96 WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



and shoulders. His weight and impetus were great, and the 

 tough bamboo spear-shafts bent under the strain, but we 

 closed in on him, and he yielded up his gallant spirit. 



The beaters crowded in and bore him from his lair, and 

 on reaching the open ground, proceeded to "gralloch." On 

 removing the intestines, a large quantity of blood was found 

 in the carcass. Diving their hands into the body, they scooped 

 out the warm blood and drank it greedily, wiping their en- 

 sanguined fingers on their long beards and moustache. The 

 effect was truly startling, but they seemed to enjoy it, and 

 for all that I can say to the contrary, it may have been very 

 good tipple. 



Many of these men carried " boomerangs, " a weapon I 

 have never seen used in any other part of India. It was 

 made of dark heavy wood, two inches broad, three quarters of 

 an inch thick, and about two and a half feet long, sharpened 

 at the edges. These they threw with great force, and would 

 not unfrequently knock over hares and partridges as they rose 

 during the beat. 



Although in hog-hunting it is advantageous to be well 

 mounted, yet many spears are taken by men on steady old 

 horses, held well in hand. Young high-couraged horses are 

 often hard to hold, and, to enable the rider to work his spear 

 properly the right hand should be free. I have seen the 

 spear taken from a field mounted on high-priced horses, 

 by an old stager riding a steady screw that would not fetch 

 10. One member of the Hunt often rode a small dark 

 chestnut pony, about thirteen hands high. The man was over 

 six feet in height, and it seemed incredible that the rat he 

 bestrode could carry his weight. The pony was a most 

 vicious little beast, and when at his picket would rush open- 

 mouthed at any one who approached him ; but his blood and 



