xvn THE BOAR 315 



a moment the boar was free. I instinctively jumped upon one side, 

 as the brute rushed at me, and delivered a tremendous cut with 

 the heavy knife across its back, just behind the shoulder. At the 

 same moment a very powerful bitch named Lena had recovered 

 her hold upon the boar's thigh. . . . This large boar fell dead ! 

 It never moved a muscle. 



In those days I could hit tolerably hard, but the effect of this 

 blow was so instantaneous that I was almost incredulous when I 

 saw the body of the boar lying at my feet, cut half-way through. 

 The knife had struck downwards, as the boar had passed at full 

 speed ; the body, being stretched through the weight of the bitch 

 that had seized the thigh, gave way at once before the keen edge 

 of the heavy blade. The spine was cut clean through, and the 

 knife had passed through the vitals. 



This boar weighed about 2| cwts., as nearly as I could estimate 

 its weight, from its length and general appearance. The largest 

 that I have ever killed with the hounds and hunting-knife weighed 

 at least 4 cwts., and the head alone, when slung upon a pole, made 

 a tolerable load for two men, who were well contented to be released 

 from their burden after a long march to camp ; the carriers being 

 my brother and myself. 



The Ceylon style of hunting must depend entirely upon the 

 hounds ; even then, as 'I have shown, the boar, if possible, would 

 be avoided. Boar-hunting cannot be classed as a Ceylon sport ; it 

 is a misfortune when the hounds take up the scent. 



In the low country, where wild pigs swarm, I seldom or never 

 condescended to fire at them. The coolies love the fat and flesh 

 of these indigestible animals, and the result is certain to be either 

 fever or dysentery. For this reason alone I reserved my fire when- 

 ever a fine boar presented itself, as our people were sure to possess 

 themselves of the flesh, although it was strictly prohibited. I 

 have often felt, when in hot climates, that Moses and Mahomet 

 were right in forbidding the use of pork. A pig is a filthy beast 

 in its tastes, and there is no garbage that it would refuse. A foul 

 feeder must to a certain extent have foul flesh ; the pigs of the low 

 country in tropical climates are the omnipresent scavengers ; 

 common-sense should warn the consumer of the danger of such 

 food. 



The Avild pigs of Newera Ellia are highly estimated, as they 

 cannot possibly obtain anything undesirable as food. The jungles 

 are full of roots and berries, and there is nothing objectionable 

 within reach of the wild hog. 



In Turkey and Asia Minor I have frequently eaten wild boar. 



