56 WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



a black blanket ; about his person were hung numerous bags 

 containing flint and steel, tobacco, food of sorts (including 

 parched grain, sugar, and salted shrimps), shot, powder, and 

 ball ; on his shoulder he carried an old flint musket. 



We found foxes in great numbers, and one day coursed 

 seven, killing six. The ground was very rough, and Bheema, 

 who was on foot and declined a mount, predicted that we 

 should break our necks, but our ponies kept their legs, and 

 we had no spills. 



On the last day of our leave we had just struck our tent, 

 and were about to load the baggage ponies, when a severe 

 thunderstorm came on, and in five minutes we were drenched 

 to the skin. Within an hour every watercourse was a raging 

 torrent, and we knew that for the present it was hopeless to 

 attempt to return to camp. 



Turning into the village, we found some horsemen of the 

 Eajah's Irregular Cavalry picketed at a temple, and with these 

 we fraternised, and gave them a goat, which they forthwith 

 slew and cooked. Here we halted till the moon rose, and 

 having got some dry clothes from among our baggage, we made 

 ourselves comfortable. About 11 P.M. we started on our 

 march home, and, the water having by this time subsided, we 

 arrived without further adventure. 



I was ordered off with a detachment to escort treasure 

 which was coming from Belgaum, and was sent out five marches 

 to meet it. At our second halting-place some villagers 

 brought in an unhappy boy who had been horned in the leg 

 by a buffalo. The calf of his leg was nearly torn off, and was 

 hanging down over his ankle. It was in vain that I assured 

 his friends that I was no surgeon. They said that they had 

 great confidence in a white man, and begged me to do my best. 

 I beat up among the detachment for needles and thread, and, 



