234 



quence is that fields are already becoming as hard as iron, while many 

 depressions are still almost deep enough for snipe shooting. 



The ryots, moreover, seem to be putting in a larger crop of peas 

 than usual, and this means that a good deal of plough has to be negotia- 

 ted, all chances in the favour of light weights and thorough breds. It is 

 early yet to form any opinion as to respective chances for the Cup, some 

 six weeks hence. Up to date Pilgrim shows the best record, but there 

 have been a good many going every week who have not tried, but have 

 contented themselves with easy work for qualification. 



The field on Thursday was hardly as large as usual. The gallery, 

 however, turned out bravely in coaches, barouches, dog-carts, and every 

 kind of conveyances down to ticcas, ulsters, rugs, and red noses testifying 

 to the rawness of a Bengal January morning. Amongst the starters 

 were Mrs. Cook on Handicap, Mrs. Chapman on a chestnut, Captain 

 Burn, Lord William, Mr. Learoyd, Mr. Lawrence on Master McGrath, 

 Mr. Dickson on a brown, Mr. Cartwright on Colchester, Mr. Beresford on 

 Lord Donald, Mr. Myers on Satanella, the Butler on a galloway, the 

 Greek on Sappho, Mr. Mayne on Drink, Mr. Rawlinson on a bay, Mr. 

 Barnes, Mr. Noira on a chestnut, Mr. Petersen on Cavanagh, Mr. Kilburn 

 on a pony, Mr. Murray on Zil, and Mr. Anderson on Commissioner. At 

 the word " go " we streamed off to the left of the road over a hurdle and 

 wall in full view of the gallery ; to the right over some plough with a big 

 grip and a drop jump on the right hand side of the railway, then across 

 the lane and sharp round to the right, a wall and a hurdle intervening 

 between us and the road. The course here led straight into the jungle 

 and wound in and out of mango topes and bustis in a manner that tried 

 the handiness of a good many of the horses. A ditch and a pond 

 here disposed of Messrs. Myers and Barnes. A gallop down a long 

 green lane formed an agreeable change to the heavy ground we had been 

 floundering across, but a couple of hurdles prevented the pace from 

 becoming" too furious. 



The paper then turned sharp to the right, through some jungle, over 

 three or four walls and into the open with the red flags in view. The 

 leading division here overshot the paper, and one wrong-headed animal 

 refused the last wall. Mr. Butler seizing his opportunity landed his 

 game little galloway first, Mr. Mayne second, Mr. Lawrence third, with 

 rather an awkward-looking fall at the last hurdle, Mr. Murray, Mr. 

 Beresford, Lord William, Mr. Cartwright and Mr. Dickson all following 

 close up. 



There can be little doubt as to the daily increasing popularity of our 

 paperchases. Time was, and that not so very long ago, when the field of 

 starters might have been covered with a blanket, and when the spectators 

 comprised half a dozen individuals. Now-a-days there is as large a crowd 



