WHEAT AND CROP-HUNTING. 107 



place — a thick clump of babool trees with a little grass 

 in it. Owing to the amount of thorns about we had to 

 do most of the beating ourselves, as the coolies could, 

 not very well go in with their bare feet. Pigs had been 

 lying in all directions, and we were in momentary 

 expectation of seeing something, and we had not long 

 to wait. With angry grunts out rushed a boar — very 

 angry, I should say, at being so rudely and suddenly 

 disturbed out of his morning snooze ! Owing to the 

 thickness or rather closeness of the trees we were taken 

 at a little disadvantage, and by the time we could 

 extricate ourselves from our position piggy was fairly 

 on his way to some distant cover. The going at first 

 was all that could be wished for, so after a grand gallop 

 we picked up the boar, who, on seeing himself pressed, 

 turned round and made for some very heavy-looking 

 aeree. The ground he took us over now was very rough 

 and the going far from easy ; but Joynson, who rode 

 like a demon, regardless of hedges and ditches, soon came 

 up with the pig and got a very good first spear — and a 

 well-deserved spear — . Going round three or four times 

 the boar fell over dead. He was a very well-made pig, 

 with a good head, and measured 32." 



It was now past twelve o'clock so we thought it time 

 to think of the inner man. A big cotton or seemul tree 

 (Bombax malaharicus), in full blossom, with its brilliant 

 scarlet flowers, not being far of we adjourned to it. Cold 

 saddle of mutton, surloin of beef and salad and a desert 

 of cheese and celery, washed down with iced champagne 



