Tiger Shooting. 15 



saluting. " but the Tahsildar may his mother and 

 all his female relations be denied ! is a banshoot 1 and 

 thinks he can do as he likes." " He does, does he ? " 

 said I. " Take some one with you and bring him here 

 by the scruff of his neck, and if he is not before me 

 in five minutes I'll fetch him myself in a way he won't 

 like." " Bhoot atclia" replied the peon who by the 

 bye was a pensioned sepoy saluting and spinning 

 round on his heels in the most approved military style 

 of that day, took his departure. In a few minutes I 

 heard a good deal of hubbub, and much native galee 

 or abuse ; just as I was on the point of going after 

 the man myself, the peon entered, followed by 

 a fat, greasy, half-naked native, and a posse of his 

 followers. He barely salaamed, and I could see that 

 he was not inclined to be civil, or to show that 

 deference for a European in Government employ- 

 ment which, in those days, was our due from all, 

 whatever their position. " How is this, Tahsildar ? " 

 said I. " The Collector Sahib sent you orders to have 

 relays of bullocks for me two days ago. Why are they 

 not ready ? " " Sir," said the native in fair English, 

 " no grass, no provender got. How can make ' biles ' ? 

 Bad season, all cattle sent away." " Why did you 

 not send for them when you got the order ? " I asked. 

 " I plenty business forgot," said the native. He saw 

 I was young, and doubtless thought he could be 

 impertinent with impunity. I was on the point of 

 teaching him a lesson, when the peon remarked, 

 "Sub jitt bat (All lies), Sahib. Tahsildar got fine 

 pair of Mysore bullocks. If master give hukJcum, I 

 bring." " Oh, Sapperee bcqi" replied the greasy 



1 A common term of abuse untranslatable. 



