The Maral Stag 227 



glimpse of little red animals disappearing from 

 in front of us. They were roe, and like wood- 

 cock they seemed to be particularly clever at 

 getting a trunk between themselves and the 

 gun. At any rate, neither of us got a shot at 

 one. Wild pig were daily seen in extraordinary 

 numbers rooting about among the dead leaves. 

 Usually they were in sounders of a dozen or 

 more squeakers, with a few big ones. They 

 often let us approach within twenty yards ; then 

 up would go a head, the little eyes would stare 

 a moment, then a grunted alarm, and all would 

 vanish like a herd of black devils. 



We also became aware of another small animal 

 that infests these forests. Our shikaris had a 

 habit, that at first seemed monstrous unpleasant, 

 of snatching every spare moment to hunt for 

 vermin on their persons. But it was soon clear 

 that this superior attitude of ours was not un- 

 like that of the historic sailor who was heard 

 to exclaim, " Look at that dirty beast brushing 

 his teeth ! " I suspect that the wild pigs were 

 the original hosts of the minute black ticks 

 that swarmed in the dry leaves, but their 

 tastes were evidently catholic, and they were 

 certainly hungry. After the attachment had 

 lasted a short time, one became aware of a 

 small painful tumulus with the tick occupying 



