HOG HUNTERS' HALL 129 



When we first assembled we devised a system 

 of signals with our spears for working the mahouts, 

 and had them out one afternoon for foot drill so 

 that they soon got pretty handy. All that was 

 necessary was " line," ' fi column of elephants from 

 the flank," tc right or left shoulders," " advance," 

 " halt," " come to my assistance." We also all 

 had whistles for whistling pig away, or calling 

 attention of the line. The elephants were further 

 subdivided for "shikar," " charra," and "dak" 

 work. At first we tried to bring every pig into 

 camp and weigh him, but we had to give this up. 

 We then enlisted three sansis, or gipsies, who were 

 all for blood, unlike the natives. They each had 

 sacks, an axe, and knife, and were on the right, 

 centre, and left of the line on elephants. Any one 

 killing a pig tied a piece of " Turkey Red " to a bush 

 or on a piece of elephant grass. Down from the 

 elephant jumped the butcher, ran to the carcase, 

 cut off the head, and put it into a sack. After 

 measuring the boar the man who had got first 

 spear put his mark on his nostril or ear so that we 

 could recognize our own tushes on return to camp. 

 The gipsies' friends and relatives were allowed the 

 bristles and the carcases in lieu of cash payment 

 for their services. We sometimes had a long beat 

 before we got a ride, and would then get into the 

 middle of a lot of good boar when it was important 

 not to waste time, hence our red flag and butcher 

 arrangement. 



On the whole sport was wonderfully even, we 

 never killed less than eight pig in a day, and 

 never more than sixteen. The total bag was 180 

 boar in 22 hunting days between 28th March and 

 21st April. 



