SPORT AND SCIENCE ON THE 



Nothing could surpass the beauty of the scene 

 which we beheld that evening as we cautiously 

 worked along the ridge, keeping a sharp look-out 

 upon the cultivated fields a thousand feet below 

 us, whereon we hoped to catch some early pig 

 setting forth upon his night's depredations. We 

 were disappointed, however, in not sighting any 

 game, but the wonderful scenery more than com- 

 pensated us for the arduous climb. 



The next successful pig hunt, which was two 

 days later, might well have proved disastrous 

 for me. In climbing round some steep rocks, 

 from the crevices of which sprouted some young 

 spruce trees, affording me the necessary foothold, 

 I surprised a sounder of eight pigs, which were 

 lying sunning themselves at the base of the cliff. 

 They escaped up through the woods and over 

 the ridge, my hurried shot failing to find a 

 mark. Having reached the top of the ridge 

 ourselves after a hard climb, we were just in time 

 to see the sounder enter a dense patch of thorn- 

 scrub away down in the valley. Sending the 

 two natives to drive them out, I hurried down the 

 ravine and took up a convenient position below 

 the patch of thorn-scrub. Suddenly the whole 

 sounder broke cover, and to my horror came 

 thundering down upon me like a troop of cavalry. 

 Luckily the pigs were bent more on escape than 

 attack, so when I clubbed my rifle and swung it 

 to beat off, if possible, the mad rush of the fore- 



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