The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-05-11
THREE DAYS SPORT IN SAMOA,

The recent abortive attempt Of Colonel
Steinberger to establish over the Samoan
Islands an American protectorate has
attracted much attention to this charm
ing group, of which SO little has been
known.
Mr.. w. I. Pritchard, for many years
British Consul at Samoa, has written
very interesting account of his ex-
periences, and from thence we take the
following amusing description of ahunt
in the island Of Upolu: There is not
much variety for the sportsman in Samoa,
the only animal which gives any real ex-
citement in the chase being the wild
boar. Herds of wild pigs are found all
through the bush the natives frequently
organize hunting parties, more for the
sake of the meat-though dreadfully
tough itis at best-than for the sport.
Occasionally joining these parties, |
have witnessed and shared in some
rather hard fights with the thick, tough
skinned boars, which always stand at
bay with the dogs, while the sows and
their htters make off, The first regular
hunt had was With the chief Tui-o-le-
Manga, accompanied by twenty-five of
his young men, and ten dogs trained TO
plg-nuntlng Eacn man carried long
knife and tomahawk, and few had
spears as we'll the chief had his musket,
and l my rifle. At four O'Clock IN the
morning we started from Magia, a little
village belonging to myself, aud after a
three hours walk through tangled
bushes, across marshes, and up the
slippery SIDES OF the mountain, We
reached the summit OF Iafua Upoiu, the
ioftiest peak OF that part OF the island.
Selecting spot for our rendezvous, IN
case of becoming separated, three of the
party were detailed to build hut, shoot
pigeons, gather wild breadfruit, dig wlid
yams, CLIMB Tor cocoa-nuts, and nave
everything ready ior our return IN tne
evening. Inc rest were DIVIDED INTO Two
parties, one under the CHIEF, the otner
led BY me.
Tracks" were soon found where pigs
had been roofing about, and away went
the dogs on the scent. These dogs are
the ugliest ours Imaginable, but their in
stlnct In pig-hunting stands them In
good stead Tor their miserable appear
ance. In less than halt an hour their
peculiar, shrill, yelping bark told us the
herd was found, and when | came up
with them, two lads of the chiefs party
were tying the legs of the young boar,
which they had caught by running
down with three of the best dogs.
The chief had taken up position to
shoot monster boar that the dogs kept
at bay. From tree to tree he jumped,
making his way as near to the animal as
he could, and watching his chance to
shoot without injuring the dogs. The
boar caught sight of him, and prepared
to run; the chief fired and missed
brought him to with ball in the fore
shoulder, thinking the damage of his leg
| if the bail did not reach his heart, would
efsctually disable him. But no; the
beast received the shot, then made
| straight for me before had time to re
load. The only thing could do was Il
drop my rifle, make spring right owe
his head on to his back, and go right owe
him-leap-frog. in fact-and get behinS
the nearest large tree, for his ugly tusks
some six inches long, would have mad
mincemeat of ones leg in no time.
The chief had now reloaded, but be
. fore he could bring his piece to the fire
the boar made charge at him, which b
, baff1ed by dodging behind a tree, an,
the beast few past, giving me the chanc
to recover my rife. Once more the dog
\