230 BOAR SPEARS. 



ferrule of the spear, at its upper end, should be 

 sufficiently large to admit the heavier end of the 

 shaft without taking off the bark, which in the 

 bamboo is exceedingly tough and strong, render- 

 ing it less liable to split. It should be fixed into 

 the ferrule with melted gum lac. At the top of 

 the shaft there should be a leaden ferrule, through 

 which a small iron ring may be fastened to hang 

 it up by, which will prevent it from becoming 

 crooked. The leaden ferrule at the end of the 

 shaft will cause the balance of the spear to be 

 farther from the point, by which means it may be 

 carried more free from the horse than if the bal- 

 ance were nearer the point of the spear, which is 

 of great consequence when riding through thick 

 covers. It often happens that the end of the 

 shaft which should be carried across the horse's 

 neck (in spite of every exertion to prevent it) 

 gets entangled in or strikes against long grass, 

 rhur,* jow^ sugar cane, castor oil plant, or 



* Rhur is a species of Lupine, or pulse, which grows to 

 the height of from four to six or seven feet; the seeds 

 are eaten by the natives of India, and are also given to 

 cattle. 



j- A species of broom, which generally grows on islands, 

 or on the banks of large rivers. 



