38i 



CHAPTER XVII. 



RIDING AND HUNTING ABROAD. 



I NOW turn to the pleasant subject of riding and 

 hunting abroad, with special reference to India, where 

 almost all our fellow countrymen and women ride and 

 own horses. Even in lonely up-country stations which 

 contain only a few white residents, gymkhanas are often 

 got up by officers who train and ride their own horses 

 and ponies. Nothing seems to give these good 

 sportsmen greater pleasure than lending their equine 

 favourites to their lady friends. Therefore, a visitor 

 who is fond of riding, need never be at a loss for a 

 mount, as I found during my four years' residence in 

 that hospitable land. I can truly say that I did not 

 understand what real hospitality is, until I w^ent to 

 India, and shall always remember the great kindnesses 

 my husband and I received from Native Princes. For 

 instance, the late Maharajah of Vizianagram, who was 

 devoted to horses, invited us to visit him, placed a 

 furnished house, servants, horses, carriages, food, wines 

 and every other comfort at our disposal, and considered 

 our month's stay much too short. Ladies in India who 

 ride, obtain so much practice as a rule on various kinds 



