3 24 On the Manner of Hunting and Sporting 



cularly the white ftork or paddy bird,) when pounced at by 

 . the hawks, and the little foxes, when hard prelTed by the 

 dogs, often fly for fhelter and proteflion. In general, how- 

 ever, the ladies do not rife betimes, nor (lir out till the hour 

 of airing. 



The weapons in ufe on thefe expeditions are, fowling- 

 pieces, horfe pidols, light lances or pikes, and heavy fpears 

 or javelins ; and every perlbn has, befides, a fervant armed 

 with a Icyniitar or fabre, and a rifle with a bayonet, carrying 

 a two-ounce ball, in the event of meeting with tigers, hyae- 

 nas, bears, or wild buflaloes. Some of the ladies (like Tha- 

 leftris or Hypolita, quite in the Diana ftyle,) carry light bows 

 and quivers to amuie themfelves with the leffer game. 



The dogs are, pointers, fpaniels, Perfian and European 

 greyhounds, and ilrong ferocious lurchers. Near Calcutta a 

 few gentlemen keep EngliOi hounds j but their fcent quickly 

 fades, and they foon degenerate. 



But the liveliell: fport is exhibited when all the horfemen, 

 elephants, fervants^ guard, and hired villagers, are alfembled 

 and arranged in one even row, with fmall white flags (as 

 being feen furtheft; hoi (led pretty high at certain diftances, 

 in order to prevent one part of the rank from advancing be- 

 fore the reft. Proceeding in this manner, in a regular and 

 progreflive courfe, this line fweeps the furface like a net, and 

 impels before it all the game within its compafs and extent. 

 When the jungle and coppice chance to open upon a plain, 

 it is a molt exhilarating fight to behold the quantity and va- 

 riety of animals ilTuiiig at once from their coverts : fome are 

 driven out reluctantly, others force their way back into the 

 brake. During ihis fcene of development, rout, and di- 

 fperfion, prodigious havock is made by the fowlers, falcon- 

 ers, and huntfmen, whillt the country people and children, 

 with Iticks and ilaves, either catch or dcmolifli the faw*ns, 

 leverets, wild pigs, and other young animals, which have 

 returned into the coppice. 



Inltances oecafionally occur, wlicre the natives of the vi- 

 cinage petition the genilemcn to-deltroy a tiger that has in- 

 fefted the diftricl, to the annoyance and devailation of their 

 flocks and fiiepherds, and perpetual alarm of the poor cot- 

 tagers llicinlelves. Althougli an 'arduous and perilous adven- 

 ture, and what the geuilouicn all prolefs, in their cooler mo- 

 ments, to reprobate and decline, yet, when in the field, they 

 generally comply with the lolicitation, and undertake the ex- 

 ploit. 'I'heir iuftant animation, not unattended with emo- 

 tions of benevolence and conipaflion, jirelently fupcrfedes everv 

 dictate ol prudence, und, fpite of their predclcrmination, they 



proceed 



