Curious Native Customs 



shoot the dog. On arriving at the tent I dis- 

 cussed the question with the man, but did not 

 at once notice that the dog had followed me. 

 When I discovered the fact, I told the man to 

 tie an empty can to a piece of string whilst I 

 caught the dog. This done, I tied the string 

 to the pup's tail. The man shouted at shall I 

 say both of us ? for his shriek nearly made me 

 jump a yard, but the effect on the dog was 

 simply magnetic, for away he tore, with the 

 empty can banging and hurtling behind him, 

 straight back to the house. Unfortunately for 

 the dog's peace of mind or piece of tail ? 

 he passed too close to a post that was a fixture in 

 the path. The tin violently hit this, which 

 frightened the poor brute more than ever : he 

 made one wild dash for the dog -kennel and 

 curled up within it, tin and all. A movement, 

 and the tin rattled ! Like lightning out he 

 rushed round the house twice. Hunter, who 

 had opened the door to see what the commo- 

 tion was about, gave the pup his chance to rush 

 into the house and lie down, panting, under my 

 bed. I coaxed him out and took off the string. 

 He was a very chastened little dog after that. 

 The experience did him no harm, but never 

 again would he venture within yards of the 

 Yankee's tent. He put the trick down to the 

 man with the shriek, whereas he should have 

 given my brutal self the credit for the fright. 



R 241 



