THE DEER TRIBE 



289 



Celebes and certain islands Born, Batchian, and Amboina in the Moluccan group ; while the 

 TIMOR RUSA, a closely allied congener, is found on the islands of Timor, Semao, and Kambing. 

 It is possible nay, even probable that the Malays may, in times gone by, have introduced 

 certain of these rusine deer from one habitat to another. Such, at least, seems to be the 

 presumption among naturalists. 



Dr. Guillemard, in that charming book " The Cruise of the Marchesa" (p. 357), gives some 

 interesting information concerning Moluccan sambar in the little-known island of Batchian. 

 The inhabitants, " living for the most part in the hills, kill and smoke the deer, and bring the 

 meat into the villages for sale. We were fortunate enough to assist at one of their hunts, in 

 which no other weapon than the spear is used. The side of a large ravine, which had been 

 partially cleared, and presented a confused jumble of fallen trees and low brushwood, was 

 assigned to us as our post, and, from the extensive view it commanded, we were able later in 

 the day to watch one run almost from start to finish, although at first the sport appeared to 

 be successful in every direction but our own. At length a stag broke covert about five 

 hundred yards above us, and descended the slopes of the ravine, but shortly afterwards turned 

 and made for the forest again. He was met by some of the hunters and driven back; but the 

 dogs were now in full cry, and pressed him hard, the hunters meanwhile racing at their utmost 

 speed above, in order to prevent his regaining the jungle. He now altered his direction, and 

 turned down once more towards us ; but the fallen trees were so thick that the dogs gained 

 rapidly on him. He made one more effort for his life by doubling, but it was too late, and 

 in another minute the dogs and hunters had fairly run him down." 



Deer were probably the earliest animals of the chase. Their bones are found in the cave- 

 dwellings of prehistoric man, and some of the earliest efforts at drawing represent these animals. 



YOUNG MALE SWAMP-DEER 



This species is the Barasingh oj the natl-ves of JnJia. It is by no means addicted to swampy localities 



37 



