The Newtown bee., 1880-11-03
Pig.Sticking in India.

For pig-sticking there are two re- aulsitts in addition 10 the pig-a fast, steeov horse. and a good hog. spear. The Nugger Hunt spear-head, which is now generally used in India, is shapeu some W hat like myrtle leaf, with lorg slight curves from point to shank, SO that it can be easily withdrawn, as well as easily driven home. A four edged spear head is also sometimes used, but as it is difficult to sharpen, it is not much liked. Of course the spear head is made of the best quality of steel, and its edges ought to be sharp enough to shave with, in case any lunatic should desire to put 1t to such use.
 The spear shaft is a stout male bam- Eoo about nine feet long, with the butt vcighed with lead so as to balance the w,igh of the spear-head. The veteran pin sliCkCr is particular to have bis bs,mhoo cut at night, and at the time Of the new moon: in which case 1t IS his belief that it will not yield to dry rot. Tbis is native superstition, and perhaps strikes an Englishman, whose sisters make a point to cut their hair only at She change of tile moon, as q rather respectable superstition which it can do no harm to adopt.
 Armed with this weapon, and well
 
 times alone, but usually with gay company of pig sticking brother officers, and halts on the border of the jungle while the native beaters drive the ln- habitants of the jungle down toward the hunters. The master of tho hunt posts the sportsmen here and there in pairs, so that each hunter has an especial rival, against whom he is pitted. and whom he must, if possible, forestall in spearing the hog. When the line of spearmen is in readiness the beaters advance, usually with shouts and the beating of tom-toms. Presently one of them sounds horn, and the hunters then know that the game has been started. A little later, and out from the jungle marches the '' sounder," led by the patriarchal boar. When the master of the hunt considers that the game has had fair start in advance of she hunters, he sounds bis bugle, and the horsemen. with poised spears, bear down upon the devoted boar, which bounds away with aspeed more worthy of an antelope than pig.
 The one great secret of success in pig sticking is to ride straight after the pig with all the speed that your horse can muster. The pig must be blown ," within the first two miles, or else he
 
 known as "getting his second wind" in which case the chances are that he will outrun the horse, and squeak de- gision at the baffied hunter. ButEto ride straight after a flying pig over a rrass- s-grown Indian plain requires cour- age as we'll as skillful horsemanshlp. There are several small animals whose delight it is to make pitfalls in the gcound large enough to receive horses hoof. When n horse is thus shared, his eg usually breaks, and his rider, after a brief trip through the air, tries the ex- pertinent of viewing the landscape Tn an upside-down position. Then there are frequent nullabs, or sunken water courses, which the hunter does not dis cover until he is on their very brink If the nullah can be leaped, the hunt goes on without interruption. If. how ever, it is too wide, the rider dismounts and leads his horse through it. The dismounting is very simple operation : aud the horse, if he is well trained, and has saved himself from plunging into the nullah, expresses no surprise when his master has slid over his neck, but waits quietly until the latter has picked the pebbles from his face and is ready to remount. Meanwhile the pig. with grunts of sarcastic joy. has put halt Q uitC bttWtSA iiiluScli tui hio puiSucly ' and is mentally prepared to offer odds that he will finally escape.
 When riding. the pig-sticker carries his spear with the butt down, and the point well forward in line with his horse'e cars. When closing with the pig, he aims to reach his left side, so as to use the right arm freely. The pig is to be struck immediately behind the shoulder. SO that the spear will pass through his lungs and out at tue breast. The rush of the horse drives the spear home, and sudden wheel to the left withdraws it, and leaves the hunter ready to receive a charge in case the wound Is not immediately mortal. If the pig does charge. he is received on the point of the spear, and permitted to insert as much of it into his interiof as his ferocious temper demands. A good pig-sticker nearly always kills the game at tho first blow, and novice who is charged by a powerful boar incurs great danger, unless he is thoroughly cool and self-possessed- - Harper's Aaga- cine.