A HANDSOME MAN. 103 



able and clean, the host a gentleman, lately an officer of 

 our Bengal army, and the cuisine excellent and well served 

 a curry that would have done honour to the table of 

 the governor-general, with rice, each grain of which was 

 a separate and independent pearl, was put upon the 

 table ; nor were chutney and chow-chow pickle wanting 

 as the necessary condiments. A flake of Bombay duck 

 would have been an admirable addition, but those pis- 

 ciferous creatures have not yet learned to swim across 

 to Africa's shores. The table was full, and some 

 pleasant frontier men among the number. A young 

 transport rider, about six feet two, who had travelled 

 much, and done so with his eyes open, was a specimen 

 of humanity that any nationality might be proud of, 

 and any family, however aristocratic, regard as a noble 

 representative of their race. He knew much on which 

 he conversed, and more on which he held his tongue. We 

 sat late, drank but little, and smoked a great deal. He 

 reminded me of a late officer of the Blues, who was 

 known by the name of Punch, handsome enough in 

 appearance to be used as the model on which we should 

 like future generations to be built. But the country 

 values a handsome man at less than a smart man ; conse- 

 quently the former, for he is a fearfully touchy creature, 

 considers himself slighted, wanders forth into the world, 

 trusting to his pluck and giant strength ; the latter, on 

 the contrary, knows bread and butter are to be got at 

 home, and preferring the ills he knows to those he 

 knows not of, minds not his corns being trodden on if he 

 thinks he can use the apology of the aggressor as the 

 means of an introduction from which may spring chances 

 of future aggrandisement. No, no ; put your pride in 

 your pocket if you want to get on : with the kicks come 



