cH.xw SPEARING VARIOUS ANIMALS 223 



Buffalo, we know, were speared in the old days 

 with the throwing spear. Baker, in his Syort 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. 



