CHAPTER II 



HISTORY AND COUNTRY 



IN writing on "Modern Pig-sticking," an elaborate 

 account of ancient history is out of place, for the 

 sport is as old as the hills. In 1800 writers describe 

 it, in practically its modern form, as an old- 

 established one, only they threw the spear instead 

 of " jobbing " it. One of their chief reasons for 

 doing this was that it gave better sport, and was 

 not so selfish an amusement as when one man 

 speared the hog and had him all to himself. And, 

 whether their view was right or wrong, there is no 

 doubt they did not hesitate on occasion to attack 

 wild buffaloes with their method. 



Captain Johnson, writing in 1827, gives directions 

 for throwing the spear. You must practise much 

 on foot, and learn to throw with accuracy in a 

 parabola up to thirty yards. Yet men often 

 missed ; for he records a hunt in which a boar was 

 only twice wounded when over fifty spears had been 

 thrown at him. 



And in spite of buffalo hunts our captain has 

 a shrewd respect for the boar : " a wounded boar 

 is a very formidable animal, and it may be often 

 better to let him escape than run the risk of being 

 crippled." 



However, in 1830 Mr. Mills of the I.C.S. 



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