Game Animals of India, etc. 



heavier and more massive boars from the swampy 

 districts of Bengal are the best fighters. 



Wherever the country is suitable for riding, " pig- 

 sticking ", is the only legitimate sport connected with 

 Sus cristatus. As this sport has been described over 

 and over again with a detail which would be impossible 

 in this volume, the reader may be referred to the 

 numerous works on the subject, among which may be 

 mentioned Mr. F. B. Simson's Letters on Sport in 

 Eastern Bengal, and a well-known volume by Mr. J. 

 Moray-Brown. 



In the Himalaya and the hills of Ceylon, where 

 riding is impossible, the wild boar is, however, 

 occasionally shot, or (in Ceylon) hunted with hounds. 

 Of the latter sport a vivid and interesting account is 

 given by Sir Samuel Baker. When boar-hunting in 

 the hill-forests of Ceylon that sportsman followed the 

 hounds on foot, and tackled the boar at bay with 

 the hunting- knife alone. Comparatively few would, 

 however, care to follow his example in this respect ; 

 and the spear is the weapon generally chosen to give 

 the coup de grace in this exciting and dangerous kind of 

 sport. Sir Samuel expressed great admiration for the 

 general " cuteness " of the Indian wild boar, stating 

 that not only is it a fierce antagonist, but that it is a 

 creature which always knows its own mind and acts up 

 to its own convictions, never hesitating in a course on 

 which it has once determined. If it decides to go 

 forward, nothing will stop it ; while, on the other hand, 

 if it determines to break back, not even a serried line of 

 elephants will check its mad rush. Giving a sharp 

 jerk of its mobile snout, first to one side and then to 

 the other, it dashes headlong through the line, leaving 

 its mark even upon the tough hide of the legs of the 

 elephants, should they attempt to bar its progress. 



In regard to its powers of scent, the same author 

 makes the following observations : — " I have frequently 

 seen a pig making apparently direct for my position, 



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