The Rise Of Australasia

Chapter 416: Chapter 345: White Reindeer_2

The wild rabbits in Australasia are notably large and breed at an alarming rate.

According to records from later generations, at the beginning of the 20th century, there were tens of billions of wild rabbits in Australia, which was more than 2000 times the human population of Australia at the time.

Even though the population of Australasia has grown significantly compared to history, the number of wild rabbits, even under the certain policies of Arthur, is still nowhere near tens of billions.

Yet, the problem of wild rabbits remains a serious issue in Australasia. The vast number of rabbits poses a threat to the land and accelerates desertification in Australasia.

The good news is that the present wild rabbits in Australasia do not have the various bacteria and viruses hidden within them due to later rabbit eradication policies.

Although the wild rabbits in Australia in later years could also be eaten and the viruses within them did not pose a significant threat to humans.

But just the mere mention of the word 'virus' makes one feel uncomfortable, let alone ingesting it.

The current wild rabbits in Australasia, on the other hand, not only can be eaten but also, in a nutshell, taste like flavorful and crunchy chicken.

After traveling for another half hour or so, they finally reached Arthur's villa deep in the forests of New South Wales State, a place of remarkable beauty but flawed accessibility.

The guards stationed here can change their posts every two months to prevent boredom and mental issues due to the desolation.

After settling the troops for a rest, Arthur, along with Butler Kent, William, Anna, and several guards, started heading out to look for good hunting grounds.

Although wild animals and plants in Australasia are almost everywhere, Arthur's hunting targets were never ordinary animals.

They are either large and rare creatures or relatively unusual wild animals. After all, it seems there's no need for Arthur to make a special trip to New South Wales just for these common wild animals found everywhere.

It must be said that hunting freely in extensive forests and grasslands is much more comfortable than hunting in confined areas.

Thanks to the vast and sparsely populated features of Australasia, suitable hunting grounds are almost everywhere. Hunting has become a leisure activity for Australians and a source of additional meat.

In Australasia, hunting is even a way to entertain guests. Especially for the aristocracy from Europe, hunting in a vast place like Australasia is far more comfortable than hunting in a minor forest in Europe.

After riding for a long time in the forest, they still couldn't find any game that piqued Arthur's interest.

Just as Arthur was about to temporarily abandon the hunt and head back to the villa, suddenly, an eye-catching white figure in the jungle instantly attracted Arthur's attention.

"Butler Kent, is that a white deer?" Arthur asked somewhat excitedly.

White deer, a rare wild creature, carries an extraordinarily special meaning, both in the East and the West.

It goes without saying that in the East, the meaning of a deer is extremely special. The term 'deer chasing' is the best interpretation of the ancient view of deer in the East.

As for this kind of white wild deer, its significance is even more extraordinary.

The white wild deer in the East symbolizes felicity and is believed to bring good luck and fortune.

In the West, deer have a special significance in European mythology. Especially the white stag (a male deer), which is often contrasted and exchanged with unicorns.

Images of white stags in the Middle Ages often had a crown around their necks. This imagery likely originated from medieval kings who made white stags their emblem, which is why the pictorial representation of white stags was widespread in the Middle Ages.

The reverence for white stags in Europe can be traced back to the Celtic People, who associated the color white with the otherworld. The white stag was seen as a representative from the otherworld and was believed to appear on earth if the sacred codes got breached.

In Arthurian legends, white stags are perpetually elusive. They symbolize human pursuits of some lofty and abstract objectives, like the knightly spirit, and so on.

Catholicism views the white stag as a representation of Jesus Christ. For example, in the vision of Saint Eustace, Roman soldier Eustace was chasing a white stag, which approached Eustace and revealed itself as Jesus. Inspired by this event, Eustace converted.

Or a variation of this story has it that King David I of Scotland was hunting in the woods when a white stag startled his horse, causing him to fall. The stag then turned to attack him, but a sudden vision of cross appeared between him and the stag. In some versions, the stag's antlers turned into a cross. Inspired by this event, he founded the Herreli Abbey.

Although Arthur's faith, Protestantism, is different, the meaning of a white deer, specifically a white stag, is equally significant. It is believed to bring good luck as well as signify favor and approval from God.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Such a white wild deer is a rarity and is a catch we absolutely cannot allow to slip by," Butler Kent, looking in the direction pointed out by Arthur, instantly spotted the eye-catching white figure in the jungle.

Unlike before, upon confirming that it was a white wild deer, he looked forward to it. Contrary to his usual demeanor, he stated confidently to Arthur.

Arthur nodded, clearly understanding the implications if they were to catch a white wild deer, specifically a white stag.