JACKAL HUNTING ON THE NEILGHERRIES, 1876. 129 



him, in all veracity, that these were found to hunt with more 

 drive, and to stand the climate infinitely better than any of the 

 imported ones. Ugly and ill-shaped as they are, they are 

 certainly little demons to dash along on a scent ; but then, 

 unfortunately, it has been found almost impossible to rear them 

 anywhere but in the hills, and difficult even there. Well, after 

 proving to him that we have a smart-looking bitch from the 

 Pytchley, a neat one from the Cottesmere, and endeavouring 

 continually to " force " him with our specimen cards, we pass 

 hurriedly over the last arrivals, who have been hunting at 

 Calcutta — and show it ; and the state of whose skins still 

 necessitates separate lodging. This concluded, we should ask 

 him whether to be called at five o'clock A.M. would give him 

 time to dress for our opening meet ; and eventually, with his 

 concurrence and yours, reader, we would all three appear on 

 the lawn in front of the residence of his Grace the Duke of 

 Buckingham at 6.15 A.M. on Friday, April 7. 



We love our beds dearly ; but we love sport still better, and 

 so are compelled to this miserably early hour by considerations 

 of sun and scent. The air on the Neilgherries is at all times 

 cool. At dawn it is thoroughly chilly ; but for all that we are 

 not too many degrees from the equator, and the sun will remind 

 us of this before nine o'clock. The dew will have disappeared 

 by then, too, and scarcely six showera have fallen in the last six 

 months. Still we know the mossy turf will ride soft and safe, 

 and so we are willing to pin our trust to the glistening dew-drops. 

 The meet is not a lengthy proceeding. There are no dandies 

 here, alas ! to bring their specimens of snowy white and spot- 

 less pink into competition. No ; toilettes are unambitious — 

 scarcely workmanlike, while at such an hour the voice of gossip 

 is still, and even the lips of beauty part not, save it be in a 

 sleepy request for coffee. A table is laid for all who desire 

 stimulant or refreshment ; but there are no big fences here- 

 abouts, so there is little call upon the former, and the power 

 that can " nerve the enervate, make the dastard bold," may lie 

 dormant so far as our fenceless downs are concerned. 



K 



