A WILD PIG HUNT IN WESTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2400, 1 March 1900, Page 60

A WILD PIG HUNT IN WESTRALIA.

Doubtless there are many persons who will be surprised to read of pig-hunting m Australia, and especially when it is in connection Avith the Avestern division of that great island-continent. Throughout her - sister colonies Western Australia is known under the sobriquet of the " land of the five s's." Why? Because *'S" is the initial letter of Sin, Sand, Soxtoav, Sore Eyes , and Sir John Forest. -I niay explain that Sir John is the premier, and,.aboA-e all, a native- of the colony • for these reasons he is regarded as being quite a curiosity, altogether out of the usual run of " sand■groppers," by which name Westralians are known through the length and breadth of the continent. HoAvever, in spite of the disagreeable flavour which its nickname imparts to the country, there is a no inconsiderable amount of fun and sport to be obtained Avithin its vast area of upwards of 975,800 square miles, and, in my opinion, for excitement and danger, a pig hunt Avell holds its own against the more popular kangaroo chase. In the Murray district, in which the hunt •I intend to describe took place, the land is very fertile, being one of the chief agricultxiral areas of the colony, and possessing everything in the way of pools of water and roots to gladden the "porker's' heart. The pig is not indigenous to the Australian colonies, and the Avild droves that noAV infest such districts as the Murray are purely the progeny of a feAV domesticated animals which the* early settlers imported to the country and let loose to shift for themselves in the bush, not having sufficient space on their homesteads to permit them keeping too many in captivity. Freedom, extending over 50 years, has instilled into the pigs similar qualities to those possessed by the same class of animals that formerly inhabited Britain, and are still plentiful in many of the forests of Europe. In the wild state they differ very little from those under domestication ; the hair is thicker, and, in the ' males, the canine teeth are very large, constituting formidable tusks, Avhioh are used as a means of defence. The chase of the bo<vr has always beer a favourite 'sport. Formerly the animal a> 0 slain Avilh a spear or lance, but at the pre-ont day the rifle is more generally employed. There were only three of us who started from the homestfad in Pinjarrah, and Aye ■were accompanied by the same number of dogs, all well accustomed to Ihe work which lay before them. Our horses, too, were by no means fresh to the sport, and their training was such that fchey would allow their riders,

if necessary, to fire from the saddle Avithout showing any more signs of nervousness cian artillery horses in action. In addition to our Winchester rifles, Aye each carried a strong lasso, and, of course, a hunting knife. When Aye had gone sufficiently "out back," or beyond the limits of the settlers' fencing, we separated, each taking a dog and agreeing to keep in "coo-ec," by which I mean within call, of one another. Proceeding along in this fashion, Aye pushed our Avay through the dense bush, the dogs always on ahead, endeavouring to obtain a scent of game, AA r hilst Aye noAV and then in turn gave a soft cry, so as to keep in touch.

As Aye were approaching a small river, the huntsman on the extreme right gaA'e a* call, by the tone of Avhich I knew he had come across game, and, shaking my reins, I set off in his direction at a pace Avhich can only be attained by constant practice in riding through the bush. First bending on one and then on the other side of the saddle so as to avoid loav or hanging branches of trees, and at time leaning doAvn to the level of my horse's neck, 1 alloAved the .animal to gallop along on its_ oavii account, and merely looked after my own safety, which, at the rate Aye Avers going, AA r as quite sufficient to" giA r e me all the employment I could Avish. My dog had rushed off to join the others immediately the shrill coo-ec Avas heard echoing its Avay through the tree*, and I kneAv it Avouid not be long before the intelligent creature would give tongue in order to guide me more directly to the scene of action. Such Avas the ease ; in a feAV minutes 1 heard the excited \.c-£3, and urging my horse to even greater speed, dashed up only a second or tAvo behind the man, Avhose place had been in the centre of our little line. The quarry Avas indeed a splendid brute — a boar, and the largest I have seen. The dogs had driven him into a small and comparatively clear space, and as he stood at bay Avith his head slightly inclined to the ground, displaying a fine pair of tusks, Aye could see he Avas not going to surrender his liberty Avithout a struggle. At a word, the dogs closed in, and one, more venturesome than its felloAvs, made a dash for an ear, but Avas not successful, only saving itself from a bad gash from the animal's tusks by its adroitness.

After this attack the boar turned and dashed off into the bush, hotly pursued by the dogs, and closely followed by us. Once more Aye headed the animal off, driving him back toAvards the river. By this time, his blood being thoroughly aroused, he Avas capable of committing any mischief, and it Avas not long before ha charged the nearest horseman, Avho only just managed to escape having his horse's legs injured. Again the dogs attacked, but on account of the constant rushes of the brute, they seemed unable to close, until at length one of them, by executing a skilful flank movement, succeeded in obtaining a good hold of an ear. Then ensued a contest the like of which is seldom seen. Over and over On the ground rolled the boar and his three enemies, the fight raging furiously amid the yelps and barks of the dogs and the squeals of the unfortunate victim. At last, Avith an Herculean effort, Jhe dogs Avere thrown off, and aAvuy Avent the boar, but in his terror he headed for the river, the AA'hole time being followed and worried by his panting tormentors. When he discovered his mibtake he once again turned, and, facing his enemies, prepared to make another stand. But the dogs iioav Avere not quite so eager to attack, and the pig, evidently perceiving this, charged, and would have reached the bush again but for us horsemen , wh> intercepted the Aray. Thus baffled, the animal took refuge in the hollow trunk of a large tree which happened to be at hand, and from this citadel eyed his enemies Avith great fierceness.

After a short consultation we determined to capture the plucky beast alive, and take him to the homestead. On the other side of the rivei there avus a small stone hut which had been used in the early days as a shepherd's slieltex-. . We proposed to get

the pig across the stream, and, placing him in the hut, leave one of our party with a dog to imount guard whilst the other two returned to the farm to fetch a dray in which to cart the animal to its new quarters. As anyone can imagine, we had no easy task before us. First we had to ca-p-ture the boar, and then take him across the stream, which was deep, and at the time "running a banker" owing to a recent heavy downfall of rain. One of the party, climbing the tree, reached a limb from which he could use his, lap&o, and, having widened the noose, let it down until it hung in front of the entrance to the hollow in a\ liich the boar had taken refuge. A second man. having also dismounted, cut and bored a hole through the back of the hollow trunk large enough to insert a pointed stick with which to prod the animal out at the proper moment. Everything being rendy, I rode to a short distance in front of the tree, .keeping my rifle handy instant use in the event of anything going wrong, seeing that my two ' companions were dismounted, and their horses, therefore, standing riderless. Then, calling the dogs away from watching their foe, I signalled to my i'ellow huntsmen to commence operations.

It was not long before the boar felt the irritating prods of the .stick, and no doubt would have dashed madly from his place of refuge but for seeing the dogs and me only a short distance away. As it was, he came out quietly, just in the manner we wished, and in so doing put his head into the noose, which was immediately drawn tight. Naturally the animal struggled "violently, but with the assistance of two dogs, who held an ear apiece, we managed .to bind his mouth and fasten his legs together in such a manner as to enable him to use them freely, but at the same time to have him under complete control. We then fastened a lasso round his snout, and by cutting another in half and fastening a piece to each of his hind legs, there were ends for

the three of us. Mounting, the one Avith the impromptu leading-rein led the Avay, Avhilst the others brought up the reaz, holding the ropes which were attached to the animal's hind legs. After a great creal of barking and an occasional nip, the dogs persuaded the beast to proceed, and Are Avent along sloAvly until the Avater appeared, Avhen quite a little scrimmage took place. HoAveA-er, the leading horse and rider having entered the Avater, the pig was obliged to folloAV, the ropes round the legs, of course, being held slack so as to enable the animal to keep itself afloat. Fortunately the stream, though running high, Avas not very Avide, and by the time the first horse and its rider Avere preparing to leave the tAvo at the rear had only just entered the Avater. The sight of three horsemen SAvimming across a river together Avith their horses and dogs, and with a large captive Avild pig in their centre, Avouid have been quite a unique sight for anyone Avho might have been looking on.

In this manner we coirveyed our captive to the other side of the stream, and, after allowing him a feAV minutes in Avhich to rest, he seemed little the worse for his experience. The. short distance betAveen the bank and the hut Avas soon coA*ered, and having bound the animal's legs securely, Aye placed him inside and barricaded the entrance with some large stones. The man who Avas lo remain on Avatch first unsaddled his horse, and then proceeded to take off some of his clothes so as to dry them as Avell as circumstances*' would permit, Avhilst the other tAvo galloped off to the homestead to bring out a light dray. It being the shorter route, Aye re-crossed the stream, and one can Avell imagine the appearance avo presented on arriving at the farm. Whilst one of the haifds prepared the cart, we donned some dry clothes, and having feen that the necessary tackle for lifting the boar into the dray was ready, Aye once again set out. On reaching the hut Aye found our companion squatting in front of a fire, Avhich he had lighted Avith some matches thoughtfully placed in his hat before crossing the river.

The transport of our capture avcis effected Avilh little difficulty, but being obliged to folloAV a roundpbout track on our return journey, it Avas late in the afternoon before Aye reached our destination. Immediately on arrival Aye attended to the animal's ears, Avhich had been severely torn by the dogs in the struggles which had taken place, and after that let the boar loose in a &ty Avhich had been specially made for any wild pigs Avhich might be captured. On every hand it Avas agreed that our boar was one of the largest that had ever been seen, much less captured alive, in the district, and so Aye had every reason to be satisfied Avilh the result of our feAV hours' sport. — S. A. KISCH, in the Field.