REMINISCENCES OF SONEPORE. 



befits a gay bachelor half a score of ladies to grace his pretty 

 shamiana. Mozufferpore's genial Collector, Mr. L. Hare, had 

 gathered round him a well chosen lot of friends the Barclays 

 from Motipore, the Streatfields, the Hudsons and George 

 Hennessy, Lord of Muttrapore, who pronounced Sonepore the 

 place above all in which to spend " an 'appy 'oliday." Last on 

 the line came the camp of George Disney, the talented Dis- 

 trict Engineer of Tirhoot, who had innumerable Mozufferpore 

 friends to fill his tents. 



The racing throughout was excellent, the finishes close, 

 the favorites frequently beaten, the fields large and the prizes 

 equally divided, no one went away either losing or winning 

 heavily. It was regretted that neither Mr. E. H. Gregory nor 

 Mr. G. Paget scored a win after coming all the way from 

 Calcutta. 



The balls were distinctly successful, though the room was 

 scarcely big enough, and it was resolved to enlarge it either next 

 year or the year after. Messrs. Framji as caterers surpassed 

 themselves, and, considering the enormous difficulties they had 

 to contend against in such an isolated spot, richly deserved a 

 decoration for their excellent management. Above all the 

 wine was superb. At Saturday night's supper Mr. Forbes 

 proposed the Honorary Secretary's health, which was drunk 

 with all honors, and that ancient's reply would have drawn 

 tears from the eyes of a dead jackal. So ended the Sonepore 

 Race Meet of 1893, over which the Stewards might will have 

 sung O jubilate! O jubilate ! 



These reminiscences would be incomplete if they did not 

 chronicle the history of that fine old fellow Tom the Barber, 

 who in his Highland dress and silver belt and chains is one of 

 Sonepore's chief celebrities ; a prime favorite with everyone of 

 the older generation is Tom, and every year he turns up to 

 shave his patrons and get his customary ten or twenty rupees 

 present from each. Much service has Tom seen; born in 1835 



