Andalucia and its Big Game 73 



to the authors — that is, a boar charging deliberately, and of its 

 own initiative, upon human beings ; and we do not believe in the 

 possibility of such an event. Of course should a boar (or any 

 other savage animal) be disabled, or in a corner, that is a different 

 matter — then a wild-boar will fight, and right gallantly too. 



The nearest approach to a " charge " (though it wasn't one 

 really) occurred at tlie Riucon de los Carrizos. Towards the end 

 of the beat the dogs ran a pig, and, seeing it was a big one, the 

 writer followed, and after a spin of 300 yards overtook the 

 boar at bay in a deep water-hole. The place was all overhung 

 with heavy foliage 

 and thick pines 

 above, giving very 

 poor light. Tliough 

 the boar's snout 

 pointed straight 

 towards me about 

 ten yards away, I 

 imagined (wrongly) 

 that his body stood 

 at an angle — about 

 one-third broadside: 

 hence the bullet 

 (aimed past the ear), 

 splashed harmlessly 

 in the water, and 

 next moment the pig was coming straight as a die, apparently 

 meaning mischief. When within five yards, however, he 

 jinked sharply to right, passing full broadside, wdien I killed 

 him d-hoca-jarro, as the phrase runs, " at the moutli of the 

 spout." 



That idea of " charging at large" is so splendidly romantic, 

 and fits in so appropriately with preconceived ideas, that we 

 almost regret to disturb its semi-fossilised acceptance. But, in 

 mere fact, neither boars nor any other wild beasts " charge " at 

 sight — always and only excepting elephant and rhinoceros, either 

 of which TYiay (or may not) do so, though previously unprovoked. 

 It would, at least, be unwise entirely to ignore the contingency 

 of either of these two so actinof. 



There exist, nevertheless, old and evil-tempered boars that 



