cHAP.x THE NAGPUR HUNT 159 



The names of the winners since 1863 are also 

 engraved on this cup, but it does not leave the Mess. 



Although the element of rivalry is thus intro- 

 duced into our midst, I do not think it would be 

 possible to find a more sporting hunt. The pig- 

 sticking novice is carefully taken in hand, taught 

 his trade, and educated up to his first spear. We 

 hold by the old pig-sticking rule that the killing 

 of the pig is the first thing, the taking of the first 

 spear being quite secondary to it ; and that all 

 should have good sport. To this end horses and 

 ponies are grouped together, and the veterans and 

 novices evenly distributed. 



When I was at Kamptee (1906-1907-1908) our 

 best country was in the Wardha district, and our big 

 meets were arranged for ten days each during the 

 Christmas, Mohurrum, and Easter holidays. The 

 Christmas gathering was, of course, the largest and 

 merriest, but for sport I would select the Mohurrum 

 Meet which was held some time in February. There 

 were then not too many spears and the weather 

 was still fairly cool. At the Easter meet the sport 

 was excellent, but it was distinctly hot. 



Some years ago regular meets were held much 

 nearer to Nagpur and Kamptee, but these have 

 been practically given up for the longer ones I have 

 mentioned. The closer country was as rocky and 

 difficult as any old pig-sticker could wish, and had 

 the advantage of letting in the one-horse man. 

 Four ponies or horses would see you through the 

 longer meets with luck, but I have had two out of 

 four knocked out the first day by wounds. The 

 Wardha country is black cotton soil — a great 

 cotton-growing district. There are a few grass birs 

 (rumnahs), some rough thorny jimgle, and many 



