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SKILL AT BOAR HUNTING · - THE VISIT TO BHURTPOOR

THE RUINS OF FUTTEH POOR

AGRA THE TAJ - THE

MAUSOLEUM

SIKRA- ARRIVAL AT GENERAL EFFECT OF THE

INSIDE THE PALACE AN ENTERTAIN

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The jungles of Jeypoor are famous for their abundance of wild beasts. Colonel Grant, who had had some experience in hunting on our great Western plains, became anxious to try his skill here, and it was not long before an opportunity presented itself. The hunt and its attendant circumstances are thus described: An officer of the Maharajah's household, the principal hunter, and famous among the hunters in India, waited upon us at the British residency, and said that at six next morning he would be ready to accompany any of us to the jungle who cared to go, and would direct the hunt. The Doctor was disposed to volunteer, and if the General himself had not been under engagements which he could not put aside, I think he would have ventured out, if for no other reason than to have a good stiff ride in the jungle. Mr. Borie preferred to remain with the General, and the Colonel alone of the party went into the hunt. At six, our party left the residency, and drove out in the cool of the morning for six or seven miles. When they came to the jungle, horses were in readiness, with bullock-carts, and a swarm of attendants. The Colonel had had his own share of hunting on the frontiers, and as a cavalryman had a good eye and a good

seat. There were fire-arms along, to meet any other animal that might venture upon them. Not unfrequently, when looking for a pig, you may stumble upon a tiger or a panther or a bear, when the conditions of the hunt change.

Our party were prepared for such an emergency, but it did not come. When they came to the ground, they mounted. The Colonel rode with the chief sportsmen and an interpreter. There were sixteen horsemen, two camels, two bullock-carts, and beaters on foot. The chief was a fine, comely, lithe young man, who rode a horse like an Indian, with a keen, piercing eye, who looked upon the jungle as upon home, and knew every feature of it. He wore a padded gown or riding-coat, which looks like one of our comfortable morning wrappers, made of calico, and over this a flowing silk or brocaded tunic as a mark of his rank. When you go on the hunting-ground, the party divide, at distances far enough apart to cover a mile of the jungle. There are beaters on foot, who go into the grass and beat the game towards you, making loud noises. If you pass a sow or her young, you keep on, allowing them to root at peace or scamper away. If a boar is seen, the signal is given, either by a whistle or a call, sometimes by firing a pistol. Some of the beaters have pistols, so that if the boar should make a break and try to escape, they can fire a blank shot, and turn him. The boar will turn at the noise and the flash; but if the boar is in distance, you gather your reins, brace yourself in your saddle, take your spear, and run at full speed. The boar always seeks flight. If at all in condition, he will go at a pace which no horse can keep. But this does not last long. The first burst over, and you gain on him. In time you ride him down, and, as you pass, you drive the spear into his flanks, or, if you can, into his back, so as to sever his spine. But this is not often done. The law of the chase is that the

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first stroke of the spear gives you the right to the trophy. You wound the boar, severely perhaps. Your spear is wrenched from your hand, is broken by the boar, who will snap the iron blade as easily as a stalk of cane. Even when wounded the boar will keep his flight. You pursue him, and again spear him, sometimes again and again. The animal, faint from the running, from the loss of blood from the wounds, comes to bay, stops and turns. Then comes the real interest of the chase. He turns to bay, and makes a rush. Well for the horseman who cannot only keep his seat, but so guide his horse that the boar will not plunge his tusk into his animal's flanks, and rip him open. The Colonel, when he ran down his first boar, drove the spear. It was hastily, perhaps awkwardly, done, and the boar snapped off the blade.. charged the Colonel's horse. boar simply touching the Another horseman was not so fortunate, as the animal drove his tusk into its flank, and made an ugly gash. Another spear was given the Colonel, who again speared the boar, and this time more effectively, for the animal turned over and died.

When the boar turned it

He avoided the charge, the Colonel's foot as he passed.

One pig is not a bad day's sport, but the morning was not far gone, and the Colonel felt that the spearing on his part had not been well done. It was his first trial, however, and he would have been pardoned if he had come home content with his trophy. So the hunt went on. In a short time another boar was found, and the Colonel charged it. This time the battle was in the Colonel's own hands. He had seen how the director of the hunt managed his business, and the result was a triumph. Riding the boar out of his swift pace he drove the spear. When the animal turned he faced and fought. Another horse in this charge, ridden by an attendant, was wounded, the

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