168 SHOOTING, ETC. 



and saw a very large boar come out and sniff the air 

 just as the first had done. This one detected no danger, 

 and commenced at once to feed most busily on the rice. 

 I could hear his great jaws closing on the all but ripe 

 ears, as he munched his way to where I stood. 



As the beast came out into the bright moonlight, he 

 looked as big as a donkey. What a broadside to fire 

 at ! I thought. Taking a steady aim I fired, but what 

 was my disgust to hear the cartridge go off like a squib ! 

 It turned out afterwards that I had loaded with a very 

 old cartridge, and I have no doubt the powder was 

 about strong enough to drive the bullet out of the gun 

 and no more. The boar, of course, sprang into the 

 cover, and made off. A fine stag came down soon after- 

 wards, but I did not get a shot at him, and I soon 

 returned on board, anything but satisfied with my luck. 



The natives find it quite impossible to keep these 

 animals from their fields. They fire off guns, keep 

 rattles going, and sing and call out all night long 

 from these watch-huts which they put up all over their 

 cultivation. Still, boar appear to get used to anything, 

 or slip in during some unlucky moment the tired 

 watchman falls asleep or goes and has a chat with his 

 next nocturnal neighbour. 



The Japanese pony is a rough, hardy sort of animal, 



