Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-11
1aitp Nennebef yournal.
CHINESE SPORT.

Herds ofpigs roam wild in the Jungle,
the peats of the Chinese squatters, whose
sweet potatoes and other produce they
rayenonsiy devour They afford good
snort to Europeans. | once went out pig
shooting with party, to spend the night
in the Jungle. We put up at small watch
house, one OF many such which are elevat-
ed in the jungle, standing on posts OF bam-
boo, about ten feet from the ground, and
with platform or flooring not more than
six feet square above is q matched roof OF
palm leaves. We were party OF four,
one of us an American gentleman, the fin
est shot in the States-or supposed to be
by many. Having proceeded to clear
ing close to the Jungle, we entered on the
business of lying in wait-a ceremony by
no means the most enjoyable among those
incident to the sport.
These wild pigs feed in herds by night !;
so we spread a store OF pineapples on the
ground, and then, with such patience as
we could master we tarried to see what
fortune would send us. Our clothes were
of the thinnest; the singing ants never
tired of their attacks; while the blood
thirsty mosquitoes, buzzing about cur
heads and driving into our ears, support
ed the invading armies OF ants by light IN
cursions, which harred our necks and
heads SO that it became most difficult to
maintain the silence essential to the sue
cess of our expedition. AT length alter
these protracted hours of weary watching
and unreproachful agony, we heard the
distant snorts and grunts that heralded
the approach of the swine. As turtle to
aldermen, SO are dainty pineapples to
these denizens of the jungle. They had
got scent of our bait. and were moving in
our direction. They came on but not in
cautiously.
Now they come on in bristling phalanx,
and snort for the encounter, and now they
gruut signal to halt. Swift and agile |
already knew them to be, but now, too,
discovered in them such a happy combi-
nation of prudence and boldness that
thought if undomesticated pigs could but
overcome their greediness they might
rank among the noblest creatures OF the
forest. But, alas in this case as in too
many instances of the past. the prospect Of
a rich feast was a temptation too great Tor
their grovelling nature. On they came.
crushing towards US. through the jungle
in front. We grasped our rifles SO as TO
sweep the clearing, and awaited the
charge OF the foe but. unhapplly, prefer
ring American to English institutions, they
swept suddenly round to the field com
nanded by the doughty sportsman from
the United States.
Then a rifle report, a yelling, and a
grunting, followed by the hasty patterlng
OF the feet OF enemies, as they turned theiI
trotters in full flight. and 10! when we
hurried to the spot, expecting to find al
least one victim to the trusty weapon o.
our friend, we, to our dismay. discovered
him seated on the ground nursing one lee
and threatening, in most unparliamentary
language, BabOo, his native servant. who
laughed and lurked behind a tree. 1t ap
peared that the leader Of the herd, huge
hog, had charged our friend before he
could take aim, and run through between
his legs, and toppled him over in the &C
of firing, and carried his followers int
the jungle unscratched.
Disappointed, but not discouraged, W.
determined to keep watch, in the hope
that The pigs would return. So we ixe'
Baboo, as sentinel on the bamboo lad
der Of the hut. in such a way that he woulI
not tall off it If he went to sleep, and theI
ourselves retired to rest When we awokt
the hot sun was shining brightly. Babo'
coiled round the ladder like snake, wa
still fast asleep, and the pigs, undisturbe,
had Toasted upon the pineapples beneatl
our feet.