Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 July 1889 — THE MALAY BISONS. [ARTICLE]

THE MALAY BISONS.

A Terrible Battle of the Great ' Beasts in the Sultan's Kraal. His highness, the sultan ot Pahang, in the Malay peninsula, can claim ta ha,ve introduced adecidedly novel feat* ure into oriental sport, since he has just brouAt his gTeat bison Kraal to a successful issue, says a letter from Pahang, to the Londoa Field. The bison of the Malay peninsula, called s’ladang by the Malays, corresponds almost exactly with the Indian geur, but it has never been decided by naturalists whether it is the true gavoeus gauris or not, as it is seldom shot or caught, and the few trophies existing are imperfeckand do not afford conclusive evidence: They are magnificent beasts of great size, but shy in tire extreme and excessively fierce; they usually go about in herds of from half a dozen to a ecore, sometimes singly, and occasionally in couples in the steep, densely-wooded hills and rarely issuing from their seclusion except at night. The sultan, who usually resides at Pekin, the capital of Pahang, removed to Pulan Tawer in the end of February, accompanied by about 1,000 men, and immediately set them to work to erect a strong fence along the river, so as to inclose the entire promontory, except that part in connection with the mainland, which was to be left undisturbed until the herd was found to have entered of their own accord, which they were expected to do about the end of ApriL However, there was consternation and confusion in the camp when at daybreak April 16 it was foqnd that a large herd of bisons had found their way on to the promontory during the night and still remained there. Only about a mile of the barricade had been completed, and there remained another mile and a half to be done b3fore the beasts could be surrounded. The whole force of mfn, which had been steadily increasing in numbers, and now amounted to over 4,500, were immediately put on to complete the fence, which they succeeded in doing by nightfall, to the surprise of every one, including themselves. The bison were now fast inside. In one corner of the kraal, some fifty yards from tho river, and well above it, a smaller inclosure, about twenty yards square, 1 was constructed, and into this, after, considerable difficulty, the entire herd; numbering twenty-four head, was driven. ' : Terrified by the noise of the beaters and wild with fear the great creatures, appeared almost mad, and rushed} about attacking each other with indescribable fury. They continued ta charge and fight like demons amid the yellg and cheers of the excited crowd, until at nightfall ten of the noble beast 3 lay dead or dying. Two more succumbed during the night, and it was a pitiable sight next morn-) ing to the twelve survivors, all jaded and gory, utterly exhausted, but still vicious and “game. ,, Four of slain—two bulls and two cows—measured 18 hands and over at the dorsal ridge. One huge bull, the largest of all, who is still living, must* measure 18 hands 3 inches. Large; covered bamboo rafts were construct-, ed, and some of the blsons have been driven on board these and sent down| to Pekan, a distance of 150 miles; tha others will follow in due course. At, the time of writing a large cow and two similar ones are at Pekan. The! large cow which was presented to the* resident, has been generously offered 1 to the Singapore museum, and is now, being skinned and prepared prior t«j being set up there. Another has been presented to the governor, and is now on its way to Singapore alive.v The large cow measures 18 hands A inch at the dorsal ridge, and 16 hands § inches in height at the shoulder. It 1 is to be hoped that the bison will now be identified, so as tor definitely settle thq vexed .question as to whether the Malay bison and Indian gaur are the same species. Two tigers wire caught ia the kraal, bpt both made their escape j several doer and pigs, however, were successfully captured. It was Intended to send one or CWo of the live bißong to England, if possible, as one haq never been seen there. However, there is but little chance of theitf either living in captivity or standing the voyge. This is believed to be the first larg • bison kraal on record.