THE OOTACAMUND HOUNDS. 157 



Badminton, forswore their early instincts, and buttoned up their 

 pockets. Alas for our country ! 



And so at the commencement of the season of 1877 — the 

 hunting season, be it remembered, being cotemporary, perforce, 

 with the period of the year during which Ootacamund is a 

 fashionable resort— there was a fine pack of hounds in kennel ; 

 but at so low an ebb were the funds of the Hunt that the 

 adjective fine was gradually assuming a distinct and secondary 

 meaning, and sale or starvation were only just warded off by 

 the self-sacrificing efforts of Mr. Schmidt, the keenest and most 

 thorough of honorary secretaries. 



Thirty-one couple ; and you might almost have taught a 

 child his alphabet from the varied brands on their ribs. From 

 the Atherstone to Lord Yarborough's, every initial was repre- 

 sented that ever figured on a list of hunting appointments ; and 

 there is little reason to doubt that the causes which had pro- 

 cured the banishment of the various members were well-nigh 

 as numerous, embracing every sin of omission and commission 

 to which hound flesh is heir. Far be it from me that any 

 expression of mine should appear as a wish to foul the nest 

 which received me in April 1877. But such was the nest — a 

 bed of roses, possibly, for an enthusiast, but of no thornless 

 roses most assuredly ; and such was the material with which 

 it was considered desirable that the field should be taken at 

 once, and in full publicity. Cubhunting or schooling of any 

 kind was held as totally inadmissible, on the plea that the 

 sinews of war must be the most immediate consideration, and 

 that the ever-shifting society of Ootacamund could only be 

 called upon in earnest when matters were fairly started. The 

 reasoning was plausible enough, no doubt, and the argument 

 possibly sound ; but this scarcely sufficed to make the situation 

 relishing, even when it was added that there were plenty of 

 jackals on the hills, and that the hounds were apparently in 

 perfect health. So they were undoubtedly — in the most 

 boisterous of health — short commons notwithstanding. For 

 very fear, the gates of the kennel yard had been kept closed on 



