RIDING A PIG 73 



be able to mount and be in at a very lively death. The 

 man whom the boar struck got off with a week in hospital 

 and a bad bruising — particularly lucky as the boar was 

 well tushed. The force of his rush was amazing. One 

 felt like meeting a run-away horse. 



In the old days, about 1830, round Poonah 

 " Sabring Hog " was a regular practice. I can tell 

 you nothing of my own knowledge about this, but 

 quote you an experience of Colonel Vaughan's with 

 a 250-lb. boar. 



He writes : 



My incident was as follows : 



I was, with my adjutant, trumpeter, and orderly, 

 watching the leading squadron of the Regiment going to 

 water in the Nerbuddah after crossing the railway bridge 

 on the Khandwa-Mhow line. A large sounder of sows 

 and squeakers jumped up in the middle of the squadron 

 and made off upstream. I cantered along, followed by 

 my staff, abreast of them, and presently saw an old boar 

 some three hundred yards ahead of them. The river-banks 

 were intersected with small ravines so we scrambled along 

 by the water's edge, and gradually got level with the boar. 

 It was impossible ground to kill him in so we rode parallel 

 with him and shouted at him, and presently he turned 

 inland ; we gave him a good start, and then raced him. I 

 drew my sword and gave him the point in the loins as he 

 reached a cotton-field. As there was a nullah in front, I 

 galloped to the far side of the field to head him off, and 

 shouted to the trumpeter and orderly to each watch one 

 corner of the cultivation. Then Mitford and I drew the 

 field backwards and forwards like spaniels. The old boar 

 squatted close, but at last jumped up and charged me. 

 I whipped my horse round and received him with the point 

 of the sword which held him off. Mitford then gave him 

 a thrust, and he staggered and died. I measured the 

 grease marks on my sword 14 inches; it went into him 

 easier than a spear, and came out as easily. It was an 

 old pattern cavalry officer's sword ; the new pattern would 



