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A DAY’S SPORT ON THE BACKDAM. 
By Capt. H. J. CourTENAY COLES. 
Starting at the early hour of 2.30 a.m. on a bright moonlight morning, we 
set out to hunt down a drove of water-haas previously located in some canefields 
about four miles away. Armed with boar-spear, shot gun and butterfly net, we 
were prepared to add to our specimens, whether running, swimming or flying. 
Of the last variety we were soon made unpleasantly aware, but we, not they, 
were the victims, for we had hardly started when swarms of mosquitoes settled 
upon us, and took full toll of every exposed part of our persons. This fact, 
combined with the raw chilliness of the early morning dew, drove us to take up 
paddles and work for dear life, and as a consequence we rapidly out-distanced 
the other canoes containing the balance of our Kast Indian beaters. 
As soon as all our corials had arrived as close as was prudent to the seene of 
operations, we unstowed our seine nets, placed them so as to cut off the escape 
of our anticipated quarry, got out our guns and spears, and saw to the dogs and 
beaters. Our method was as follows :— 
A number of East Indians were placed as sentries over all possible places 
where the water-haas could break away, some were placed to watch the nets 
closing the main canal, and in a short space of time we had sixty acres of land 
safely surrounded, leaving only one side for the animals to come out, which 
was towards the main canal and middlewalk dam. 
Here were stationed men in canoes, with spears ready for a dash up the eross- 
canals, whilst we waited on the dam, prepared to use either spear or gun as 
opportunity offered. 
The dogs were put on the scent of the quarry from the side-line, and soon the 
crashing of the canes told us our game was on the move, whilst the pack of 
yelling curs loudly proclaimed the fact that they were not on the scent. A shout 
from the Kast Indians in the canoes, and in a moment these latter were flying 
up the cross canals, their spearmen plying their weapons busily amongst the 
hidden water-haas. 
It might not be out of place to describe these spears carried by the Hindus. 
The shafts consisted of a stout bamboo about eight feet long, the spear head 
being an ordinary field cutlass ground to a broad point and barbed like an arrow- 
head to hold the animal when wounded. Some even had detachable spear 
heads which were left in the wounds, attached corks and strings showing the 
whereabouts of the water-haas. The latter by the way is often locally misnamed 
water-hog, though the word means water-hare, the animal in spite of its huge 
size being a rodent. 
Meanwhile we remained on the dam watching the fun, and awaiting a possible 
shot in the event of the game leaving the water. Sure enough, a big fellow 
broke through the hunters, climbed up the dam and made off like the wind, with 
