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J A C K A L S RESCUING A HUNTED BROTHER. 115
of an old wine chest, or some such thing, wlicn being removed lo an open
plain, where ihc chasc can be dislinclly viewed, the trap is opened, and on the
j a c k a l bolting, Iwo or more dogs, as may be judged necessary, are sbpped
a f t e r hiui. Í have more than once seen a brace of jackals lalcen at the same
time. And it frequently happens that timugh at first only one jackal may Ijc
observed to break from cover, yet nhen tlie dogs have followed him, several
others also make their appearance. For the most part, on seeing a horseman
they will trot oil", leaving the fugitive to his fate; though it is not uncommon
to find them staud at a distance, looking at the chase. If, however,
t h e y be in numbers, the dogs must be well supported ; it having several limes
h a p p e n e d that the pursuers have been pursued, and compelled to inainlain a
very sharp contest, in which the jackal s have more than once gained tlie day.
A jackal generally pushes for a cover; not always towards the nearest, but
w h e r e he knows his friends are to be fotincl. If he be so fortunate as to reach
it, the greyhounds may be suddenly surprised by an attack, couimenced with
t h e utmost fierceness, and maintained with the most obstinate perseverance. The
following instance, which occurred within my own knowledge, may give a correct
idea on this subject.
A gentleman who had a brace of very fine greyhounds, one of them remarkably
large and stout, ihe other of a fair stature, but strong and of known
courage, slipped them after a jackal u hich made across a bog lo a rising ground
covered \villi grass, aud a few small hushes. The jackal anil greyhounds
passeil over the treacherous slough, which bore a fine verdure, without the
least difliculty ; but by ihe time liis horse had got a few paces into the mnd,
h e was fairly fixed. While in this situation, he had ihe mortification to see
several jackal s pour forth from the cover, being called by the significant tones
of iheir brolher in distress; these instantly attacked the greyhounds, which for
a long lime defended iheuisclves wi t h incredible eilect ; but they certainly would
have been destroyed by their too numerous opponents, had not another gentleman
r o d e round the end of the bog; when, being joined by thedooreahs, as also by
some small dogs, and ultimately by him who had been qiiagged, and had dismounted,
they siicceeded in rescuing the long dogs from the fury of tlie jackals.
I t was really a grievous sight. Tlie smallest, which was a hitch, was so dreadf
u l l y mauled in the hind quarters, as lo he unable to walk; and was carried
home on a bedstead, with liltle probability of surviving. The dog's ears were
n e a r l y torn olT, and he was so roughly handled that the blood come oozing out
of his sides and limbs exactly as though he had been fired at with buck shot.
W i t h great care they both recovered, though it was a long time before they
were able to return to the field. However, they frequently afterwards repaid
w i t h interest to such unfortunate Johnnies as came within their power, the
d r u b b i n g they had received !
T h e foregoing is sufiicient to establish the fact that jackal s will unite to repel
an attack on an individual ; but a circumstance still stronger may be adduced.
Mr. Kiulock, who was well known as an exeellenl sportsman, and who when
a t Mitlnapore kept a famous pack of hounds, having one morning chased h
j a c k a l , which entered a thick jungle, I'ouud himsell' under the necessity of culling
off his flogs in consequence of an imuieuse herd of jackal s which had suddenly
collected ou hearing the cries of their brother, which the houtids were \vorrying.
T h e y -were so numerous that not only the dogs were defeated, but the jackals
absolutely ruslied out of the cover iii f ) u r s u i t of them ; and when Mr. Kitilock
and liis ])arly rode up to wlii]) ihcm oil", iheir horses were bit, and it was not
Avillioiit ililliculty a retreat was ell'ecled ! The pack was lijund lo have sufl^ered
so severely as not to be able to lake the field for many weeks.
J a c k a l s are extremely troublesome: they possess such a steady adherence to
t h e i r |)urpose as seldom fails iit the end lo overcome the small portion of care
aud vigilance usually lo be fouud among servants. They will allctid from dusk
to day-light, patroling near I heir objcct, and though repelled by stones, or
p e r h a p s Ijy a gun, will persevere, in hopes to rea[) the harvest due to their
jialience. The ludían fox subsists chieily ou small birds, rats, &c. confining
himself generally lo the covers, and rarely approaching villages ; he will snap
u p such poultry, &c. as s t ray; but the jackal will wait at your door ; nay, will
enter your house, and avail himself of the suiallest opcuing for enterprize. He
will rob your roost, aud steal kids, lambs, [)igs, and sometimes even lake a pup
from its sleepy mother. He ^vill s tnp a larder, or ])ick the bones of a carcase :
all wilh equally avidity. It is curious to see them fighting almost within reach
of your stick, for proximity lo expected booty ! It may readily he supposed
lhat when any meat or poultry is purloined by servants, the jackal bears the
blame. An oiTicer of our battalion in one night lost Iweiity-seven fowls from
t h e hut in which they were kept ; ou Avhich one of his servants did not hesitate to
declare thai, ou hearing their uproar during the night, he had run to see what
was the uuitter, and saw twenty-seven jackals, each bearing away his bird !
T h e i r howling at night is ext remel y unpleasant. Theysland at your very door,
b a r k i n g and uttering a very melancholy note. They are, however, very innocent
if unmolested, but care must he taken not leave any sort of viands in their way,
lest they should scent them out, as they infallibly would do. An excellent
story is told by many of the kah(inah-v:oll(ths, or reciters, a [)rofession which
has abuntlance of followers in India. These people deliver their fabulous ware
in a most animated, pleasing, and natural style; such as evinces a complete
knowledge of the subject, which is detailed entirely from memory.
" A certain Prince possessed an ample territory, abounding with the choicest
" productions of nature. His attention was devoted lo the wel far e and happiness
" of Ins subjects, who under the benign influence of his mild and fostering
" government were prosperous and contented. The Prince was so fortunate as
" to give the utmost satisfaction to his people, and certaitdy was entitled to
" lhat repose which his virtues merited. Bui, alas! he never could get a good
" night's rest! What could be the cause ? He felt no remorse from any per-
" pelrated crime. His seraglio abounded with the most beautiful women, all
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