The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-02
DAYS PIGSTICKING In INDIA
LIVELY SPORT WITH HORSE AND
SPEAR.


How the Hunt In Arranged Fight with q
WOunded Boar and . Marrow Escape
for Horse and Rider Following the
POrclne Quarry Through q Grass Fire.
Give me the best days fox hunting, and
I'd sooner have il than the best days pig
sticking; but, on the other hand, give me
ten days in an Indian jungle in daily pursuit
Of the pig and l wouldn't exchange them
for three weeks Of the best fox hunting.
Now. what is it that makes one look back
on a season's pig sticking with such glorious
reoolleOtOns1 The surroundings, the free
life. the CHEEKY party. the feeling Of being
far away from civilization, added to the
exGtement and danger OF each days sport.
In order. however, to fully appreciate
what Ia meant by this, you must let your
IMAGINATION follow mine, while l stir up q
few reoollections Of an Indian summer.
writes Major T. T. Pitman in Forest and
Stream.
The station L. Meerut, n Of the best pig
sticking centres in India The month is
March, the cold weather nearly over with
It's res and camps OF exercise
IL is time to sharpen n spears and get
together q few horses for the coming hot
weather.
A notice Is sent round cantonments sum-
moninR the members OF the tent club to a
meeting TO discuss the programme Of the
season. Some twenty odd win al up, the
majority Officers Of the garrison, with a
spinkIing Of civilians.
IL is the evening before the opening meet;
the bead man Of the village sits crosslegged
beneath the shadow Of a big tree, watch
ing the dusty road. The day has been
marked by the passing OF many a bullock
wagon, carrying all tbs paraphernaia Of a
camp, woes leading horses Of all classes
the Is hand Arab, the water from Australia,
the Indian country bred. The weazened
up old vtllager knows thai the season nas
his country In pursuit Of h soor GiG. As
the sun goes down there is ajingle, Jingle,
and a string of eckas, the light cart OF the
country, 20 past carrying the bearers and
light kit, followed half an hour later by the
Sahiba themselves some ndinE some in
pony traps, all laughing and talking, eager
at the prospect OF what the morrow may
bring forth. The old man merely ohangee
the croes OF his legs and takes another pull
at his hubble bubble.
We zee a group OF sahlbs sitting o a
campfire. In the background a row Of
tents, pitched under a grove OF trees, stand
out white In the brilliant moonlight. The
oldest member OF the party In holding forth
IN words that ave lost m of their COLOR
by a years keeping. The new hands sit
op~en-mouthed, taking In the tales being
told Of hairbreadth escapes and the savage
nature OF the mighty
And 30 the night wears on apaoe and IL IL
time to turn in; after a walk around the
horses to see that all is secure, one by one
the lights in the tents go out. A few natives
remain suuattinR around the dying embers,
RibberfnE Hindustani until they drA "
upon themselves the angry words Of some
sleepless sahib from within, when they,
too, turn in and all Is quiet, ave for the
occasional ~neighing OF an Arab pony or
the s~creeohing Of a night owl, with the half
hourly coughing Mt OF the chokldar-the
native Waterman.
Il seems but a few hours since one turned
In, and now the bearer has lighted a candle
and Is busy arranging the clothes at the
foot Of the bed. There IL a general stir
In camp. Syces are jabbering by the dozen,
khihmaEars arp bury over cracking fires,
No time to lose, for the first streaks Of da " n
are appearing on the horizon. A rapid
toilet, and chota hs7ri Qittle breakfast),
We are In the saddle and moving out OF
camp.
Lutchman, the old shikagi Of thirty sea-
sons, is standing on tho top Of an elephant,
trying 70 get the coolies into line in the
Jungle TO be ready for the sahibs when they
come. One or two Of the late riserB gallop
up at the last moment, and the line move
on. We muster twelve spears all told,
and form three groups OF -four in front OF a
line Of heaters about 200 yards long. For
half an hour We ride silently along and are
lust beri II min : to wonder whether there IL a
pig In the district when suddenly resounds