COLONIAL AND AMERICAN HORSEMEN 175 



6 The following day there was a great hunt 

 breakfast or luncheon, and the opening meet of the 

 Melbourne staghounds. Of other sports I practically 

 know nothing ; in regard to hunting I have for many 

 years been striving to do something. So much was 

 known of me by certain kind friends ; and I was there- 

 fore invited to the entertainment, and provided with 

 a horse as to which I was assured that, though 

 he was small, he was up to any weight, could go for 

 ever, and jump anything. The country would be 

 very rough so much was acknowledged and the 

 fences very big ; but it was suggested to me that if 

 I would only drink enough sherry I might see a 

 good deal of the run. I thought of my weight, 

 which is considerable ; of my eyesight, which is im- 

 perfect; of my inexperience in regard to timber 

 fences four feet six inches high, which up to that 

 moment was complete ; I thought also that my 

 informant in respect to the little horse, though 

 indubitably veracious in intention, might probably 

 be mistaken in his information, never having ridden 

 the horse himself. Wishing to return once more to 

 England, so that I might publish my book, I re- 

 solved that discretion would be, on this occasion, the 

 better part of valour, and that I would save my neck 

 at the expense of the ill-opinion of the Melbourne 

 hunting-field. 



c Such a hunt-banquet I never saw before. The 

 spot was some eight or ten miles from Melbourne, 



