ATTACK OF OLD AND YOUNG BOARS. 265 



novice in the sport, but I have never since seen 

 any hog charge so fiercely. The horse I rode 

 would not go near him, and when I was at a con- 

 siderable distance off, he charged another horse 

 with such ferocity, that mine reared and plunged 

 in such a violent manner, as to throw me off: 

 two or three others were dismounted nearly at 

 the same time, and although there were many 

 horses present that had been long accustomed to 

 the sport, not one of them would stand his 

 charge : he fairly drove the whole party off the 

 field, and gently trotted on to the grass jungle, 

 (foaming and grinding his tusks), through which 

 it was impossible to follow or drive him from. 



From the boldness of this boar, he might be 

 thought to be old, but from the activity he dis- 

 played, I consider him to have been in the prime 

 of his vigour. Old boars are generally the most 

 savage, and often attack people without the least 

 provocation, and when hunted, are soon brought 

 to bay ; but the charges of such as are only three 

 or four years old are the most desperate, owing to 

 the vigour they possess, and the sharpness of 

 their tusks. 



The largest boar I have ever seen killed, was 



