

FIRST QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY MEET, 81 



us pigs had broken in the open. From where we were 

 we could not see anything at first on account of the 

 patiale intervening between us. But very soon a long 

 line of pigs made their appearance, a big sow leading 

 and a gaunt-looking old boar bringing up the tail. We 

 counted at least twenty to twenty-two pigs of all sizes and 

 shapes but, barring the old gentleman bringing up the 

 rear-guard, there was only one other good boar among the 

 lot, the rest being sows and squeakers. The sun being 

 very hot the pigs were not inclined to go away across 

 the dry-looking country leaving behind their cool and 

 shady shelter in the patiale ; but as the noise and shouts 

 increased the whole lot trotted away, evidently mak- 

 ing for the bil where there was a little water still left ; 

 we let them go a good distance in case they should 

 get back. The country was like a billiard-table, the 

 whole place being sown down in paddy and, barring a 

 few bits of fallow-land here and there, which had been 

 honycombed and undermined by crabs, the rest of the 

 riding was simply perfect. 



The pigs having gone to a safe distance we were soon 

 after them. They all stuck together at first, but being 

 pressed they scattered. Most of the party going after 

 the gaunt-looking boar, and the Nawabs and Faulder 

 after the other one. The pig we were after was cer- 

 tainly one of the fastest I have ever come across, and for 

 sometime outpaced most of us, and seeing some heavy 

 jungle ahead he put on a spurt, and it was only by;hard 

 riding that Ferguson managed to get alongside and get 



d,p 6 



