134 RIFLE AND SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS. 



table. A pillau of fowl ; and many sweets— sugared rice, 

 pastry of almonds, and a sort of Turkish Delight, which 

 was excellent. The curries were served in small bowls 

 made of green leaves sewn together. 



Thursday. — They all go shooting — a drive again, but 

 I decide to stop at home and do some sketching. I take 

 the Kashmir chuprassie with me to carry my easel. He 

 is a most gallant person, and whenever I stop, insists upon 

 spreading out his beautiful red and white overcoat for me 

 to sit upon. He has one fault ; he does not even feign 

 an interest in art, whilst the " man of the world " affects 

 intense admiration for my slightest daub. 



Alan returns just before dinner. He shot two gooral, 

 and the Maharaja one, but they saw no bears. We hear 

 that the man the bear hurt yesterday was only slightly 

 scratched. The Eaja gave him twenty rupees — about six 

 months' pay — and he was overcome with joy. 



Friday. — Very dull and overcast, with slight rain ; so 

 I again stop at home. About noon it comes down a perfect 

 deluge, which lasts till dark. Alan returns at night very 

 wet but successful. He shot a very large bear, and Bhurie 

 Singh another nearly as large. After dinner we hear a 

 loud shouting outside, and Santan comes to tell us the 

 "stag" has arrived. It was in fact the bear; but he 

 groups every description of big game under the generic 

 term " stag." We find a torch-light procession at the door 



