382 RIDING AND HUNTING ABROAD. 



of animals, that they soon become expert horsewomen. 

 It is the custom there to ride twice a day : In the early 

 morning after choti haziri (little breakfast), which 

 usually consists of a cup of tea, a boiled egg, bread 

 and butter ; and in the evening. There is no law of 

 trespass in India, and it is delightful to canter for miles 

 while sharing the freedom of the Son of the Desert 

 who is carrying you. There is nothing like these lonely 

 scampers as a cure for petty worries, for you can put 

 them so far behind you, that on your return you have 

 forgotten their existence. Calcutta is an ideal riding 

 city, with its beautiful maidan (plain), where there are 

 miles of springy turf for galloping, a large race-course 

 with well-kept training and hacking tracks, and hurdles 

 for those who desire jumping practice. There is also 

 a Red Road, which is the Rotten Row of the place, for 

 afternoon hacking among the beauty and fashion, so 

 what more could the heart of man or woman desire ? 

 During the misnamed "cold weather," women who are 

 fond of cross country work, can ride once a week over 

 made fences in the paperchases. The course is usually 

 about three miles long, well supplied with fences, 

 chiefly hurdles and stiff mud walls from three feet six 

 to four feet six high. As the start takes place at about 

 seven in the morning, and as the meets are some dis- 

 tance from the town, the devotees of sport have to be 

 up at about five o'clock, dress by lamplight, send on 

 their chasers, and drive or hack to the trysting place. 

 Two " hares " carry the paper in bags slung across 

 their shoulders and receive a quarter of an hour's grace 



