Hog-hunting. 217 



so I did the best I could, and dropped my heavily- 

 weighted weapon 011 to the croup, between the hip 

 bones, which I could just reach. Over the pig went. 

 I turned my pony sharp round ; he sprang over the 

 prostrate body which was rolling down the incline, 

 and I just avoided taking a header into the river, on 

 the opposite bank of which was an enormous 

 crocodile ! The pig's back was broken, and he was all 

 but drowned. We endeavoured to drag him to shore, 

 but our joint strength was not sufficient, as we had 

 no firm foothold, and letting the body go, we ran up 

 the bank to call for assistance from our gun-bearers. 

 We heard a snort, and turning round had the pleasure 

 of seeing a knob at the end of a snout project, seize 

 the still struggling boar, and carry him off to the 

 slimy depths below ! It was the alligator (these are 

 so called in India, but they are veritable crocodiles, 

 same as those found on the Nile). We stood there, 

 rifle in hand, hoping the beast would rise, but where 

 he went to I don't know, for we never saw him or his 

 prey again. It was now getting hot and we saw no 

 prospect of any more sport. W. rode on and I went 

 back towards the elephants, the gun-bearers, with 

 mine and W.'s guns, accompanying me. I had not 

 ridden half way, when there was a shout of " Geddha ! " 

 (rhinoceros). I was off my nag and seized the first 

 gun I could get hold of it was a double 8 bore 

 of W.'s when a cow rhinoceros accompanied by a 

 three-parts-grown youngster came up. As she passed 

 me, not fifteen yards off, I saluted her with the 

 contents of both the barrels. Just then " Elgin " 

 broke loose, the wounded pachyderm got a sight of 

 him, and off she went in chase of the pony, and I 



