Hog-hunting. 187 



spear, yet I stuck to the last-named weapon. In the 

 first beat several boars broke. I took after one, but 

 a huge mongrel dog greatly impeded the hog's move- 

 ments by snapping at his tail, so I soon overtook the 

 boar, and now that I had learned the knack, which is 

 not to thrust, but to allow the impetus of your horse 

 to drive in your spear, I soon drew blood, passed on, 

 and turned. The boar was quite ready to meet me 

 half way, and charged. I was on my best horse, the 

 last purchase. He quickened his stride, and the spear 

 enteredatthe game's chest and the point protruded near 

 the tail. The beast was completely spitted, and as I 

 could not draw the weapon, let it go, yet the pig all 

 but cut my horse. The next moment the game brute 

 ran forward a few yards, then fell heavily forward, 

 breaking my fine spear-shaf fc in two. 



In the evening the Eajah had a nautch for my 

 especial benefit, but I found out that the troupe con- 

 sisted, not of girls, but of BOYS ! I did not consider 

 it much of a compliment, for there was no lack of 

 damsels in the country. The next day K., W., and 

 S., of the Engineers, turned up. I persuaded S. 

 to ride, and mounted him on my second best nag, 

 but the others would shoot, not spear. The pig were 

 unusually plentiful. I do not know that I have ever 

 seen them so numerous elsewhere, except, perhaps in 

 the churs of the Brahmapootra. When the first 

 sounder broke, a volley greeted us, and numerous 

 bullets whistled past our ears ! The hogs took across 

 an enclosed country very unusual for India we 

 after them. The fences were stiff, but our horses 

 cleared them in fine style, and that one chase, as far 

 as jumping went, was as good as a hunt in England. 



