334 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTEAL INDIA. 



matchlock. I got an excellent position in a thick covert of 

 jaman bushes, while at the same time effectually commanding 

 the pass. 



Half an hour elapsed, as agreed on, and then burst forth 

 from the beaters the most terrific Babel of barbarous noises 

 ever heard out of Pandemonium. I had engaged a " band," 

 that had come from some distance to assist at the marriage of 

 a wealthy merchant in the village, and we were, consequently, 

 powerful in instrumental music. Fancy-drums, great and 

 small, " ear-piercing fifes," * rumtoolahs" of formidable dimen- 

 sions (a hideous copper wind instrument, indescribable in 

 simple English, but which I fancy must be identical with the 

 " cholera horn " of Southern India), mingled with a tempest 

 of watchmen's rattles (each of fifty landrail power), and 

 abundantly supplemented by vocal abuse of the tigers' ances- 

 tors to the tenth generation, delivered in the loudest key of 

 native Billingsgate, and you have a faint idea of the row ! 



As they approached, it of course got more and more ex- 

 citing, and soon the various inhabitants of the dewur began 

 to make their appearance. First came a peacock and two 

 hens, pattering over the fallen leaves. Sharper in eyesight 

 than any other denizen of the forest, they soon observed me, 

 and, rising in a panic, sailed off with their beautifully steady 

 flight towards the river, the gorgeous plumage of the cock 

 flashing in the sun six feet of living gold and purple ! 



Another rustle, and a herd of spotted deer came trotting 

 over a little eminence ahead, led by a well-antlered buck, 

 with two more good 'ones bringing up the rear. Entirely 

 taken up by the noise of the beaters, they never observed me, 

 and, passing within fifteen paces of my elephant, disappeared 

 in the jungle. I could have shot any one, or perhaps two, of 

 the bucks, but seeing what was more interesting at the time, 



