290 RIFLE AND SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS. 



remind one of Windsor, if one could imagine that castle 

 bristling with turrets, and broken by hundreds of fantastically- 

 shaped windows, and with the gilt domes and white cupolas 

 of an Indian city nestling at its foot, instead of the red roofs 

 of English homes. 



A few miles further down, the river flows between high, 

 precipitous banks, leaving at times a strip of dense jungle 

 between the cliffs and the water. Here, in the hot weather, 

 is the retreat of tigers and big game. There are only two 

 or three places where animals can ascend the cliffs ; and 

 these little gullies can be stopped, or enfiladed by rifles on 

 the launch. We had no luck to-day, and although every 

 likely spot was carefully beaten, the panther was not to be 

 found. 



The river is full of large alligators. One was lying on 

 the edge of a rock as we passed, and Alan, with a wonder- 

 fully lucky shot, killed it. Generally these reptiles are 

 very hard to bag, for if a spark of life is left they manage 

 to slip into the water. We got this one into the boat, 

 although the " man of the world " had doubts whether it 

 was "pukkur shikar." 



The Maharaja's band came up to play at the Residency 

 during dinner, and played remarkably well. They are all 

 natives except the bandmaster. The night was warm and 

 starlit, and we sat out on the terrace over the river. The 

 poetry of the scene was entrancing. Below flowed the 



