212 RIFLE AND SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS. 



At last a splendid gray boar broke, but in the wrong 

 direction. They raced him hard for some distance, but he 

 had too great a start, and finally beat them, getting safely 

 away to the ravines by the river. The Maharaja asked us 

 afterwards to go round his stable. He is very proud of his 

 stud, and with reason, for it is almost perfect. We could 

 hardly find a fault in any of the hundred and fifty horses 

 which were paraded for our inspection. We next visited 

 the kennels. Amongst many breeds of dogs he has sonic 

 splendid Siberian wolf-hounds, somewhat similar in appear- 

 ance to Scotch deerhounds, but half as big again. One 

 Danish boarhound stood forty inches high, and looked as 

 big as a pony. He always sleeps in the Maharaja's room, 

 and will allow no one to enter until the keeper comes and 

 takes him away. This dog is very fond of the Raja, who, 

 however, told me that if he leaves the room he is obliged 

 to take him out also. If left behind, the dog would not 

 allow even him to enter again, and evidently considers 

 that it is the room, not the Raja, that he is expected to 

 guard. 



Late last night a tent had to be pitched in our garden 

 for Feridkot's Italian pianoforte player. His master having 

 taken umbrage at something he said, consigned him to the 

 o'uard-room of the town. This might not ciuite count as a 

 casus belli with Italy, still they thought it better to let 

 the " enraged musician " out. When released he declared 



