REMINISCENCES OF SONEPORE. 



of his troops, next day. That evening Sir Jung appeared with 

 some of his staff at the ball ; they were almost gorgeously- 

 dressed. Their idea of the right thing is that the young lady 

 should dance and the lords of creation admire. Several of the 

 ladies went to call on the Ladies Jung Bahadur. They were 

 ushered in by the husband, and were received by the principal 

 and the youngest of the Ranees. One of the ladies who 

 called, described them as cheerful, rather nice looking women 

 with strong Mongolian features, and fair for Orientals. The 

 Ranees on parting with their visitors presented each with a 

 piece of jewellery, the value being suited to the rank of 

 the lady's husband. Next afternoon the Nepalese troops 

 were paraded. They were a fine body of little Goorkhas, 

 with legs that no Highlander need be ashamed of. As they 

 marched past, their band struck up " Should auld acquain- 

 tance." They had evidently learned their drill from some old 

 French Officer, for when they went at the double, they kept 

 time to the tap of the drum, which beat the " pas de charge." 

 The last and most amusing evolution was the bayonet 

 exercise quick time. The band struck up " Pop goes the 

 weasel," and the fixed bayonets worked up and down, here and 

 there, in exact time to that well-known old tune. Not many of 

 these gallant little fellows ever saw Nepal again, for cholera 

 broke out in their camp next day, and, though they were hurried 

 off at once, the fatal disease never left them. One thing a 

 Nepalese Goorkha fears greatly is a little soap and water, and 

 to this aversion, was probably due the attack of cholera that 

 proved so fatal to the little force that visited the camp on the 

 occasion. There were several fine elephants among those that 

 came down with the Nepal retinue. While they were at Sone- 

 pore, one of the elephants brought to the fair for sale went mad, 

 and, breaking loose, did great mischief, and people were in danger 

 of their lives. Sir Jung hearing this sent one of his hunting 

 elephants after him ; he came up to the savage beast on a 



