160 MODERN PIG-STICKING 



long groves of date palms (sendhi bans) at the edges 

 of the nullahs with which the country is intersected. 

 The date palms are cultivated by the natives for 

 the extraction of " Toddy," and the jungle formed 

 by them is often very thick and impossible to ride 

 through. It forms an ideal home for pig. Water 

 in the nullahs, shade, solitude, and safety in the 

 thick jungle, and rich fields close by to feed upon. 

 No wonder our pig run heavy and our " grim grey 

 ones " are hard to stir. 



Come with me now for the " Mohurrum Meet " 

 to Sonegaon railway station on the Wardha-Chanda 

 line. Bring with you four good horses or ponies, and 

 at least eight of tjie stoutest spears you can wield. 

 I can see Prescott Decie's spear now like that of 

 Goliath of Gath, and his mighty thrust as the boar 

 came in. But think not that any spear shaft that 

 can be wielded by man will always stand the strain. 

 Wait till you come almost level with a 34 or 

 35 incher, see him turn his eye up at you, and 

 wounded or not charge in with a bound. Keep 

 your spear well down, take him just behind the 

 shoulder, lean well towards him and thrust, no 

 jobbing. Through and through goes the spear, 

 and he strikes you hard on the boot, and lucky for 

 you if he does not put his tush through it or miss 

 you and wound your horse. Now comes the strain, 

 Hold on you must, as your horse rushes forward ; 

 but it needs a mighty man and a mighty spear-shaft 

 to turn over or round that tremendous mass of 

 energy and hate. I confess I am no Sandow, I 

 used what our Captain (" Pat " Gibson of the 

 Durham Light Infantry) called fishing-rods. But 

 I came prepared with a sufficient number. We 

 used the underhand spear, and usually about seven 



