306 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



Few people would credit the speed of n pig until they have to 

 overtake it. The feet are curiously constructed, as each foot has 

 two toes just behind and above the hoof; these only touch the 

 ground should it be deep, but there can be no doubt that they add 

 to the security of the step, when the foot is widely spread, in 

 galloping over rough and uncertain ground. 



I have never seen a wild pig make a mistake, no matter what 

 the quality of the ground may be. In deep snow, upon the 

 mountains in Asia Minor, I have seen them plough their way 

 through long distances, leaving a trough, as though a canoe had 

 been dragged through. 



Their power of scent is acute, and it is highly interesting to 

 watch them when unsuspected. If the jungle is being beaten, an 

 opportunity is almost daily afforded of watching their habits ; 

 especially should you be too proud to demean your rifle by shoot- 

 ing anything so humble as a pig. 



I have frequently seen a pig arriving apparently direct for my 

 position, but it meets a small jungle path upon which some 

 person has recently been walking. The pig at once halts, smells 

 the ground, and waits, listening attentively and making up its 

 mind. It may be that it determines to go forward; if so, it 

 starts oft' at its best pace ; but should it declare for a retreat, it 

 waits, listens for the advance of the line of beaters, and quietly 

 hides in the densest bushes. At last, with shouts sufficient to 

 scare away every animal for miles around, the beaters arrive ; you 

 know the pig is there, but nobody has yet discovered it. Just as 

 the beaters have brought their Hue in good order to the extreme 

 margin of the jungle, there is a sudden outburst of shouts and 

 yells ; a rush in all directions, screams and halloos, sticks going 

 upon all sides ; a few short angry grunts, and a rattling of loose 

 stones, explain that the boar has broken back through the line of 

 l>eaters. 



Pigs multiply in such an extraordinary manner that in some coun- 

 tries they become a pest to the unfortunate agriculturist. When 

 travelling, their pace is a shambling trot, at about five or six 

 miles an hour. They keep this up for a considerable distance, and 

 it is astonishing to see a country that is quite devoid of game, but 

 nevertheless the fields are guarded by numerous watching-posts to 

 scare the wild pigs from the crops at night. These animals must 

 travel six or seven miles from the jungle-covered hills to make a 

 raid upon the well-known fields ; sometimes they will exceed this 

 distance, and again return to their unknown haunts before the 

 rising of the sun. The great strength and activity of the wild pig 



