_En route_ for the grand mountains of Imaus--the stupendous chain of the
Himalayas!
There our hunters expected to find no less than three species of bears--
each distinct from the others in outline of form, in aspect, in certain
habits, and even in _habitat_; for although all three exist in the
Himalayas, each has its own zone of altitude, in which it ranges almost
exclusively. These three bears are, the "sloth bear" (_ursus labatus_),
the "Thibet bear" (_ursus thibetanus_), and the "snow bear" (_ursus
isabellinus_).
The first-mentioned is the one which has received most notice--both from
naturalists and travellers. It is that species which by certain
wiseacres of the closet school was for a long time regarded as a sloth
(_bradypus_). In redeeming it from this character, other systematists
were not content to leave it where it really belongs--in the genus
_ursus_--but must, forsooth, create a new one for its special
accommodation; and it now figures in zoological catalogues as a
_prochilus_--the _prochilus labiatus_! We shall reject this absurd
title, and call it by its real one--_ursus labiatus_, which, literally
translated, would mean the "lipped bear"--not a very specific
appellation neither. The name has been given in reference to a peculiar
characteristic of the animal--that is, its power of protruding or
extending the lips to seize its food--in which peculiarity it resembles
the tapir, giraffe, and some other animals. Its trivial name of "sloth
bear" is more expressive: for certainly its peculiar aspect--caused by
the long shaggy masses of hair which cover its neck and body--gives it a
very striking resemblance to the sloth. Its long crescent-shaped claws
strengthen this resemblance. A less distinctive name is that by which
it is known to the French naturalists, "ours de jongleurs," or
"juggler's bear." Its grotesque appearance makes it a great favourite
with the Indian mountebanks; but, as many other species are also trained
to dancing and monkey-tricks, the name is not characteristic.
This bear is not quite so large as the _ursus arctos_; though
individuals are sometimes met with approaching the bulk of the latter.
The fur is longer and "shaggier" than in any other species--being upon
the back of the neck full twelve inches in length. In this mass of long
hair there is a curious line of separation running transversely across
the back of the neck. The front division falls forward over the crown,
so as to overhang the eyes--thus imparting to the physiognomy of the
animal a heavy, stupid appearance. The other portion flaps back,
forming a thick mane or hunch upon the shoulders. In old individuals
the hair becomes greatly elongated; and hanging down almost to the
ground on both flanks, and along the neck, imparts to the animal the
strange appearance of being without legs!
The general colour of the coat is black, with here and there a dash of
brown over it. Upon the breast there is a white list of a triangular
shape; and the muzzle is also a dirty yellowish white. There is no
danger of mistaking this species for any other of the black Asiatic
bears, or even any black bears. The long shaggy hair, hanging loosely,
presents an appearance altogether different from the uniform brush-like
surface, which characterises the coats of _ursus malayanus, euryspilus,
americanus, ornatus_, and _frugilegus_.
Perhaps the most peculiar characteristic of the sloth bear is the
capability it possesses of protruding the lips, which it can do to a
length of several inches from its jaws--shooting them out in the form of
a tube, evidently designed for suction. This, together with the long
extensile tongue--which is flat shaped and square at the extremity--
shows a peculiar design, answering to the habits of the animal. No
doubt the extraordinary development of tongue is given to it for the
same purpose as to the _edentata_ of the ant-eating tribe--to enable it
to "lick up" the _termites_.
Its great curved claws, which bear a very striking resemblance to those
of the ant-eaters--especially the large _tamanoir_ of South America--are
used for the same purpose: that of breaking up the glutinous compost
with which the termites construct their curious dwellings.
These insects constitute a portion of the sloth bear's "commissariat of
subsistence;" but he will also eat fruits, and sweet succulent
vegetables; and, it is scarce necessary to add, that he is "wild after"
honey, and a regular robber of bee-hives.
Notwithstanding the comic _role_, which he is often taught to play in
the hands of the jugglers, he not unfrequently enacts a little bit of
tragedy. This occurs when in his wild or natural state. He is not
disposed wantonly to make an attack upon human beings; and if left
unmolested, he will go his way; but, when wounded or otherwise provoked,
he can show fight to about the same degree as the black bear of America.
The natives of India hold him in dread: but chiefly on account of the
damage he occasions to their crops--especially to the plantations of
sugar-cane.
We have stated that the sloth bear is not exclusively confined to the
Himalayas. On the contrary, these mountains are only the northern limit
of his range--which extends over the whole peninsula of Hindostan, and
even beyond it, to the island of Ceylon. He is common in the Deccan,
the country of the Mahrattas, Sylhet, and most probably throughout
Transgangetic India. In the mountains that bound the province of Bengal
to the east and west, and also along the foot-hills of the Himalayas of
Nepaul on its north, the sloth bear is the most common representative of
the Bruin family; but up into the higher ranges he does not extend his
wanderings. His _habitat_ proves that he affects a hot, rather than a
cold climate--notwithstanding the great length of the fur upon his coat.
One peculiarity remains to be mentioned. Instead of hiding himself away
in solitudes, remote from human habitations, he rather seeks the society
of man: not that he is fond of the latter; but simply that he may avail
himself of the results of human industry. For this purpose he always
seeks his haunt near to some settlement--whence he may conveniently make
his depredations upon the crops. He is not, strictly speaking, a forest
animal. The low jungle is his abode; and his lair is a hole under some
overhanging bank--either a natural cavity, or one which has been
hollowed out by some burrowing animal.
Knowing that the sloth bear might be met with in any part of the
country, to the northward of Calcutta, our hunters determined to keep a
lookout for him while on their way to the Himalayas--which mountains
they intended ascending, either through the little state of Sikkim, or
the kingdom of Nepaul.
Their route from Calcutta to the hills lay a little to the west of
north; and at many places on their journey they not only heard of the
sloth bear, but were witnesses of the ravages which this destructive
creature had committed on the crops of the farmers.
There were sugar plantations, on which they saw tall wooden towers
raised in the middle of the field, and carried to a considerable height
above the surrounding vegetation. On inquiring the purpose of these
singular structures, they were informed that they were intended as
watch-towers; and that, during the season, when the crops were
approaching to ripeness, _videttes_ were stationed upon these towers,
both by night and by day, to keep a lookout for the bears, and frighten
them off whenever these plunderers made their appearance within the
boundaries of the fields!
Notwithstanding the many evidences of the sloth bear's presence met with
throughout the province of Bengal, our hunters failed in falling in with
this grotesque gentleman, till they were close up to the foot of the
Himalaya mountains, in that peculiar district known as the _Terai_.
This is a belt of jungle and forest land--of an average width of about
twenty miles, and stretching along the southern base of the Himalaya
range throughout its whole length, from Afghanistan to China. In all
places the Terai is of so unhealthy a character, that it can scarcely be
said to be inhabited--its only human denizens being a few sparse tribes
of native people (Mechs); who, acclimated to its miasmatic atmosphere,
have nothing to fear from it. Woe to the European who makes any
lengthened sojourn in the Terai! He who does will there find his grave.
For all its unhealthiness, it is the favourite haunt of many of the
largest quadrupeds: the elephant, the huge Indian rhinoceros, the lion
and tiger, the jungly ghau or wild ox, the sambur stag, panthers,
leopards, and cheetahs. The sloth bear roams through its thickets and
glades--where his favourite food, the white ants, abounds; and it was
upon reaching this district that our hunters more particularly bent
themselves to search for a specimen of this uncouth creature.
Fortunately they were not long till they found one--else the climate of
the Terai would soon have so enfeebled them, that they might never have
been able to climb the stupendous mountains beyond. Almost upon
entering within the confines of this deadly wilderness, they encountered
the sloth bear; and although the interview was purely accidental, it
ended in Bruin being deprived of his life and his long-haired robe.
The sloth bear did not submit tamely to this double robbery, for he was
himself the assailant--having been the first to cry "stand and deliver!"
Nor was his conquest accomplished without a perilous struggle--that
came very near reducing the number of our heroes from odd to even. But
we shall give the account of the affair, as we find it detailed in the
journal of Alexis.