Thus there is time for
the noose to become firmly jammed during the struggles of the beast. Of
course, the trapper artfully bushes the path, so as to induce him to step
full upon the trap. He sets a great many of them, and they require no
looking after. The diameter of the hoops is made proportionate to the
size of the beast for which they are intended. Six inches interior
diameter was the size used for buffalo and hartebeest.
Traps.--Steel traps should never be tied fast, or the captured animal
may struggle loose, or even gnaw off his leg. It is best to cut small
bushes, and merely to secure the traps to their cut ends. Steel traps are
of but little use to a traveller.
Hawks are trapped by selecting a bare tree, that stands in an open space:
its top is sawn off level, and a trap is put upon it: the bait is laid
somewhere near, on the ground: the bird is sure to visit the pole, either
before or after he has fed.
Poison.--Savages frequently poison the water of drinking-places, and
follow, capture, and eat the poisoned animals. Nux vomica or strychnine
is a very dangerous poison to use, but it affords the best means of
ridding a neighbourhood of noxious beasts and birds: if employed to kill
beasts, put it in the belly; if, birds, in the eye, of the bait. Meat for
killing Beasts should be set after nightfall; else the crows and other
birds will be sure to find it out, and eat it up before the beasts have
time to discover it.
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