, down the Neversink Hill, up the opposite one we went until we saw, gleaming in the heavenly moonlight, the welcome roofs of Monticello.

From Bentley's Miscellany.
LEOPARDS.

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES AND ANECDOTES.
"WHERE sacred Ganges pours along the plain,
And Indus rolls to swell the Eastern Main,
What awful scenes the curious mind delight!
What wonders burst upon the dazzled sight!
There giant palms lift high their tufted heads,
The plantain wide his graceful foliage spreads;
Wild in the woods the active monkey springs,
The chattering parrot claps her painted wings;
'Mid tall bamboos lies hid the deadly snake,
The tiger crouches in the tangled brake;
The spotted axis bounds in fear away;
The leopard darts on his defenceless prey,
'Mid reedy pools and ancient forests rude,
Cool peaceful haunts of awful solitude!"
HERE is no class of animals which com-

By this time the sun was setting, and the hollow was filled with sweet rosy light. Every leaf flashed, and the Bounding Deer " was tinged with the beautiful radiance. Soon the light crept up, leaving the bottom of this huge rocky chalice in shadow, whilst the rim was encompassed with rich brilliance. The sun poured down one stream of glory through a cleft in the bank or side of this Titan Goblet, like the visioned future which glows before the sight of happy youth, and then vanished. The gold rim vanished also.; still there appeared to be no disposition among the par-Tine in such a marked degree, beauty of

ty to leave the scene. Twilight began to shimmer, and now the stars trembled forth form, with a wily and savage nature, as that from the dusky sky. At last night settled on to which the Leopard tribe belongs. The the landscape, and the girls expressed a wish unusual pliability of the spine and joints with to see the hollow lighted up with torchlight. which they are endowed, imparts agility, Scattering ourselves amongst the trees of the elasticity, and elegance to their movements, bank, some splinters of the pitch pine were whilst the happy proportions of their limbs procured, and matches kindled each splinter give grace to every attitude. Their skins, into thick crimson flame. I clambered up as beautifully sleek, yellow above, and white far as the basin of the first "bound" of the beneath, are marked with spots of brilliant "Deer," and looked down to enjoy the scene. black, disposed in patterns according to the Scores of dark red torches were flashing in species; nor are these spots for ornament every direction, disclosing faces, forms, water, alone; as was remarked by one of the ablest trees and grass, in broken fitful glances and of the writers in the "Quarterly," "the diffein the most picturesque manner. Sometimes rent and characteristic markings of the larger a deep light caught upon the edges of a hem- feline animals, bear a direct relation to the lock, then upon the form of some graceful circumstances under which they carry on girl, then upon a huge rock, like the gleam- their predatory pursuits. The tawny color of ing of stormy lightning, whilst the "Deer" the lion harmonizes with the parched grass bounded down, tawny as the shell of the chest- or yellow sand, along which he steals towards, nut. I looked at the basin at my foot. There or on which he lies in wait to spring upon, a were a score too of stars glittering there, but passing prey; and a like relation to the place amidst them all was one large clear orb burn-in which other large feline animals carry on ing with pure and steadfast lustre. It was doubtless the star of Jo-que-yoh, and forthwith I named the basin the "Bath of the Star!" and the lower pool-oh, that shall be called "The Ladies' Mirror."

their predatory pursuits, may be traced in their different and characteristic markings. The royal tiger, for instance, which stalks or lurks in the jungle of richly-wooded India, is less likely to be discerned as he glides along Soon after I descended and once more min- the straight stems of the underwood, by hav gled with the party. Merry song and talking the tawny ground-color of his coat varieagain winged away the hour, until a pale radiance on the highest cliffs gave token of the moon. Soon up she came-that hunter's moon! moon of October! and, like a golden shield, impended from the heavens. And how she kindled up the scene, that lovely moon of the hunter! And by her delicious

gated by dark vertical stripes, than if it were uniform like the lion's. The leopard and panther again, which await the approach of their prey, crouching on the outstretched branch of some tree, derive a similar advantage, by having the tawny ground-color broken by dark spots like the leaves around them; but

amidst all this variety, in which may be traced the principle of adaptation to special ends, there is a certain unity of plan, the differences not being established from the beginning. Thus the young lion is spotted, during his first year, with dark spots on its lighter ground, and transitorily shows the livery that is most common in the genus. It is singular that man has, in a semi-barbarous state, recognized the same principle as that which constitutes these differences, and applied it to the same purpose. It is well-known that the setts, or patterns of several of the high-been made pets by the sailors, and are as land tartans were originally composed with special reference to concealinent among the heather. And with the Highlanders, perhaps, the hint was taken from the ptarmigans and hares of their own native mountains, which change their colors with the season, donning a snow white vest when the ground on which they tread bears the garb of winter, and resuming their garments of grayish brown when the summer's sun has restored to the rocks their natural tints.

Leopards and panthers, if taken quite young, and treated with kindness, are capable of being thoroughly tamed; the poet Cowper, describes the great difference in the dispositions of his three celebrated hares; so it is with other wild animals, and leopards among the rest, some returning kindness with the utmost affection, others being rugged and untameable from the first. Of those brought to this country, the characters are much influenced by the treatment they have experienoed on board ship; in some cases they have

There are three species sufficiently resembling each other in size and general appearance, to be confounded by persons unacquainted with their characteristics, namely, the leopard, the panther, and the jaguar. The precise distinction between the first two, is still an open question, although the best authorities agree in considering, that they are distinct animals; still confusion exists. An eminent dealer in furs informed us, that in the trade, panther skins were looked upon as being larger than leopards', and the spots more irregular, but the specimens produced were clearly jaguar skins, which made the matter more complicated.

tractable as domestic cats; but when they have been teased and subjected to ill-treatment during the voyage, it is found very difficult to render them sociable; there are now (September, 1851) six young leopards in one den at the Zoological Gardens: of these, five are about the same age, and grew up as one family; the sixth was added some time after, and being looked upon as an intruder, was quite sent to Coventry, and even ill-treated by the others; this he has never forgotten. When the keeper comes to the den, he courts his caresses, and shows the greatest pleasure, but if any of his companions advance to share them with him, he growls and spits, and shows the utmost jealousy and displeasure.

In the same collection, there is a remarkably fine, full-grown leopard, presented by her Majesty, who is as tame as any creature can be; mutton is his favorite food, but the keeper will sometimes place a piece of beef in the den; the leopard smells it, turns it over with an air of contempt, and coming forward, peers round behind the keeper's back to see if he has not (as is generally the case) his favorite food concealed. If given to him, he lays it down, and will readily leave it at the keeper's call, to come and be patted, and whilst caressed he purrs, and shows the greatest pleasure.

The panther, Felis pardus, is believed to be an inhabitant of a great portion of Africa, the warmer parts of Asia, and the islands of the Indian Archipelago; while the leopard, There were a pair of leopards in the Tower, Felis leopardus, is thought to be confined to before the collection was broken up, which Africa. The jaguar, Felis onca, is the scourge illustrated well the difference in disposition; of South America, from Paraguay almost to the male, a noble animal, continued to the the isthmus of Darien, and is altogether last, as sullen and savage as on the day of his larger and more powerful animal than either arrival. Every kindness was lavished upon of the others. Though presenting much re- him by the keepers, but he received all their semblance, there are points of distinction by overtures with such a sulky and morose rewhich the individual may be at once recog- turn, that nothing could be made of his unnized. The jaguar is larger, sturdier, and al-reclaimable and unmanageable disposition. together more thickset than the leopard, The female, which was the older of the two, whose limbs are the beau ideal of symmetry on the contrary, was as gentle and affectionand grace. The leopard is marked with numerous spots, arranged in small irregular circles on the sides; the ridge of the back, the head, neck, and limbs, being simply spotted, without order. The jaguar is also marked with black spots, but the circles formed by them are much larger, and in almost all, a central spot exists, the whole bearing a rude resemblance to a rose; along the back, the spots are so narrow and elongated, as to resemble stripes. The tail of the jaguar is also considerably shorter than that of the leopard, which is nearly as long as the whole body.

ate as the other was savage, enjoying to be patted and caressed by the keeper, and fondly licking his hands; one failing, however, she had, which brought affliction to the soul of many a beau and lady fair; it was an extraordinary predilection for the destruction of hats, muffs, bonnets, umbrellas, and parasols, and indeed, articles of dress generally, seizing them with the greatest quickness, and tearing them into pieces, almost before the astonished victim was aware of the loss; to so great an extent did she carry this peculiar taste, that Mr. Cops, the superintendent, used

ness. Once or twice he purloined a fowl, but easily gave it up on being allowed a portion of something else; but on one occasion, when a silly servant tried to pull his food from him, he tore a piece of flesh from the offender's leg, but never owed him any ill-will afterwards. One morning he broke the cord by which he was confined, and the castle gates being shut,

suers several times round the ramparts, and knocking over a few children by bouncing against them, he suffered himself to be caught and led quietly back to his quarters, under one of the guns of the fortress. By degrees all fear of him subsided, and he was set at liberty, a boy being appointed to prevent his

to say that she had made prey of as many of these articles as there were days in the year. Animals in menageries are sometimes great enemies to the milliner's art; giraffes have been known to filch the flowers adorning a bonnet, and we once saw a lady miserably oppressed by monkeys. She was very decidedly of "a certain age," but dressed in the extreme of juvenility, with flowers and rib-a chase commenced, but after leading his purbons of all the colors of the rainbow. Her complexion was delicately heightened with rouge, and the loveliest tresses played about her cheeks. As she languidly sauntered through the former monkey house at the gardens, playfully poking the animals with her parasol, one seized it so vigorously that she was drawn close to the den; in the twink-intruding into the apartments of the officers. ling of an eye, a dozen little paws were protruded, off went bonnet, curls and all, leaving a deplorable gray head, whilst others seized her reticule and her dress, pulling it in a very unpleasant manner. The handiwork of M. Vouillon was of course a wreck, and the contents of the reticule, her purse, gloves, and delicately scented handkerchief, were with difficulty recovered from out of the cheek pouch of a baboon.

On other occasion we saw the elephant, that fine old fellow who died some years ago, administer summary punishment to a weak minded fop, who kept offering him cakes, and on his putting out his trunk, withdrawing them and giving him a rap with his cane instead. One of the keepers warned him, but he laughed, and after he had teased the animal to his heart's content, walked away. After a time he was strolling by the spot again, intensely satisfied with himself, his glass stuck in his eye, and smiling blandly in the face of a young lady, who was evidently offended at his impudence, when the elephant, who was rocking backwards and forwards, suddenly threw out his trunk and seized our friend by the coat tails; the cloth gave way, and the whole back of the coat was torn out, leaving nothing but the collar, sleeves, and front. As may be supposed, this was a damper upon his amatory proceedings; indeed we never saw a man look so small, as he shuffled away amidst the titters of the company, who enjoyed his just reward.

His keeper, however, like a true Negro, generally passed his watch in sleeping, and Saï, as the panther was called, roained at large. On one occasion he found his servant sitting on the step of the door, upright, but fast asleep, when he lifted his paw, gave him a pat on the side of the head which laid him flat, and then stood wagging his tail as if enjoying the joke. He became exceedingly attached to the governor, and followed him every where like a dog. His favorite station was at a window in the sitting-room, which overlooked the whole town; there, standing on his hind legs, his fore paws resting on the ledge of the window, and his chin laid between them, he amused himself with watching all that was going on. The children were also fond of this scene; and one day, finding Saï's presence an incumbrance, they united their efforts and pulled him down by the tail. He one day missed the governor, and wandered with a dejected look to various parts of the fortress in search of him; while absent on this errand the governor returned to his private rooms, and seated himself at a table to write; presently he heard a heavy step coming up the stairs, and raising his eyes to the open door beheld Saï. At that moment he gave himself up for lost, for Saï immediately sprang from the door on to his neck: instead, however, of devouring him, he laid his head close to the governor's, rubbed his cheek upon his shoulder, wagged his tail, and tried to evince his happiness. Occasionally, however, the That very agreeable writer, Mrs. Lee, for- panther caused a little alarm to the other inmerly Mrs. Bowdich, has related in the first mates of the castle, and on one occasion the volume of the "Magazine of Natural Histo- woman, whose duty it was to sweep the ry," a most interesting account of a tame floors, was made ill by her fright; she was panther which was in her possession seve- sweeping the boards of the great hall with a ral months. He and another were found short broom, and in an attitude approaching very young in the forest, apparently deserted all-fours, when Saï, who was hidden under by their mother; they were taken to the one of the sofas, suddenly leaped upon her King of Ashantee, in whose palace they lived back, where he stood waving his tail in triseveral weeks, when our hero, being muchumph. She screamed so violently as to sumlarger than his brother, suffocated him in a mon the other servants, but they, seeing the fit of romping, and was then sent to Mr. panther in the act of devouring her, as they Hutchinson, the resident, left by Mr. Bowdich thought, gallantly scampered off as fast as at Coomassie, by whom he was tamed. When their heels could carry them; nor was the woeating was going on he would sit by his mas- man released from her load till the governor, ter's side and receive his share with gentle-hearing the noise, came to her assistance.

arrival of the vessel in the London Docks, Saï was presented to the Duchess of York, who placed him in Exeter Change temporarily. On the morning of the duchess's depar

pet, played with him, and admired his gentleness and great beauty. In the evening, when her royal highness's coachman went to take him away to his new quarters at Oatlands, Saï was dead from inflammation on the lungs. To this interesting animal, the following lines by Dryden, might with propriety have been applied:

Mrs. Bowdich determined to take this in- lowance was one per diem, but he became so teresting animal to England, and he was con- ravenous that he had not patience to pick off veyed on board ship, in a large wooden cage, the feathers, but bolted the birds whole: this thickly barred in front with iron. Even this made him very ill, but Mrs. Bowdich adminconfinement was not deemed a sufficient pro-istered some pills, and he recovered. On the tection by the canoe men, who were so alarmed that in their confusion they managed to drop cage and all into the sea. For a few minutes the poor fellow was given up for lost, but some sailors jumped into a boat be-ture for Oatlands, she went to visit her new longing to the vessel, and dragged him out in safety. He seemed completely subdued by his ducking; and as no one dared to open the cage to dry it, he rolled himself up in one corner, where he remained for some days, till roused by the voice of his mistress. When she first spoke he raised his head, listened attentively, and when she came fully into his view, he jumped on his legs and appeared frantic, rolling over and over, howling and seeming as if he would have torn his cage to pieces; however, his violence gradually subsided, and he contented himself with thrusting his nose and paws through the bars to receive her caresses. The greatest treat that could be bestowed upon Saï was lavender water. Mr. Hutchinson had told Mrs. Bowdich, that on the way from Ashantee, happening to draw out a scented pocket-handkerchief, it was immediately seized by the panther, who reduced it to atoms; nor could he venture to open a bottle of perfume when the animal was near, he was so eager to enjoy it. Twice a week his mistress indulged him by making a cup of stiff paper, pouring a little lavender water into it, and giving it to him through the bars of the cage; he would drag it to him with great eagerness, roll himself over it, nor rest till the smell had evaporated.

Quiet and gentle as Saï was, pigs never failed to excite indignation when they hovered about his cage, and the sight of a monkey put him in a complete fury. While at anchor in the Gaboon, an orang-outang was brought on board and remained three days. When the two animals met, the uncontrollable rage of the one and the agony of the other was very remarkable. The orang was about three feet high, and very powerful; so that when he fled, with extraordinary rapidity, from the panther to the other side of the deck, neither men nor things remained upright if they opposed his progress. As for the panther, his back rose in an arch, his tail was elevated and perfectly stiff, his eyes flashed, and as he howled he showed his huge teeth; then, as if forgetting the bars before him, he made a spring at the orang to tear him to atoms. It was long before he recovered his tranquillity; day and night he was on the listen, and the approach of a monkey or a Negro brought back his agitation. During the voyage to England the vessel was boarded by pirates, and the crew and passengers nearly reduced to starvation in consequence; Saï must have died had it not been for a collection of more than three hundred parrots; of these his al

"The Panther, sure the noblest next the Hind
And fairest creature of the spotted kind;
Oh, could her inborn stains be washed away,
She were too good to be a beast of prey!
How can I praise or blame, and not offend,
Or how divide the frailty from the friend?
Her faults and virtues lie so mixed that she,

Nor wholly stands condemned, nor wholly free."
Mr. Gordon Cumming describes two en-
counters with leopards, one of which was
nearly attended with fatal consequences: "On
the 17th, says he, "I was attacked with acute
rheumatic fever, which kept me to my bed,
and gave me excruciating pain. Whilst I lay
in this helpless state, Mr. Orpen and Present,
who had gone up the river to shoot sea cows,
fell in with an immense male leopard, which
the latter wounded very baldly. They then
sent natives to camp, to ask me for dogs, of
which I sent them a pair. In about an hour
the natives came running to camp, and said
that Orpen was killed by the leopard. On
further inquiry, however, I found that he was
not really killed, but frightfully torn and bit-
ten about the arms and head. They had
rashly taken up the spoor on foot, the dogs
following behind them, instead of going in
advance. The consequence of this was, that
they came right upon the leopard before they
were aware of him, when Orpen fired and
missed him. The leopard then sprang on his
shoulders, and dashing him to the ground lay
upon him, howling and lacerating his hands,
arms, and head most fearfully. Presently the
leopard permitted Orpen to rise and come
away. Where were the gallant Present and
all the natives, that not a man of them moved
to assist the unfortunate Orpen? According
to an established custom among all colonial
servants, the instant the leopard sprang, Pres-
ent discharged his piece in the air, and then
dashing it to the ground he rushed down the
bank and jumped into the river, along which
he swam some hundred yards before he would
venture on terra firma. The natives, though
numerous and armed, had likewise fled in an-
other direction."

The tenacity of life of these animals was well shown in the other encounter: "Having partaken of some refreshment," says Mr. Cumming, "I saddled two steeds, and rode down

« VorigeDoorgaan »