74 8 THE BABYROUSSA. 



taking salt without being rendered hard and indigestible by the process ; and the 

 various breeds of domesticated Swine are noted for their adaptation to form pork or 

 bacon in the shortest time and of the best quality. A full account of the various 

 English varieties, together with the mode of breeding them and developing their pecul- 

 iar characteristics, may be found in many books which are devoted specially to the 

 subject. 



The WILD BOAR of India is reckoned by some naturalists to be a separate species, 

 and deserves a few words on account of its superiority in size, strength, and swiftness, 

 to the ordinary European Swine. 



This animal is a sad plague to the agricultural population of India, as it makes ter- 

 rible havoc among the crops, and is especially fond of frequenting the sugar-canes, 

 eating them and chopping them into short lengths, which it forms into hut-like recep- 

 tacles for its young. The Boar is a most fierce and savage animal, and if driven from 

 the cane-brake, will rush at any man or animal that may be within his reach, and cut 

 them terribly with his sharp tusks. Even the sow can do considerable damage with 

 her teeth, but instead of ripping like her mate, she bites sharply and rapidly. When 

 the animal is fairly roused, and takes to his heels, he puts the mettle of the swiftest and 

 stanchest horse fairly to the test, and even on ground where the horse has all the ad- 

 vantage, he will frequently distance his pursuers, and regain his domicile in the cane- 

 brake. Among the plantations are numbers of old disused wells, the sides of which 

 have fallen in and were never properly filled up. In these wells the wild hog loves to 

 lie, for the mouth of the well is so overgrown with thick verdure that the aperture is 

 scarcely visible even to a person that stands on its brink, while from those who are not 

 aware of its precise locality it is entirely hidden. 



The spear is generally employed in Boar-hunting, or " pig-sticking," as the sport is 

 familiarly termed, and is either thrown from the horse's back, or is held like a lance 

 and directed so as to receive the animal's charge. When driven to bay, the Indian 

 Boar is as savage an animal as can be imagined, as with flashing eyes and foaming 

 mouth he dashes first at one and then another of the horsemen, sometimes fairly driving 

 them from the spot, and remaining master of the field. 



ONE of the most formidable looking of Swine is the BABYROUSSA of Malacca. 



This strange creature is notable for the curious manner in which the tusks are 

 arranged, four of these weapons being seen to project above the snout. The tusks of 

 the lower jaw project upward on each side of the upper, as is the case with the ordi- 

 nary boar of Europe, but those of the upper jaw are directed in a very strange manner. 

 Their sockets, instead of pointing downwards, are curved upwards, so that the tooth, 

 in filling the curvatures of the socket, passes through a hole in the upper lip, and curls 

 boldly over the face. The curve, as well as the comparative size of these weapons, is 

 extremely variable, and is seldom precisely the same in any two individuals. The upper 

 tusks do not seem to be employed as offensive weapons ; indeed, in many instances they 

 would be quite useless for such a purpose, as they are so strongly curved that their points 

 nearly reach the skin of the forehead. The female is devoid of these curious appendages. 



From all accounts, the Babyroussa seems to be a very fierce and 'dangerous animal, 

 being possessed of great strength, and able to inflict terrible wounds with the tusks of 

 the lower jaw. A naval officer who had experienced several encounters with this crea- 

 ture, spoke of it with great respect, and seemed to hold its warlike abilities in some awe. 

 The adult male Babyroussa is considerably larger than the boar of England, and the 

 officer above mentioned told me that he had seen them as large as donkeys. It is a 

 very good swimmer, and will take to the water for its own gratification, swimming 

 considerable distances without any apparent effort. 



The skin of the Babyroussa is rather smooth, being sparsely covered with short, bristly 

 hairs. The object of the upper tusks is at present unknown, although certain old writers 

 asserted that the animal was accustomed to suspend himself to branches by means of 

 the appendage. The Babyroussa lives in herds of considerable size, and is found in- 

 habiting the marshy parts of its native land, 



