206 THE WILD BOAR. 



courage and coolness, and attended with consi- 

 derable danger. Here they are most commonly 

 shot with rifles, or baited with strong hounds ; 

 and in other places, driven by an assemblage of 

 the country people to a narrow circle, where they 

 are variously despatched. But it is perhaps on 

 the continent of India only where the hunting 

 of the Wild Boar or Hog is followed really as a 

 sport, and is accompanied with all the usual 

 retinue of followers. They frequent the strong 

 grassy jungles, thick and matted, and of suffi- 

 cient length to conceal the animal even when 

 running ; or they delight in the extensive planta- 

 tions of sugar cane, where they both find cover, 

 and a supply of favourite and very fattening food. 

 They are pursued on horseback, and speared when 

 at full speed. When about to be hunted, a collec- 

 tion of people is formed, who regurlaly beat the 

 cover, and endeavour by noises of all sorts to 

 force the animal to flee to some other retreat. The 

 huntsmen are generally placed at the corners, and 

 start in pursuit when they consider the Hog has 

 gained sufficient distance from the canes or grass, as 

 not again to retreat to them. There is both danger 

 in the attack, and considerable dexterity required 

 to render it efficient : many horses will not go up 

 to the Hog, while others are rash, and subject 

 themselves to be bitten or ripped, and sometimes 

 are completely disabled; while, if the rider is 



