CHAPTER X. 

 Wheat and Crop-Hunting. 



From about the beginning of February to the first 

 week in March is, I believe, the best time for hog-hunt- 

 ing in wheat and other cold weather crops. Most of the 

 grass and other jungle in the open being then either cut 

 or burnt, pigs naturally all take to the next available 

 cover, which are crops. 



Nothing can be more exciting and exhilarating than 

 to see a long line of beaters and coolies with a few 

 riders between, making their way slowly and in silence 

 through the tall crops, expecting every moment to hear 

 the well-known hoof ! hoof ! and see the broad, grey 

 back go crashing through the yellow-looking corn. In 

 my idea pig-sticking either in grass or crops is the per- 

 fection of hog-hunting. It is true you have sometimes 

 to ride for miles without your seeing anything, but 

 there is always the expectation of your seeing some- 

 thing, and there is very often also the pleasure of your 

 finding yourself riding along with a pleasant compan- 

 ion or perhaps a grizzly, old veteran, who will tell you 

 of many an exciting and thrilling adventure, he has 

 had with the mighty boar, but retournous a nos moutons. 



