70 DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF 



those who hold that in our sports we take care to have over- 

 whehning odds against the lower creation ; for surely even they 

 would not maintain that spear and hound against the wild 

 boar's tusks give an undue superiority, or that to a man on foot 

 in the jungle they are aught else than ' the weak one's advan- 

 tage fair.' ' Now then you fellows,' cries the master of the 

 hounds (Mr. E. A. W. Cox) from below, ' we must be oft' if we 

 intend to make a day of it ! ' 



The mist is gradually rising from the river as the warm 

 sunbeams lighten the atmosphere. The birds are whistling all 

 around, and the pretty bubbling noise of the Wa-Wa monkey 

 harmonises with the morning symphony of nature newly 

 awakened from sleep. We follow a jungle path for about half 

 a mile, when suddenly the welcome music of the pack tells us 

 that something has been disturbed. It is easy to distinguish 

 by the barking of the dogs what game is afoot, as their bark 

 when a'"ter a deer is quite distinct from that when after a pig, 

 and these sounds are again different from their cry when in 

 chase of other animals. For one moment we listen for the 

 direction ; then everyone bounds off through the jungle, 

 tripping over roots and logs and brushing past thorns, quite 

 unconscious of bruises and scratches in the wi'd excitement of 

 the chase. Presently the barking changes, denoting to the 

 practised ear that the pig is brought to ba^-. Now comes a race 

 for first spear, and each, wild with excitement, strives his 

 utmost to obtain the honour. If the pig is an old one he fights 

 very hard, and often doubles up the spear in his huge jaws. 

 The dogs soon become very artful in dealing with the quarry, 

 and, in consequence, are seldom killed. Hanging up and 

 removing the inside of the boar is the work of a few minutes, 

 and then another start is made. Passing over undulating ground, 

 having hardly recovered yet our breath, the cries of ' Rusa ! ' 

 (deer) burst forth from the excited Dyaks. Away we go again, 

 down the ravine and over the rocks, slipping and hurting our 

 shins on the huge boulders ; on up the little hills, and down 

 again through a valley ending in a swamp, and here at last we 

 find the deer, which, being surrounded by dogs, and unable to 

 move in the marsh, is quickly despatched. 



We throw ourselves down for a rest whilst the natives 

 quarter the stag. Each man then hoists on his back as much 

 as he can manage to carry, and we retrace our steps to the 

 beaten track. Two more pigs afford us the pleasure of a good 

 run before we are willing to return. Men and dogs are 

 thoroughly tired ; but the Dyaks, struggling as they are under 

 the weight of their heavy load, yet lament the escape of one 

 monster pig, of which the dogs lost the scent. Greatly fatigued 

 and pleased with our sport, we return, and, after a refreshing 



