214 h'IFLE AXD SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS. 



they were able to catch it. It is such a pretty little thing, 

 and not too frightened to drink milk out of an improvised 

 feeding-bottle. They are said to be easily tamed, and I 

 believe one Indian regiment has a full-grown buck which 

 marches at the head of its band. 



In the afternoon Alan went to see the Maharaja at his 

 new house, which stands by itself on a hill, and is built 

 on the model of a Governor or Commissioner's bungalow. 

 It is connected by telephone with the Secretary's house. 

 The posts and wires were at first placed on the left hand 

 of the road going from the palace. But telegraph wires 

 are favourite perches for the jays, and it would have been 

 an extremely bad omen if the Raja should have seen a jay 

 on the unlucky side. 80 the posts and wires were all taken 

 down, and re-erected on the right of the road. All these 

 young men are educated as well as an average English lad 

 of the upper classes, and speak our language not only 

 fluently, but with a knowledge of slang and the argot of 

 the " pink '1111," which a British subaltern might envy. 

 But the superstitions rooted for centuries are hard to 

 eradicate, and continually crop up like weeds amongst 

 modern cultivation. If any one should have the ill-luck 

 to sneeze on his way out shooting or pig-sticking, he 

 immediately returns home. 



I drove to see the old fort, which is well worth a visit. 

 It is fast becoming a ruin. The ravines cut out by the 



