THE NAGPUR HUNT 161 



feet long. In thick grass or " jhow " one can use 

 this overhand. Any spear was allowed, and I 

 have seen the short overhand spear used by an 

 expert. He failed to keep two heavy pig off, and 

 had two ponies badly cut on the same day. After 

 this slight digression on spears, this preparatory 

 lecture in the train, we arrive at Sonegaon station 

 to find a hearty welcome from our captain. The 

 mess tent is pitched and ready ; our servants, 

 ponies, and tents have arrived before us. Just a 

 word to ask if the ponies are all right, and in we go 

 to tea, and talk over the Khubber. It is said to be 

 good, but the Malguzar or Patel of such and such a 

 village has been netting pig. However, we have 

 heard the same story before, and still hope that 

 all the pig have not been netted. Then round the 

 horses, a tub, and dinner. Early to bed as our 

 orders are to be up at daybreak. We will suppose 

 we have a dozen spears out. Our captain sorts 

 them into four parties of three each, according to 

 mounts and knowledge of the game. The oldest 

 pig -sticker of each party is its captain. His 

 vocabulary in English and Hindustani should be 

 an ample one. The rocky and thorn-covered hills 

 of Esumba are beaten towards Airundgaon sendhi 

 ban, and, with luck a boar is ridden and slain. More 

 probably he escapes into the sendhi ban untouched. 

 We then beat the sendhi ban down-stream. The 

 cover in places stretches a hundred and fifty yards 

 across ; in places it thins down to nothing at all 

 but a few solitary date palms before the next thick 

 piece is entered. Our object is to induce the pig 

 to break cover, and make across the fields or broken 

 thorny country for the next sendhi ban three- 

 quarters of a mile or so away. 



M 



