324 RIFLE AXD SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS. 



sport. Formerly the wild boars were shot in the hills they 

 inhabit, and no attempt was made to drive them on to 

 ridable ground. Now large sums are yearly spent in 

 preserving and feeding them ; and they are enticed into the 

 best riding country by an ingenious plan. 



At first grain was laid at the foot of the hills, and the 

 jfigs came down readily during the night to feed. Then it 

 was placed further off. until little by little the sounders were 

 induced to search for food in the middle of the plain. The 

 riders start long before daybreak, and conceal themselves 

 behind clumps of bushes, well out in the open. As the 

 dawn breaks, the old boars are seen trotting quietly back to 

 the hills, and are generally ridden down and speared before 

 they reach them. They are very savage, especially in the 

 hot season, when they will frequently attack men without 

 provocation. It takes very little to make an old boar show 

 fight, and when lie dues he is the pluckiest animal in 

 creation. He will wriggle himself up the spear to get at 

 you, and if the spear breaks, his long tushes are sharp as a 

 razor, and slash like an Indian sword. 



luhrmtrij -11 tli. — Alan went out pig-sticking with Major 

 Beatson, the officer in charge of the Imperial Service Troops. 

 They started about three o'clock in the early morning, and 

 rode to a valley about ten miles off, where they duly waited 

 for the boars. Their number was incredible. Directly it 

 got fight enough to see, sounder after sounder cantered past 



