PREFACE. 



MY object in publishing these reminiscences is to hand 

 down to future visitors as correct a history as is possible of 

 meetings of bye-gone years, when under the mangoe groves 

 the best sportsmen, and the best horses in India used to 

 collect, meetings at which the parents of many of the young- 

 sters who now frequent Sonepore, plighted their troths. It 

 has not been a light task, for scant indeed are the records of 

 ancient days, and it has taken me six months to compile what 

 follows. My thanks are due to Mr. Minden Wilson for recalling 

 to my recollection many an amusing anecdote, and for the 

 account of Lord Mayo's reception of the great Jung Bahadoor, 

 which I have copied from his little book " Reminiscences of 

 Behar." Mr. Frank Vincent has also kindly put me right 

 as to one or two errors which crept into the original M. S. S. 

 published in' the Indian Planters' Gazette. But long as the 

 work has taken, it has been a labour of love ; for exiled as I 

 have been in India for over thirty-fidHP years and with only 

 a five weeks' holiday to England ad interim, Sonepore has 

 been to me what Christmas is to home folk. I can never forget 

 and never repay the kindness and courtesy which have been 

 accorded me by my brother Stewards, especially Mr. R. S. 

 Lockart, ever since I have acted as their Honorary Secretary. 

 My happiest hours have been spent at the dear old meeting 

 under the trees, and if I have gushed a bit too much over the 

 men and horses of my time, I can only plead for forgiveness. 

 With infinite sadness of heart has it been my heavy task as 

 Editor of the Indian Planters' Gazette to chronicle the 

 deaths of many of my dear old pals, but the memories of poor 

 Monty Turnbull, Albert Mangles, Gwatkin Williams, George 

 Thomas, Willie Elliot and Sammy Ayres, will remain green 

 with old Soneporeans till the last of us crosses the bourne. 



H. E. ABBOTT. 



