126 REMINISCENCES OF PIG-STICKING. 



incredible short space of time to the great amusement, 

 I should say, of Ferguson, who was standing at the 

 other end. 



After a short council of war we decided to see if 

 we could not get this pig, this amphibious boar, who 

 evidently had been expelled from his fraternity for want 

 of some porcine etiquette ! ! ! We sent a coolie off at 

 once to the factory to get the horses and spears ; but 

 when these arrived we found our shooting boots were 

 much too big and would not go into the stirrups, so we 

 had to take them off and we rode in our socks only. 

 Most of the country being under water it was not a 

 pleasent and easy job to ride a pig. We had seen the 

 boar go into a heavy crop of amone paddy, but when we 

 went to look for him he was no more there. After a 

 good deal of knocking about we at last came on Master 

 Piggy lying comfortably in some two feet of water under 

 a mimosa bush. On seeing us he rushed out of the 

 place and made for a big bil to the north of where we 

 were. Ferguson on Red Jackel took him at a good pace ; 

 but piggy, who was going along the aels or ridges had 

 the advantage. Into the big bil in front the boar plung- 

 ed and struck at once for the opposite side, distant 

 some three miles away, but after going a short distance 

 through the thick paddy piggy finding, I suppose, pro- 

 gress rather slow, and not caring for a long swim under 

 such conditions, turned round and made again for the 

 bank. Ferguson, who was standing in some two feet of 

 water, was watching what was going to happen next. 



