60 SPORT IN BENGAL. 



the " churs " of the Megna, but these have, I understand, dis- 

 appeared from that locality long ago, and have given place to 

 the heavy animals found in patches of jungle about villages, 

 the country being quite changed, and the long stretches of 

 grass " chur " land brought under cultivation. 



In times past there was no finer place for this sport than 

 " Sidhu " and " Boodhoo " in Noakholly ; and before these, 

 " Chur Hazaru " in the same district, where I have heard of 

 G. G. and G. P. T., both of the Civil Service, killing a dozen 

 boars in the course of the day; and have also heard that 

 these two fine horsemen could never hit it off pleasantly 

 when hunting together, and therefore each went his own way 

 with different boars, killing them handsomely, without dif- 

 ference of opinion or loss of temper as to what the other 

 ought or ought not to have done, or left undone. They rest 

 in peace this many a long year ; and let us trust that in the 

 happier hunting-grounds they agree better than they did 

 when in the flesh. 



Recording nothing of which I have not been an eye- 

 witness, I ask forgiveness for what may be regarded as 

 egotism ; but I will run that risk rather than describe sport 

 that 1 cannot vouch for myself. 



I went to Sidhu once a little before Christmas, taking 

 with me three horses, an Australian and two Arabs, with the 

 full intention of slaying three boars off each, on the same 

 day before taking my mid-day breakfast ; but alas ! as 

 generally will befall the best laid plans of mice and men, 

 my own on that occasion went " agee ; " very much so 

 indeed. 



It so came about that I was the only hunting-man then 

 in the district ; I was therefore quite alone on that trip. The 

 rice had been harvested, and the fields, covered with a thick 

 stubble a foot high, were still soft without being muddy, a very 

 favourable condition for unshod horses, shoes never being put 

 on by us in that district in those days. The small patches of 

 grass and tamarisk were yet green and undisturbed by cattle ; 

 the pigs were as usual there, as plentiful as any hog-hunter 



