CHAPTER XII. 



Pig-sticking in the Rains: An ugly Customer. 



Towards the beginning of August, 1877, Morey and 

 and I were out riding one morning. Being a Sun- 

 day Morey did not care to pig-stick, as he had pro- 

 mised the " Missus " not to hunt on that day. 



Riding along we came across some very fresh-look- 

 ing rootings, and a nice patch of jhute just along- 

 side it. Closer examination revealed to us regular paths 

 or tracks made by pigs, and these all seemed to be going 

 towards a big mimoso bush right in the centre of the tall 

 crops. I proposed to have a try to see what the place 

 contained. Morey said he had no objection to have a 

 gallop if a pig broke out, but would not carry a spear. 

 As we were merely out for a ride we had no beaters 

 with us but only our syces and a peon, so with these 

 and with the help of some villagers, who were working 

 in their fields close by, we decided to see what the place 

 contained. I forgot to mention that I had taken out a 

 couple of spears with me. 



As soon as the men begun shouting and yelling and 

 throwing clods as a prelimimary to their going into the 

 cover out jumped a pig, a very fine-looking grey boar, 



