CH. xv.] GREYHOUNDS AND KANGAROO. 261 



preceding evening), they were met by the Cutwal and principal 

 men of the small village, bearing a trifling present of fruit. After 

 many salaams, the deputation said that the villagers were in the 

 greatest distress, that an enormous wild boar and a sow had taken 

 up their abode in the neighbouring sugar plantation, that the crop 

 was fully ripe, but that whenever the labourers ventured in to cut 

 the canes they were driven out by a charge of the swine ; that the 

 whole body, women as well as men, had united more than once in 

 an attempt to alarm the intruders with the noise of tomtoms, cholera 

 horns, firing of matchlocks, &c., but that the unclean brutes would 

 not leave, and that the inhabitants had nearly resigned all hope of 

 saving the crop, when they had the happiness of hearing that an 

 English officer was expected, who, as a matter of course, could have 



no objection to shoot the vicious animals. D n and B h 



willingly consented to start directly after breakfast. The former 

 was a keen sportsman, but the latter had never fired a gun ; how- 

 ever, he said he would do his best ; and being furnished with an 

 old musket, he sallied forth "at fixed bayonets." Almost the 

 moment they entered the cover a crashing noise warned them to be 

 on their guard. The boar, without an instant's hesitation, rushed 

 at the invaders, making a special selection of the individual least 



accustomed to arms. B h, in no way daunted, dropped upon 



his right knee, brought his firelock to the charging position, and 

 calmly waited to pull trigger until the formidable beast was so close 



upon the bayonet, that he knocked the piece out of B h's grasp, 



and sent him spinning heels over head. On regaining his feet, 



B h found that his formidable adversary was already dead ; the 



bayonet, much bent in the encounter, was buried deep in his huge 

 chest ; and subsequent examination showed that the ball had 

 severed his heart into two nearly equal portions. The sow had 

 apparently quickly become aware of the mischance that had befallen 

 her mate, for she ignominiously fled from the field at her best pace. 

 In reply to the thanks, congratulations, and encomiums bestowed 

 upon the worthy Assistant-surgeon for his success and admirable 

 coolness, he quietly observed, that all was well that ended well ; 

 that it was an awful beast ; and that he would take precious good 

 care never voluntarily to encounter such another ; that he had 

 had his first shot, and fervently hoped it would be his last. 



469. To hark-back, however, to our subject. Greyhounds of a 

 large rough kind are trained in some parts of Australia to course 

 the kangaroo. A kangaroo when he is brought to bay* would 

 disable a great number of dogs, however bold and strong they 

 might be, should they incautiously attack him in front : for while 

 he is sitting upon his hind quarters, or standing upright, he can by 

 one blow, or rather strike of his hind-leg, which is furnished with 

 huge claws, tear open the strongest greyhound from the chest down- 

 wards ; and many dogs have been thus killed. As soon, therefore, 

 as a large kangaroo is seen, a well-educated brace of greyhounds are 



* In general he knowingly places his back against a tree. 



