Harrys Hidden Halifax
Birds and Beasts
Harry's Hidden Treasures: A Most Peculiar Menagerie in Old Halifax!
🎩A Most Extraordinary Exhibition!
In October 1757, Halifax witnessed an extraordinary display of exotic creatures that would captivate the local population. The menagerie included an impressive collection of wild animals:
- An elephant
- A sea lion
- A very large tiger
- Two orangutans
- A leopard
- Several panthers
- A large number of monkeys
- Various beautiful birds, including the Cassawary, which was noted for its remarkable feathers
A particularly interesting account comes from Sam Lister, who tragically drowned three years later in the River Blackwater at Fermoy, Co. Cork, while stationed with the British army in Ireland.
Scene where the display took place
The collection also featured some peculiar creatures, including what was described as a "Fiery Link" from Mount Aetna. According to local accounts, these creatures would run down into villages when fires grew unusually large, serving as a natural warning system for the inhabitants. Modern analysis suggests this may have been a species of Sicilian Lynx.
Among the curiosities was an orangutan, described in the historical records as a "Man-of-the-Woods," reflecting the Malay origin of its name. The account notes how it would wash itself in salt water after emerging from hollow trees, displaying remarkably human-like behavior.
The menagerie was housed in Old Market, Halifax, and remained on display for twelve weeks, drawing visitors from across the region. This exhibition represented one of the earliest documented displays of exotic animals in Halifax, offering residents a rare glimpse of creatures from distant lands.
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