VIZIER'S SPORTING. 153 



presenting a most distressing sight; the poor 

 cultivators running behind the Vizier's elephant 

 bawling out for mercy, but were seldom attended 

 to : how ever, to the credit of the Vizier, I have 

 been informed, that many thousand pounds yearly, 

 were allowed for injury done to them ; none of 

 which, I believe, ever found its way into the 

 pockets of the sufferers. 



"When any game was sprung or started, those 

 near it commenced firing ; sometimes a line of 

 firing was kept up, resembling a feu dejoie, at a 

 poor diminutive quail, and whenever the bird fell, 

 should his Highness have fired, a general shout of 

 approbation followed PPah ! Wah ! the Vizier 

 killed it! Should a jackall or fox be seen, the grey- 

 hounds were slipped, and the fortunate keeper 

 whose dog caught it, brought the animal to his 

 Highness with great exultation, and received half 

 a rupee, a rupee, and, on extraordinary occasions, 

 a gold Mohur, (value two pounds,) in proportion 

 to the amusement the sport afforded. The same 

 took place, when a poor dove, curlew, or any 

 other bird was sprung, not considered game for 

 the gun, but likely to afford more sport with the 

 hawks, which were loosened after it, and the 



