SHE ATTEMPTS TO LIBERATE HER OFFSPRING. 4 I 



judge and executioner in this felonious affair, was necessitated 

 to be a passive spectator of her flight ; but he forgot not, 

 nevertheless, to send maledictions by the score after the 

 thief, and to vow within himself that at the first leisure 

 moment she should, for her misdeed, receive a visit from 

 him in her own abode. 



" When the Ting was over, he, accompanied by several 

 individuals, set forth to seek out her Kula answering to our 

 1 earth.' This was soon discovered ; but owing to its depth, 

 and the intricacy of the passage, all endeavours to get at the 

 cubs proved fruitless. Whilst the excavation was going on, 

 the mother kept moving backwards and forwards at a little 

 distance, and the ears of the party received unmistakable 

 evidence of her musical talents. But night at length set in, 

 and for a time their labours were brought to a conclusion. 

 The Lansman, however, who was something of a sportsman, 

 thinking that the mother, when all was quiet, would return 

 to see after her offspring, posted himself as sentinel near to 

 the Kula, hoping thereby to shoot her. But she was too 

 cunning for him, and after several hours he was obliged to 

 return home empty-handed. 



" Some days afterwards the Kula was re- visited, when it 

 was found deserted ; but on search being made in the vicinity 

 a new one was discovered, and five living cubs captured. 

 These were carried to the Lansman's residence, where they 

 were deposited in an old hen-house, from whence, however, 

 the mother all but released them during the succeeding 

 night; for in the morning the building was found under- 

 mined, and the half-rotten floor nearly bitten through. 



" The cubs were now removed to an unoccupied room in 

 the dwelling-house itself; and, even here, by burrowing under 

 the foundations of the building as she was discovered to be 



