THE CHASE AFTER A HOG.
iiistaully lo some stream or pool, to cool his licaLocl framo. If I ho Ini nte rs be well
acquainted willi llie counLry, tliey fail not to proceed, without loss of time, to
the place where water is known to be; and if tiiey do not lincl their game
already injmersed tliercin, ibey may be certain of his appearance very shortly.
7^hoy should attack insta iitly ; for if he be allowed to lap, or lie down in the
water, he will be recruited in a surprising manner, and give much Irouble.
Sometimes, owing to the nature of the cover, an attack is perfectly inipracticable:
when this happens, every precaution should be used to force the hog forward
in such direction as may most easily expel him, and alVord ihe most probable
means of success.
After gaining a cover, if there be not water, the hog will go through ;
especially among small bttnds, or canes, as descnbed above. If a belt, oi- ¡¡artial
hedge, run from the hund towards another, the hunter may be tolerably certain
that will be his course ; and, as other bauds are not very remote, the utmost
energy becomes indispensible. The liog, wliose eye is cfuick as the hawk's,
finding the pursuit continued, exerts all his powers. The spur must be well
applied; tliougb tlie horse should be kept well in hand, both on account of the
nature of the ground, usually veiy I'ougb and full of clods, stumps, or the spikes
of the cut rhur, which are highly dangerous, and that every turn of the iiog
may be closely and instantaneously followed. The short space to bo run over
coerces to celerity, and lo losing no chance of disabling tlie game; which, if
well managed, may l)y a licet and steady horse be not only overtaken, but made
lo wheel round on the same plain, so as to afTord the more distant hunters time
to come up and to contribute their aid. Thus the hog is brouglit to bay, frecfuently
at a time when his vigour is by no means exhausted. This interesting
scene forms the subject of Plate V.
The jungle grass is generally used in India for thatching, being cut in the dry
months, previous to the time of burning the heavy covers. It is cul willi a
kind of sickle, and made into small bundles, each about a foot in circumference,
and carried either on I he heads of the villagers in large trusses, if for their own
use ; or, if lo be stacked with the view to future sale during the rainy and cold
seasons, at whieb time the price is greatly enhanced, it is laden on hackcries,
or carts, drawn by oxen, of wliich white is the predominant colour. These arc
loosened from the yoke until the grass is piled on the hackery as high as it cau
be carried, wlion they arc put to the tlraughl, the (h-ivcr silting on tlie pole,
sometimes so far forward as to have one or both feet hanging over the yoke. A
description of the various carriages used in India will be be found in a subscijuent
number.
It Irequently happens that, during a chase over a plain, many persons may be
seen cutting the grass. The hog, indignant and vindictive, seldom fails to
deviate from hii course to visit and disturb the poor men in their occupations ;
frequently, indeed, ripping them very severely. Some take to flight; but the hog
l)cing possessed of most speed, soon comes up, and running his head between
the fugitive's l<nee.s, ordinarily gives a cut to each thigh, oversetting and leaving
the uniortunate fellow i..r the i)urp.)se of trailing others in a similar w-.v
Several who are struck by terror, or deeming it useh-ss U. escape by Iru.K.ing'to
their heels, remain and face the al lack, usually ni the momenl of (laii"er exlendiníf
tllüir liands forward to keep ll„.. l,og at a dista,,«-: ll„,„ fare „ „ I.Hl. r ;
i „ g 111 gmcral o,ic i,r ii.oi-c wou,id« ii, ll,c ar„,s iir finger», ai,il i,„'l „„I'rc.
c|uej,lly gelling a ri|) elsewl,erc licro,-c tl,ey are quilled by llieir hrislled visitor
Siieil as arc near lo hadcmcs si,eiv great aclivity ii, ascending, anil llnis in
gciioi-al get clear; tliongi, I o,Ke saw an instaneo ivliere the hog cliarged the
oxen, ivliich l,a|)|)ened to be yolied, an,I frightc-neil them so innch that liicv set
oil- al speed. One of the wheels jnissed o.cr ihe hog's hack, which elVcctúally
d,sal,led iiim, l,ul occasioned ihe ha,:kery to I.e ups.-t, lo the great alarm of
those ^vho had ascended il, and who dreaded lest the hog shonid pay his
respects lo them in tnrn. Happily, however, the shock he had received in the
enterpiize did not leave hi,n ihe power to ,enew the attack, anil rendered him
an easy prey to one of the party, who took advantage of the eirciimslancc and
speared him lo the heart.
When the inhabitanls of the neighbouring villages see a chase, they freqncntly
run with their dogs lo ]iartako oí the .sport, armed only with a latlic, or small
bamboo stall'of aboni hve feet long. These being cul fro,,, a small wild species
of that reed, are extrcnely solid, and sufficiently pliant to answer every purpose.
Near Mongbyr, al a j,lace called Goorgaul, there is a large tract of jungle producing
these bamboos, which being si-h-ctcd from ihe most taper and cleanest
stems, are clcared of s,nall b,•anches, and after being oiled, are heated lo a
proper ilegree, by which ,nea,is they become very elastic and durable. Such a.s
may rctpiirc lo he straighlcncl, are fixed while warm by means of strong stakes
driven into the ground, and kepi there unlil they may be found to answer.
These laities are lied up inio bundles, and are sent to all jiarts of the country,
meeting wilb a ready sale, and producing fi'om one to I'our rupees, or half crowns,
per hundred. Besiiles a variety of purpo.ses in which they are very useful, ihey
serve as shafts to mount hog-spears. For this use they should be about eight
or nine tcel in length, not tapering too niueh, but about an inch thick where,
alter the spcar-hlade is on, ihey balance; and where, consequently, they are
generally held in the grip.
I l may be supposed that many varieties as to the length, shape, and weight of
the spear, have been introduced. Fornierly, the shafts in use were short and
thick, and the spear-blades heavy, with large shoulders. Others deviated into the
opposite extreme. My own experience has convinced me that a short shaft is
both ineffectual and dangerous. I have seen a gentleman fall, and be speared
through his lliigb, merely owing to the shortness of the shaft! As to heavy
blath;s, they are not only an incumbrance, but do not pierce near so well as
those improved by omitting ihe shoulders, and making them in general more of
the form of a hay-leaf, but longer in proportion. Their dimensions may be
about seven or eight inches length of blade, two or three of neck, and six or
6
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