314 WILD BEASTS AND Til KIR WAYS CHAP. 



teeth in their lute antagonist, hardly believing that Hie is quite 

 extinct. 



It may readily be imagined that this style of hunting is attended 

 with considerable danger, as the peculiar difficulties of the ground 

 make active movements terribly uncertain. I once saw a com- 

 panion fall backward when charged by a boar, in the stony bed of 

 a dry nullah. Fortunately I was close enough in the rear to seize 

 one hind leg of the animal, and pull it back with my left hand, 

 while I gave it the knife behind the shoulder when it attempted 

 to turn. This was not a large boar, otherwise I could not have 

 held it. 



There is a great risk when a boar is at bay in dense jungle, 

 and the hunter is breaking his way to reach the spot. It is 

 impossible to see three feet in advance, therefore he may possibly 

 appear upon the scene of conflict exactly opposite the boar's face. 

 In that case it is absolutely certain that the animal will charge 

 straight at him, unless securely held by very powerful hounds. 



The hunter must never lose his head through rash excitement ; 

 and upon no account should he arrive before he is certain that the 

 seizers have the boar within their grip. Even then there may be 

 a risk, should he appear suddenly in front of the maddened animal, 

 as it may shake off the dogs by a sudden jump forward, and inflict 

 a severe injury before the hounds should be- able to restrain it. 



I have seen something that approached an accident upon several 

 occasions, but the narrowest escape occurred upon the hills at 

 Newera Ellia, in a jungle of dense bamboo grass. Although this 

 tangled mass is termed " grass," it is merely a species of bamboo 

 which grows at an elevation of about 6500 or 7000 feet, in a 

 climate too cold for its complete development. Instead of forming 

 a hollow cane, it extends in long and thin creeping stems, entwined 

 together, forming a mass which can be broken through only with 

 the greatest difficulty. 



A large boar had turned to bay after a short run within a 

 jungle composed of this dangerous vegetation. 



Having broken my way with great exertion until I was within 

 five or six yards of the " bay," I holloaed the dogs on. Two power- 

 ful long-legged hounds immediately sprang from my side, and in a 

 few moments I heard the peculiar angry sounds which told me that 

 the boar was seized. I tore my way through the tangled jungle, 

 and almost immediately found myself in the presence of a large 

 boar exactly facing me. Without an instant's hesitation, it made 

 a supreme effort to attack ; its charge was so furious and sudden, 

 that, being unexpected by the dogs, they lost their hold, and for 



