IV 



IN THE KANAKA JUNGLES 



IN sitting up over live goats used as decoys, I 

 was always greatly interested in watching 

 them to see their behaviour when tied up and 

 left to themselves; and I often pictured to myself 

 how I should feel in their position. I used to 

 attract their attention by voice or movement 

 directly the men who tethered them had gone away, 

 in order to try and ease their minds I But I came 

 to the conclusion that they were not troubled by 

 feelings of fear. A goat would bleat a little at first, 

 nibble at leaves and any suitable green food that 

 could be found for him, and then lie down to slumber. 

 If a panther did come, the goat's death was practically 

 instantaneous, that is, if the panther were not 

 smitten down by a bullet before he had time to get 

 a fair hold and finish his work. 



On the occasion of which I am writing, the goat 

 was tied up at only a short distance from the rest 

 bungalow and within fifty yards of the high-road 

 where bullock carts and shouting men were con- 

 stantly passing. I had a hammock rigged up in a 

 tree to sit in. It was a piece of sacking about five 

 feet square, with ropes stitched along each side, and 



strong ropes at each corner which were tied taut to 



60 



