196 THE IMAGE OF WAR 



coursing van, of which, as I afterwards used a similar 

 one for fox-hounds, I subjoin a description. 



I first got a pair of wheels which were strong 

 enough to stand the bumping over rocks and nullahs. 

 On these I got a native carpenter to put a flat 

 flooring and a pair of shafts. At each corner of the 

 floor an upright, some eighteen inches high, was 

 erected, and these were connected, except behind, 

 by stout rails. These rails were pierced every few 

 inches, and through each hole an iron pin, which 

 also entered the flooring, was driven. Over this 

 sort of cot on wheels rose an arched roof of peculiar 

 native thatch, covered with white cloth. A tail- 

 board fitted in behind, and white curtains, which 

 could be lowered at the front, back, and sides to 

 exclude the sun, were provided. It could easily be 

 drawn by a pony or by one , of the little native 

 bullocks, which I preferred for the purpose. 



It carried four greyhounds comfortably ; in fact, 

 they sometimes slept in it at night. In addition, it 

 was always supplied with w^ater and drinking troughs. 

 Though not rapid in its movements, it followed along 

 in the rear of the coursing party, carrying the pair 

 of greyhounds which were not in the slips. After a 

 course the tired hounds were brought back, watered, 

 and put in the van to rest, while the other two were 

 in their turn put in the slips. Besides serving this 

 purpose, it was a most useful all-round luggage-cart, 

 and proved very suitable for taking lunch out, shoot- 

 ing, and bringing home game. 



Early in May the new hounds arrived. They were 

 brother and sister, but the dog was a good deal the 

 larger. Except in the head, which was coarser and 

 more hound-like, they diflered little from greyhounds 



