hji the EngJi/h in Bengal. 327 



a line of troops were inarching in along uninterrupted ferics, 

 pafled a herd of deer ; I obfcrved that wlien their attention 

 was taken ofi" from grazing, by the humming murmuring 

 noife proceeding from the troops in pafling, they at firll and 

 for a while llood flaring and aghaft, as if attraftcd by the 

 fucceflive proiiredion of the files, all clothed in red. At 

 length, however, the leading flag, " vir gregis ipfe," liriking 

 the ground, fnorted, and immediately rulhed forward aerols 

 the ranks, followed by tlie whole colleclion, to the utter dif- 

 niay and confufion of the foldiery : thus running into the 

 very danger one naturally fuppofes they mud have at firft 

 been anxious to avoid. The men, who were apprifed by the 

 found of their approach, ftopped, and made way for them. 

 Over the heads of the others, who were heedlefs and inatten- 

 tive, they bounded with wonderful agility, and fled over the 

 plain. 



Driving one evening along the road in a phaeton, and 

 pretty faft, I perceived a vouug heifer running near the car- 

 riage, with her eves intently fixed upon one of the hind 

 wheels; by the whirling of which the animal Teemed com- 

 pletely iiruck and affected. Thus purfuing her objeol for 

 about a quarter of a mile, flie, by a fudden impulfe, rapidly 

 darted fcrwnrd towards the wheel, which then (Iriking her 

 nofe, the atlention of the creature became interrupted by the 

 violence of the fiicuion, and was, of courfe, withdrawn: flie 

 then immediately flood flock iHll, and prci'ently after turned 

 about flowlv and made ofl. 



Beyond all other animals, however, ferpents pofTefs mofl 

 eminently this occult power : frequenllv are they feen re- 

 volved on the branches of tree*, or on the ground, mcditaling 

 their prev, either birds, iqiuncls, rats, mice, bats, frogs, 

 hares, or other animals. 



The ladies, as they are inclined, either read, walk, fwing, 

 cxcrcife themfcives iri archery, or at tliuitlecock in the groves; 

 or they fing and play in their tents. Others, vvhiUl at work, 

 are read to bv tlieir companions; of all amufements, perhaps, 

 the mf)fl delectable. * 



At the end of a convivial dinner, every foul, provided the 

 weather prove iultry, or they fmd iheudclves fatigued, retires 

 to repofe. 



On rifing from this ficHa, (of all liftlefs indidgcnces the moft 

 fooihing, coml'ortable, and rcfreihino-, and certainly niofl 

 wholffomc, all animals inclining to ik-ep alter nouridiinent,) 

 carriages arc :iguin in readinels, or light boats where n (beam 

 or lake is near, lo jjive the ctiuipany tlic evening's refpi ration, 

 X4 (whicU 



