WOLVES AND BIRDS OF PREY. 143 



the dwelling-place of some wild beast. Finding that all efforts to 

 unearth the boy were fruitless, and fearing to venture in after him, 

 they eet off to report the unusual occurrence to the Magistrate 

 Saheb of Bulandshahr. This gentleman on hearing the story des- 

 patched messengers to the spot, with instructions to light a fire at 

 the mouth of the cave, so as to force out the occupant of the hole 

 by means of the smoke. This was done, and on the blinding and 

 choking fumes making their way into the furthest corner of the 

 hole, a fine snarling she-wolf sprang forth with a bound, and after 

 scattering the bystanders in considerable terror, rushed away for 

 safety and dear life. A moment later the boy too came forth, when 

 he fell an easy prey to those intent on securing him. On conveying 

 him to the Magistrate, the boy was found to be speechless, imbecile, 

 and as near an approach to an animal as a human creature can pos- 

 sibly be. Vegetable food was offered to him ; but this he refused. 

 And it was only when meat was placed before him that he would eat. 

 Finding it impossible to ever make the boy rational and useful, the 

 Magistrate forwarded him to Secundra, with the request that he 

 might be allowed an asylum there. " 



This is the short history of the boy as given in the book referred 

 to. Though wanting in the most ordinary intelligence, he seemed 

 to be sensible of many things. He is reported, in the book in 

 question, to be sociable and unselfish, and "always willing to share 

 his numerous gifts with any one caring to have them. " Owing to 

 the lateness of age at which he was brought to the Orphanage he 

 could not be taught to speak, though the attempts of the authorities 

 o£ the Orphanage in other respects have been successful. At the 

 time when I saw him he was asked by a boy of the Orphanage, by 

 means of signs, to walk like a wolf. He did so on his hands and 

 feet. Then he made me some signs which were interpreted to me 

 as a desire to have some money for smoking cheroots, of which 

 1 was told he was very fond. At the time when he was first brought 

 to the Orphanage he walked like an animal on his hands and feet,' but 

 he was soon taught to walk erect. At first he did not allow clothes 

 to be put on him. He tore and threw them away ; however, he was 

 soon brought round to the use of these. His desire for raw meat only 

 as food was gradually subdued for that of vegetables and ordinary 

 cooked food. He is very ugly in appearance. It is supposed that 

 the boy musf have come across the path of a she- wolf, and that she, 

 having lost her young ones, treated him with motherly kindness 



