CERVUS MUNTJAK. 



returns, if the pursuit be continued, the Kidang thrusts its head into a thicket, and 

 in this situation remains fixed and motionless, as in a place of security, and regard- 

 less of the approach of the sportsmen. If it remains unobserved, it is still unwilling 

 to quit its haunts ; and experienced hunters, acquainted with its natural disposition, 

 after an unsuccessful pursuit, return the following day, and in many cases find the 

 Kidang near the same spot. 



The chace of the Kidang, by means of dogs, affords occasionally a favourite 

 amusement to the natives of rank in Java. Many of these, especially in the more 

 distant provinces, keep large packs for this purpose, which are regularly trained. 

 The dogs, vulgarly denominated pariahs, are the indigenous breed of the Island, in 

 a state of imperfect domestication : there are several varieties ; one of these greatly 

 resembles the Sumatran dog, of which a description, accompanied by a figure, is 

 given by General Hardwicke, in the Xlllth Volume of the Transactions of the 

 Linnean Society : the body is lank, and the ears erect ; they are ferocious in their 

 disposition, and rarely shew any attachment to their masters. The natives of Java, 

 like other Mahomedans, entertain prejudices unfavourable to dogs ; they rarely treat 

 them with kindness, or allow them to approach their persons; and it is only in extra- 

 ordinary instances, or when they contribute to their amusement, that they feed or 

 care for them ; generally they are ill treated, and left to provide for themselves, so 

 that their famishing condition is disgusting to Europeans. Many of these dogs are 

 extremely ardent and courageous in the pursuit of the Kidang : when the chace 

 commences, they are led with a line by an attendant to the spot ; the peculiar exha- 

 lations soon discover the Kidang ; the dogs are discharged, and commence the pursuit 

 with great ardour, while the sportsman follows more deliberately, and generally 

 when he comes up with them, finds the dogs at bay with the Kidang. The male 

 animal possesses a great share of courage, and with its tusks makes a most vigorous 

 defence ; many dogs are wounded in the attack ; the sportsmen uniformly are pro- 

 vided with remedies and apphcations, and by a simple suture attempt to unite those 

 wounds which are not immediately fatal : in this operation they frequently succeed, 

 and preserve their most valuable dogs; but in many cases the Kidang makes fatal 

 lacerations in the neck and breast, or lays open the abdomen. But although 

 possessed of great courage, the life of the Kidang is not tenacious, and the sports- 

 man on arriving at the spot, generally dispatches it with small shot. The natives 

 of the more distant districts are in the habit of bringing their best dogs to the 

 capitals, on occasion of their half-yearly attendance, to pei-form the feudal services to 

 the Sovereigns, when their sports afford an occasional amusement to the European 

 inhabitants. 



