22 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
gallop, suddenly turn round, and kick and snort as if 
it had been stung by a dragon-fly. Happening to be 
the nearest horseman to the hog when it broke cover, I 
struck the spur into the flank of my hunter, and thus 
urged it to full speed, in order to turn the animal’s 
course ; but I had no sooner come up with it, than 
my steed unexpectedly turned short round, threw out 
its heels with desperate energy, struck the poor hog 
in the ribs, rolling it upon the plain, and causing me 
to make a somerset over its own neck; and then, 
with the most provoking indifference, galloped off, 
leaving me within two yards of the enraged brute, 
which I expected every moment would unbutton my 
waistcoat with its tusks, to the manifest peril of the 
body underneath. Happily, the kick had so disabled 
it, that the creature lay for several seconds without 
attempting to move; of which circumstance I took 
advantage, and rising with eager celerity, scampered 
off after my fugitive hunter. 
The hog soon recovered, and just as it was pre- 
pared to try its speed afresh, our host rode up to it 
sword in hand, and striking it on the back, com- 
pletely severed the joint. The vanquished animal 
fell, and almost instantly died. The body was imme- 
diately borne off by some of the attendants. As I 
could not regain my horse, and being a good deal fa- 
tigued with my exertions, I seated myself upon the 
summit of a small hillock that overlooked a ravine 
terminating a sheer precipice of at least a hundred 
feet. From the exalted position I had taken I could 
command the whole plain, and see the sport though I 
could not join in it. There was a large tract of thick 
