206 
THE WILD BOAIi. 
courage and coolness, and attended with consi- 
derable danger. Here they are most commonly 
shot with rifles, or baited with strong hounds ; 
and in other places, driven by an assemblage of 
the country people to a narrow circle, where they 
are variously despatched. But it is perhaps on 
the continent of India only where the hunting 
of the Wild Boar or Hog is followed really as a 
sport, and is accompanied with all the usual 
retinue of followers. They frequent the strong 
grassy jungles, thick and matted, and of suffi- 
cient length to conceal the animal even when 
running ; or they delight in the extensive planta- 
tions of sugar cane, where they both find cover, 
and a supply of favourite and very fattening food. 
They are pursued on horseback, and speared when 
at full speed. When about to be hunted, a collec- 
tion of people is formed, who regurlaly beat the 
cover, and endeavour by noises of all sorts to 
force the animal to flee to some other retreat. The 
huntsmen are generally placed at the corners, and 
start in pursuit when they consider the Hog has 
gained sufficient distance from the canes or grass, as 
not again to retreat to them. There is both danger 
in the attack, and considerable dexterity required 
to render it efficient : many horses will not go up 
to the Hog, while others are rash, and subject 
themselves to be bitten or ripped, and sometimes 
are completely disabled ; while, if the rider is 
