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That done； place the foot…gin deep enough to be just even with the surface
of the soil；＇28＇ and round the circle of the crown the cord…noose。 The cord
itself and wooden clog must now be lowered into their respective places。
Which done； place on the crown some rods of spindle…tree；＇29＇ but not so
as to stick out beyond the outer rim； and above these again light leaves；
such as the season may provide。 After this put a final coating of earth upon
the leaves； in the first place the surface soil from the holes just dug； and
atop of that some unbroken solid earth from a distance； so that the lie of
the trap may be as much as possible unnoticed by the deer。 Any earth left
over should be carried to a distance from the gin。 The mere smell of the
newly…turned…up soil will suffice to make the animal suspicious；＇30＇ and
smell it readily she will。
＇27＇ Or； 〃remove a mass of soil to the depth of five palms so as to
form a circular hole corresponding in size with the rim above…
named。〃
＇28＇ Or； 〃like a door over the cavity； somewhat below the surface；
flatwise〃； i。e。 〃in a horizontal position。〃
＇29＇ So literally； but really Carthamus creticus； a thistle…like plant
used for making spindles （Sprengel ap。 L。 & S。）； the Euonymous
europaeus being our spindle…tree。 Aristot。 〃H。 A。〃 ix。 40； 49； Theocr。
iv。 52。
＇30＇ Lit。 〃if she once sniffs the new…turned soil the deer grows shy；
and that she will quickly do。〃 See Plat。 〃Laws；〃 933 A； 〃Phaedr。〃 242
C； 〃Mem。〃 II。 i。 4。
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The hunter should take his hounds and inspect the traps upon the
mountains； early in the morning if possible； though he should do so also
during the day at other times。 Those set on cultivated land must always be
inspected early； before the sun is up in fact；＇31＇ and for this reason： on the
hills； so desert is the region；＇32＇ the creatures may be caught not only at
night but at any time of day； while； on the cultivated lands； owing to their
chronic apprehension of mankind in daytime； night is the only time。＇33＇
＇31＇ 〃Before the sun is up。〃
＇32＇ Or； 〃thanks to the lonesomeness of the region。〃
＇33＇ 〃It is night or never； owing to the dread of man which haunts the
creature's mind during daytime。〃
As soon as the huntsman finds a gin uprooted he will let slip his
hounds and with cheery encouragement＇34＇ follow along the wake of the
wooden clog； with a keen eye to the direction of its march。 That for the
most part will be plain enough； since stones will be displaced； and the
furrow which the clog makes as it trails along will be conspicuous on
tilled ground； or if the deer should strike across rough ground； the rocks
will show pieces of bark torn from the clog； and the chase will
consequently be all the easier。＇35＇
＇34＇ See vi。 20； 〃with view…halloo。〃
＇35＇ Or； 〃along that track will not be difficult。〃
Should the deer have been caught by one of its fore…feet it will soon be
taken； because in the act of running it will beat and batter its own face and
body； if by the hind…leg； the clog comes trailing along and must needs
impede the action of every limb。 Sometimes； too； as it is whirled along it
will come in contact with the forked branches of some tree； and then
unless the animal can snap the rope in twain； she is fairly caught； there
ends the chase。 But even so； if caught in this way or overdone with fatigue；
it were well not to come too close the quarry； should it chance to be a stag；
or he will lunge out with his antlers and his feet； better therefore let fly
your javelins from a distance。
These animals may also be captured without aid of gin or caltrop； by
sheer coursing in hot summer time； they get so tired； they will stand still to
be shot down。 If hard pressed they will plunge into the sea or take to water
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The Sportsman
of any sort in their perplexity； and at times will drop down from sheer
want of breath。＇36＇
＇36＇ 〃From mere shortness of breath。〃
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X
To cope with the wild boar the huntsman needs to have a variety of
dogs； Indian； Cretan； Locrian； and Laconian；＇1＇ along with a stock of nets；
javelins； boar…spears； and foot…traps。
＇1＇ For these breeds see Pollux； v。 37： for the Laconian； Pind。 〃Fr。〃
73； Soph。 〃Aj。〃 8； cf。 Shakesp。 〃Mids。 N。 D。〃 iv。 1。 119； 129 foll。
To begin with； the hounds must be no ordinary specimens of the
species named；＇2＇ in order to do battle with the beast in question。
＇2＇ Or； 〃these hounds of the breed named must not be any ordinary
specimens〃； but what does Xenophon mean by ｛ek toutou tou genous｝？
The nets should be made of the same flaxen cord＇3＇ as those for hares
above described。 They should be forty…five threaded in three strands； each
strand consisting of fifteen threads。 The height from the upper rim＇4＇ （i。e。
from top to bottom） should be ten meshes； and the depth of the nooses or
pockets one elbow…length （say fifteen inches）。＇5＇ The ropes running round
the net should be half as thick again as the cords of the net； and at the
extremities＇6＇ they should be fitted with rings； and should be inserted （in
and out） under the nooses； with the end passing out through the rings。
Fifteen nets will be sufficient。＇7＇
＇3＇ i。e。 〃of Phasian or Cathaginian fine flax。〃
＇4＇ ｛tou koruphaiou｝。
＇5＇ ｛pugon｝。 The distance from the elbow to the first joint of the
finger = 20 ｛daktuloi｝ = 5 ｛palaistai｝ = 1 1/4 ft。 ＋ （L。 & S。）
＇6＇ ｛ep akrois｝。 Cf。 ｛akreleniois｝。
＇7＇ Reading ｛ikanai｝； vid。 Lenz ad loc。 and ii。 4。
The javelins should be of all sorts；＇8＇ having blades of a good breadth
and razor…sharpness； and stout shafts。
＇8＇ Al。 〃of various material。〃 See Pollux； v。 20 ap。 Schneid。
The boar…spears should in the first place have blades fifteen inches
long； and in the middle of the socket two solid projecting teeth of wrought
metal；＇9＇ and shafts of cornel…wood a spear…shaft's thickness。
＇9＇ Wrought of copper （or bronze）。
The foot…traps should resemble those used for deer。
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These hunts should be conducted not singly；＇10＇ but in parties； since
the wild boar can be captured only by the collective energy of several men；
and that not easily。
＇10＇ Lit。 〃There should be a band of huntsmen〃； or； 〃It will take the
united energies of several to capture this game。〃 See Hom。 〃Il。〃 ix。
543； of the Calydonian boar：
｛ton d' uios Oineos apekteinen Meleagros； polleon ek polion theretoras
andras ageiras kai kunas 。 ou men gar k' edame pauroisi brotoisin tossos
een； pollous de pures epebes' alegeines。｝
〃But him slew Meleagros the son of Oineus； having gathered
together from many cities huntsmen and hounds； for not of few men
could the boar be slain； so mighty was he； and many an one brought
he to the grievous pyre〃 （W。 Leaf）。
I will now explain how each part of the gear is to be used in hunting。
The company being come to some place where a boar is thought to lie；
the first step is to bring up the pack；＇11＇ which done； they will loose a
single Laconian bitch； and keeping the rest in leash； beat about with this
one hound。＇12＇ As soon as she has got on the boar's track； let them follow
in order； one after another； close on the tracking hound； who gives the lead
to the whole company。＇13＇ Even to the huntsmen themselves many a mark
of the creature will be plain； such as his footprints on soft portions of the
ground； and in the thick undergrowth of forests broken twigs； and； where
there are single trees； the scars made by his tusks。＇14＇ As she follows up
the trail th