T H E COMMON W O L F TRAP.
Î 2 1 ; ' i !
in ihc first inslance was not, perhaps, suiEcieiilly guarded against. The
intelligence was rapidly spread thronghoiit ihe country, lhal the Europeans at
the several military and civil stations liad made provision lor supplying the poor
with rice. This induced all to bend their course towards the nearest asylum.
Thousands perished hy (he way from absolute hunger; while numbers fell an
easy prey to the wolves, which, being bereft of their usual means of subsistence,
by the general destruction of all eatable animals, were at first compelled,
and afterwards found it convenient, to attack the wretched wanderers. The
little resistance they experienced in their depredations on these unfortunate
creatures emboldened them in an astonishing manner, and taught tlietn to look
with contempt and dcfiance towards a race, of whose powers thoy heretofore
had been in awe.
Such numbers, however, succeeded in findiug their way to the cantonments,
that we were to all intents in a slate of siege. The wolves followed, and were
to be seen in all directions comniilling havoc among the dying crowd. They
absolutely occupied many gardens, and outliouses; and often in open day,
trotted about like so many dogs, proceeding from one ravine to another, without
seeming to entertain the least apprehension ; so fatniliar had they become
witli mankind, and so little did they seem disposed to remove, from what to
ihem was a scene of abundance ! 1 cannot give a stronger idea of our situation,
than by informing the reader, that not only the wolves, but even the swiue, were
to be seen in alt directions attacking the poor wrctches, whose feeble endeavours
lo drive away theii- ravenous devourers, were the only indication that ihe vital
sparks were not quite extinct.
The demise of such numbers tainted the air, and caused a sickness among the
troops. Many ofticei-s died of putrid fevers; and the most serious consequences
would inevitably have followed ))ut for the setting in of the rains, which both
abated the extreme heat of the atmosphere, «ind carried oft" immense quantities
of ofiensive remains. It is not easy to assert how many died ; but I heard it
stated by some gentlemen of the committee for managing the subscription
money, lhal at least two hundred thousand persons had Hocked from the
countrj', of whom not more tiian one in twenty could be maintained for the
number of months which juust elapse before the soil could render its aid. To
calculate upon less than a regular sujjply till such should be the case, Monid
have been absurd; for tliere was not the smallest possibility of the scourge
being abated in the mean while : the lower provinces, as before remarked, could
do little more than support themselves; and no periodical supply of the fruits,
&c, usually produced in the rainy season, could be expected in a country of
whicli nearly two thirds of the population was destroyed.
This mournful scene, however, gradually drew to a close: the unfortunate
groupe had either died or had been restored to healtli, and were capable of
returning to their occupations. The wolves now fell themselves bereft of their
usual prey, but did not lose their habit of attacking men, many of whom,
though in general provided with some means of defenec, which ci r<M mi stances
had rendered necessary, yet became victims to their depredations. At Iciiglh
measures could lie taken to check their rapacity, an<l ihey were obliged to have
recourse lo their former researches for food.
Thé allempt lo catch wolves in traps, while they could glut on such abundance
of provision, proved abortive ; but when that plenty began lo subside,
they became eager, and many were taken, The great number of old w<-ll^
existing throughout the country, and especially about the cantonments, offered
a ready means of adopting the ordinary method of catching them. To efiect
this, however, required some prudence and management; for it was found that
a wolf would not venture where the earth was newly dug, although a very
tempting bait was in view. In consequence, such old wells as were found of
sufiicient depth, and in other respecLs appeared calculated for the purpose,
were selected for Iraps, and left as much as possible in their natural state of
decay.
The construction of the trap was extremely simple; and nothing could exceed
the certainty with which it acted in detaining the animal after once he had
plunged in. The wells that bad the widest mouths were preferred, and had a
gallows of about eight or nine feet high built across iheir centres. To the
middle of this, by means of a small pulley, a bucket or cage was suspended,
bearing a kid or lamb, so lied dou-n that it could not deviate. Over this bait
was placed a ])ot of water, in the bottom of which was a small hole stopped
with a rag, rather loosely, so that the water might keep dripping slowly upon
the kid, which from its irritation and unusual position rarely failed to bleat
the whole night through.
The surface of the well being covered thinly with slight laths of bamboo,
over which grass, &c. was strewed so as to hide the mouth, a hedge of about a
yard high was made round it of briars, &c. strong enough to keep the wolf
from breaking through, Tlie wolves were often seen examining the premises,
and occasionally rising on their hind legs to look over. It happened occasionally,
that, after a minute investigation, they would all leave the place ; no
doubt from an instinct which warned them of their danger. Whether it
depended on the place itself, or that the method of some persons were better
than others, I could not ascertain ; bul it is certain that some were very often
successful, while others, who seemed lo adopt every precaution, scarce ever
could catch a wolf
When they \vere taken, it was with extreme diQlculty they were got out of
the wells. What with passing slip knots over them, and other expedients,
though the wolf certainly could not very easily avoid being brought to the
surface, yet it was not very easy to set him free. Many, like the old fable of
the rats and the cat, suggested means of ail'ecting the desideratum, but none
could be got to e.xecute even their own proposals. It happened that an old