REMINISCENCES OF SONEPORE. 271 



W. Macpherson, Mr. H. R. Mclnnes, Colonel Algernon Durand, 

 Mr. Dangerfield and many more. The health of the noble 

 host was drunk midst a storm of applause as was also that of 

 Mr. F. W. Baker, the founder of the Civil Service Cup at 

 Lucknow, with musical honours, and " Harry Abbott's " health 

 was also drunk as " the proprietor of the most independent 

 sporting paper in India." Mr. Mclnnes was in great form and 

 made a most soul-stirring speech. The party broke up at 

 a somewhat early hour as many of the guests were due at the 

 dance at the Saturday Club given by the Captain and Officers 

 of H. M. S. Marathon. 



Quite up to the average were the Sonepore Entries for 1895 

 and prospects of camps. Was there ever a visitor who when he 

 had been once to Sonepore did not vow by all he held dear 

 never to miss it again, if possible, as long as the fates kept him 

 in India. Other mofussil race meetings there may be which 

 now-a-days eclipse it as far as racing goes, but nowhere else 

 does one enjoy such a unique week's outing, there is an utter 

 absence of stiffness or cliqueism, and in the most friendly in- 

 tercourse the hours and days pass away, alas, far too rapidly. 

 1895 has seldom been beaten, for everything went with a verve 

 and go which never slacked from first to last. Although Bob 

 Lockhart's usually big camp was missing this year, yet it was 

 pleasant to once more see Jimmy McLeod's tents in the old 

 corner near the ball room, and Mrs. Apperley presiding as in 

 days of yore. Mozufferpore showed up strongly, both Mr. 

 Hare, the Collector, and Mr. Hamilton, the Judge, having camps. 

 Mrs. Hall managed the latter and very pretty was her neat 

 little shamianah and right royally were the creature comforts 

 attended to. Our worthy Commissioner, Arthur Forbes, had a 

 large number of guests, mostly ladies, he explained that many 

 of the sterner sex had disappointed him at the last moment, 

 but some of the sceptics hinted they had their doubts as to the 

 credibility of this statement, when they found the sly dog seated 



