THE TIGEE. 285 



in every event, even when the tiger is fastened on his head as 

 many a good one will do and has done. 



It is not one elephant in a thousand that is so thoroughly 

 good in tiger-shooting as this ; and such as are command very 

 high prices in the market. From 200 to 400 is now the 

 value of a thoroughly first-rate shooting-elephant, though much 

 sport may be had with one purchased for a much smaller sum. 

 The supply of elephants has much fallen off in late years, 

 since the Government ceased to capture them in the forests of 

 the north of India. In 1864 I visited the great annual fair 

 at Sonpur, on the Ganges, to purchase elephants for our forest 

 work in Central India. This fair is decidedly one of the sights 

 of India, and well worthy of a longer description than I can 

 give it now. It occurs on the occasion of a great congrega- 

 tion of Hindu pilgrims to worship at a noted shrine of Sivd, 

 and bathe in the Ganges at the full 'moon of the month of 

 Kdrtik (September October). Several hundred thousands of 

 Hindus from every part of India are then collected on the 

 banks of the holy river ; and such a gathering together of 

 people is of course seized by traders in every sort of ware, 

 from wild ydks' tails of Tibet to croquet implements in lac 

 varnish, and dealers in every sort of animal, from white mice to 

 elephants. The European gentlemen of Bengal have also here 

 constructed an excellent race-course, with grand stand com- 

 plete ; and some of the best races in India are run during the 

 fair. The year I was there something like twelve thousand 

 horses were brought by dealers for sale ranging from the tiny 

 woolly-haired pied pony of Nepal, which makes the best child's 

 pony in the world, to Australian thorough-breds and u made- 

 up " casters from the Indian cavalry. 



About five hundred elephants offered a considerable choice 

 in my particular department. It is difficult to buy horses 



