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depths "Take the last jump, gentlemen ! " Hallo ! Crooke and Biancker 

 are seen just behind the high fence with their horses down in a deep 

 ditch. The other riders drop in one by one though the number was 

 diminished to ten. Then, as now the finish was near Jodpur station. 

 All go home highly pleased, and think it is rather fun. And so ended 

 the first Calcutta paperchase. 



Of that baker's dozen about four are still in Calcutta, but they 

 do not ride as much as they rode then, for it was more than 17 years 

 ago ! 



After the first paperchase there were one or two more of a similar 

 nature in the vicinity of Ballygunge, and they were then discontinued, 

 the weather being considered too hot. 



Meantime Crooke and Montie Stewart had gone to live at Burra 

 Bagh House, Tollygunge. This is the large house standing away by 

 itself on the right of the road after leaving Tollygunge. In November 

 1870 Crooke gave out he was going to give us a regular twister in the 

 direction of Tollyguni^e. More interest had now begun to be taken in 

 this class ot riding Expectation was great, and the morning appointed 

 saw something like thirty or forty horsemen assembled outside the 

 gateway in the road. Several knew pretty well what would take place, 

 others went out of mere curiosity with no fixed idea of what they 

 would do. Crooke on Billycock and Brancker on Barwang were again 

 to show the way, and right well they did it. 



The start was down a lane running eastwards from the road and 

 nearly opposite the outside gateway of Burra Bagh House ; then, turn- 

 ing left-handed, the first artificial jump m the form of a hurdle appeared 

 in a Calcutta paperchase course. This was soon laid flat by the field. 

 But the triumph was not of long duration. Crooke was not fond of half- 

 hearted riders. His motto was ''Jump you must, or be left behind." 

 So the next fence was a high one, made of strong bamboos ; and outside 

 a small enclosure, any other way (except that by which you came) 

 being also barred. This was joy to the iew, sorrow to tTie many. 

 Aitchison on Red Piince, William Thomas on The Fenian, 

 David Landale on Norma, Apperley on Cock Robin, Downing, 

 S. Carlisle, Thurburn and Millett are over it and away. The usual 

 refusals follow, while several look on waiting for the way to be cleared. 

 This was subsequently done by Johnston Smith on The Doctor, 

 the two practically sitting upon the rails, and crushing them down. 

 This lets loose the pent up, and now delighted crowd. Then succeed 

 two or three small jumps, half natural and half artificial, until an 

 impediment in the ground appears — a veritable chasm ten or twelve 

 feet wide, with water running about a foot-and-a half below its banks. — 

 Again is the motto brought into play. All methods of getting round 

 are barred. Harden your heart, for in, through, over or under you 



