The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-02-28
A WILD BOAR HUNT.

A WILD DOAh HCNls
! From Bakers Eqht Years Wandering in Cty,on.
stroled along the elephant-path, in
| tending to gain the extreme end of thu
range for the sake of the view, when
suddenly came upon the track of ;
"boar," IN the middle of the path. 1twa
perfectly fresh, as were also the ploughing
in the ground close by, and the water of 6
small pool was still curling with clouds o
mud, showing most plainly that he hat
been disturbed from his wallowing by m.
noise in ascending the mountain side.
| There was no avoiding the fiud; ant
away went Bluebeard," Ploughboy.
"Gaylass," and all the leading hounds
followed by the whole pack, in full chorus
straight along the path at top speed
Presently they turned sharp to the left intc
the thick jungle, dashing down the hillside
as though off to the Elk Plains below. A
this pace l knew the hunt would moi
last long, and from my elevated stand
waited impatiently for the first sounds O
the bay. Round they turned again, up the
steep hillside, and the music slackened {
little, as the hounds had enough to do il
bursting through the tangled bamboo VI
the hill.
Presently l heard the rush Of the boal
in the jungle, coming straight up the hill
toward the spot where was standing; and
fearing that he might top the ridge and
make down the other side toward Dimboo
la, gave him halloo to head him back
Hank, for r-rard to him 20. dick to him
Such a yell, right in the road, astonished
him, and, as l expected, he headed SHARP
back. Up came the pack, going like race
horses, and wheeling off where the game
had turned, a few seconds running along
the side of the mountain, and then such a
burst of music ! such a bayi The boar
had turned sharp round, and had met the
hounds on level platform on the top of a
ridge.
"Lucifer" never leaves my side until
we are close up to the bay; and plunging
and tearing through the bamboo grass and
tangled nillho for few hundred yards,
at length approached the spot, and heard
Lord Bacon grunting and roaring loud
above the din of the hounds.
Betram has him for a guinea! Hold him,
good lad ! and away dashed "Lucifer y
from my side at the halloo.
In another moment was close up, and
with my knife ready broke through the
dense jungle and was Immediately in the
open space cleared by the struggles of the
boar and pack. Unluckily, l had appeared
full in the boar's front, and though five OIL
six of the large sellers had got their holds
he made a sudden charge at me that shook
them all off, except Bertram and
LENA"
1t was the work of an instant, as jump
ed quickly on one side, and instinctiveiy
made downward cut at him in passing
| He fell all of heap, to the complete
establishment of myself and the furious
pack.
He was dead killed by one blow with
the hunting knife. l had struck him
across the back just behind the shoulders
and the wound was so immense that he hac
the appearance of being nearly half divid
ed. Not only was the spine severed, bu
the blade had cut deep into his vitals ant
produced instant death.
| One of the dogs was hanging on his hinc
quarters when he charged, and as the boa
was rushing forward, the muscles of thu
back were accordingly stretched tight, ant
thus the effect of the cut was increased t.
this extraordinary degree. He was mid
ding sized boar, as near as could guess
about two and ahalf hundredweight.
Fortunately none of the pack wer'
seriously hurt, although his tusks were a
sharp as a knife. This was owing to til,
short duration of the fight, and also to thu
presence Of so many sellers, who backed
each other up without delay.
There is no saying to what size wilt
boar grows. l have never killed them will
the hounds above four hundredweight; bu
l have seen solitary bears in the low coun
try that must have weighed nearly double
I believe the flesh is very good; by thu
natives it is highly priced; but hav'
so strong prejudice against it from TIN
sights I have seen of their feasting upol
putrid elephants that never touch it.
The numbers of wild hogs in the low
country is surprising, and they are mos
useful cleaning up the carcasses of deaf
animals and destroying vermin. l seldom
or never fire at hog in those districts, a
their number is SO great that there is nj
sport in shooting them. They travel abou
in herds of one and two hundred and evcl
more. These are composed of sows all,
ynung boars, as the latter leave the here
when arrived at maturity.