CH. XIV 



SPEARING VARIOUS ANIMALS 223 



Buffalo, we know, were speared in the old days 

 with the throwing spear. Baker, in his Sport in 

 Bengal, in 1886 mentions that he heard of a man 

 spearing two buffalo in one day, but his horse was 

 killed and he had a narrow escape for his life. 

 This looks as if he had been using the thrusting 

 spear. There is no doubt that the encounter would 

 lead to a very " pleasant bickering," as Sir Nigel 

 says. A long and heavy spear would be needed. 



Skinner, of Skinner's Horse, at the beginning of 

 last century speared more than one tiger, I believe, 

 by circling round him and throwing his spear. 

 Outram speared a tiger, but I think I am correct 

 in saying that he did it standing on foot on a rock 

 as the tiger passed him. All the more honour to 

 him. Nightingale, I believe,| also speared a tiger, 

 though I can find no record of it. 



In all these instances, however, I cannot find 

 any clearly authenticated record of a man having 

 ridden and speared a tiger using the thrusting spear 

 of the present day. It remains to be done. Simson 

 mentions a tiger being put up, but "none were so 

 stupid as to ride it." 



In 1899 I hunted a certain country near Aligurh. 

 A fortnight later several spears, when hunting the 

 same country, put up a tiger in an open field, and 

 watched him for half a mile before he disappeared 

 into cover. It is so easy to talk, but I always like 

 to think I would have had a try for him. I do not 

 believe a tiger would be much harder to spear than 

 a panther. I am sure he would squat in the same 

 way ; he would not be as active as a panther, and 

 he would be a much better mark. You would have 

 to ride wide, give a good spear, and be off. One 

 really good spear in the chest would be enough. 



