The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-05-04

A Mss|'a
"PIG-STICKING"
ADVENTURE.
By Capt.
Harry Grover.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. y
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MY IN F all the many different va
5@1g rieties of sport in India
none can compare with
-OL boar hunting-or ''pig-stick-
u@0 ISM ing" as it is there more
generally termed-for excitement, and
that most alluring of all elements of
sport, a certain amount Of risk which
all who participate know they will
have to run.
have had more than one dangerous
adventure with wild elephants, tigers
and bears, but never have been in
such real peril as I was on the first oc-
casion that I tried my hand at pig
sticking. Those who have never seen
a wild boar when brought to bay
wounded cannot possibly form any con-
ception Of what dangerous, vindic-
tive and formidable animal it is.
On one occasion party of three of
Us started from Barrackpoor. large
military cantonment near Calcutta, on
pig-sicking expedition. We were all
mounted on Arab steeds, which were
thoroughly trained to the sport, and
which had withstood many charge
from an infuriated boar. This trip had
been planned some days previously,
and our servants and beaters had been
sent on ahead of US. When we reached
the rendezvous, a few miles out of
Barrackpoor, we found our comrades
anxiously awaiting our arrival, with
the intelligence Of several wild boars
having been seen to enter a patch Of
jungle about mile distant from where
our camp was pitched.
We made all our preparations, looked
to the tightening Of our saddle girths.
and with our spears in hand we at
once set off, followed by our beaters.
They had hardly entered the patch Of
jungle and commenced to beat when
out rushed huge boar, one Of the
largest we had ever seen. Ny horse
was young and frantic with excite
ment, and it was with difficulty that I
could hold him. But it was not the
first time had ridden after boars, and
at last I managed to bring him into
something like control. My two COM
panions, Austin and Staples, were close
behind me, and we soon closed on the
boar, with such even advantage that
it would have been almost impossible
to say who led. For 200 or 300 yards
we raced together, each with an eye on
the boar, but every now and then glanc-
ing round at each other, the great OBJ
ject being to secure the 'frst spear
that is. to be the first to draw blood
from the boar.
It is not always the first rider that
secures the first spear, though, Of
course, the lead gives great advan-
tage, and for that reason there is al
ways a great struggle for it.
The boar was but few lengths
ahead of US, showing evident signs
that the pace was beginning to tell
upon him, and just then drew little
LII
gallant nag, answering to the spurs.
with my spear extended far in front,
tried to stick the boar. But at that
very moment he gave sharp turn, and
my horse dashing past lost my oppor-
tunity. Austin, who was close behind,
took advantage Of the sudden turn, and
wheeling his horse round met the boar
and succeeded in touching him, calling
out, First spear!'
The boar now made another sharp
turn, and it was all that Staples could
do to avoid the charge Of the maddened
brute, which now ran behind a low
hedge and hugged it so close as to rem
der it difficult for us to get him out.
Determined that he should come out
into the open, I came up alongside OF
him and drove my spear deep into MS
side as he made a sudden half turn
and tried to charge. My horse swerved
q little, but he behaved nobly, and
withdrawing my spear I was soon
ready again for action.
Wheeling round met Austin, who
had just received charge from the
boar. and a serious broadside collision
took place between us. Both Of us
were shaken in our seats, and Aus
tins horse nearly fell, but we managed
to pull ourselves and our nags together
and the attack was renewed.
BY this time Staples, who had been
in the rear, and had not as yet Joined
the fray, came up, and' together We
forced the boar down into the dry bed
Of nullah, into which it plunged, and