88 SPORTING IN" BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



send fifty or sixty people to drive the wild hogs from their 

 cover into the open country, should there be any such in the 

 neighbourhood. The beaters extend themselves in a large 

 semicircle, and advance slowly, striking the bushes with 

 sticks, and shouting and sounding drums. The animals, 

 frightened by the tumult, run before them, and are gene- 

 rally at last forced into the plains. The moment this event 

 takes place, the hunters, who have been watching, gallop 

 after them with their long spears. These they either throw 

 at the hogs, or strike into their bodies without letting go, 

 whenever they can effect it. At first the hogs run so fast, 

 that a tolerable horse cannot come up with them unless he 

 is put to his speed; and when they begin to grow tired, they 

 wind about and manoeuvre so much, that they often elude 

 their pursuer for a very long time, or perhaps entirely, unless 

 he be an expert rider, or practised sportsman. 



" The hog is seldom killed by the first stroke of the spear, 

 and usually chases the hunter immediately after receiving a 

 wound; and should the latter not be dexterous enough to 

 evade the attack, he and his horse will have a chance of 

 being thrown to the ground, and mangled by the infuriated 

 animal's tusks. 



" In this the danger of the sport chiefly consists, and acci- 

 dents of the kind daily occur ; however, fortunately, the horse 

 is much oftener the sufferer than the rider, who generally con- 

 trives to keep the sow or boar at bay with his spear. The 

 game, when killed, is considered the property of the person 

 who first struck and wounded it, and is brought home by the 

 beaters at the termination of the sport, and afterwards 

 served up in various forms at the evening banquet of the 

 fatigued hunting party. 



" We had one very interesting day's sport. Amongst the 

 party were Sir Lionel Smith, Colonel Cotton, Captain 

 Keith, Captain Corke, Captain Smith, aide-de-camp to Sir 



