298 REMINISCENCES OF SONEPORE.- 



killed under him steeplechasing and pig-sticking. With great 

 regret sportsmen have heard a rumour of Mr. John's contem- 

 plated retirement from the Indian Turf, but we hope the 

 black and yellow will be seen on our courses for many years 

 to come. 



It remains only to be said that under Jimmy Macleod's 

 management Lall Serryah long ago sold for 200 maunds of 

 oats has developed into a valuable concern, as flourishing as 

 the present times will permit, which is not saying much. His 

 workings with the ryots have been on the give-and-take 

 principle " you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." 

 Jimmy goes home at the end of this cold weather for a 

 longish space. 



CHAPTER XLII. 

 YEAR 1896. 



The Sonepore Meeting of 1896 will long be remembered 

 as one of the most successful on record, and more particularly 

 because of the splendid additions made to the grand stand 

 and ball and supper rooms. At the end of last meeting Harry 

 Abbott, following the example set him by Teddy Drummond 

 in 1868, sent a round robbin to all old and present patrons 

 of the meeting, pointing out that the accommodation in stand 

 and building was not now sufficient to hold the yearly increas- 

 ing numbers who flocked to the meeting. This appeal w T as 

 most generously responded to. Right royally did the Maha- 

 rajahs, who have so many years been staunch patrons of the 

 meet, put their hands in their pockets. 



Baboo Baijnath Pershad, the new lessee of the Ghats, 

 headed the list with the handsome donation of two thousand 

 rupees. Baboo Rameshwar Narain Mahtha, the well-known 

 Banker of Mozufferpore, contributed seven hundred and the 

 Maharajahs of Durbangah and Hutwa each gave five hundred 

 rupees. The Jaintpore Mahunt sent three hundred, Messrs. 



