CHAPTER II. 



HOG-HUNTING. 



The fortress of Golconda. — The Tombs of the Kings. — The 

 gardens. — Persian inscriptions. — The gathering. — Plan of 

 operations. — Iteminiscences of the past. — The start. — The 

 rendezvous. — My nag Lai Babba. — A moment of suspense. — 

 The find. — We're away. — The chase. — The first blood. — A 

 purl. — The advantages of being on good terms with one's nag. 

 — The tug of war. — Exciting moments. — The struggle for 

 the spear. — It is won. — The charge. — Mischief ensues. — The 

 death of the boar. — The wounded hog -hunter. — The death of 

 an old friend. — The trysting-tree. — The trophies. — The re- 

 turn to cantonment. 



It was evening ; the oppressive glare and over- 

 powering heat of the day were gone, and the 

 sun was setting with that gorgeous magnificence 

 which is rarely to be seen e?:cept in " land of the 

 cedar and vine." His last expiring rays tinged 

 the whole of the heavens, from the western horizon 

 to the zenith, with indescribably beautiful gold and 

 crimson hues, and striking upon the numerous gilt 

 pinnacles of the mosques and minarets which rose 

 above the castellated walls of the hill- fort of Gol- 

 conda, formed a contrast with the deep verdure of 

 the mango groves and the lighter foliage of the 



