CHAP. IX PIG-STICKING IN BENGAL 135 



heavy grass and jhow jungles of Bengal there is no 

 doubt that this is the only practicable weapon, as 

 the rider can use it against a charging boar, where 

 it would be impossible to lower the point of the 

 underhand spear. 



The old records of the Calcutta Tent Club, to 

 which I have had access, only date from 1862, 

 though the Club originated long before that date. 

 At that time C. B. Stewart, J. Gladstone, J.Thomas, 

 J. Beckwith, and Major (afterwards Colonel) James 

 were the leading spirits in the Club. 



During the following thirty years of its existence 

 the Club numbered among its members many well- 

 known sportsmen, including Lord William Beres- 

 ford, V.C., General Sir George Greaves, Sir Griffith 

 Evans, General Wilkinson, "Black" Simson, W. L. 

 Thomas, Roberts, the brothers Angelo, Prestage, 

 Lawrie Johnstone, Nolan, John and Tom Anderson, 

 Alston, Sir Allan Arthur, George Walker, E. V. 

 Westmacott, Granny Mills, and C. C. MacLeod. 



When the Club was first started they hunted 

 the country south of Calcutta, their farthest meet 

 being at Tumlook, where, I believe, the unclean 

 beast has long since ceased to exist. Until the late 

 'eighties the Club had the use of the Government 

 elephants at Barrackpore. 



Compared with the record bags of the " Shikar- 

 pore Hunt," the Tent Club did not enjoy pheno- 

 menal sport, but boar were plentiful and fierce, 

 and until the early 'nineties a blank day was prac- 

 tically unknown. 



With the extension of the railway the Club moved 

 farther afield and enjoyed good sport at Ranaghat, 

 Belgatchie, Patkabari, Sara,Goalundo, and Furridpur. 

 In later years they moved as far north as Rangpore. 



