OF TUT. OLD WORLD. 131 



cut off the right paw with iiis axe, and sent a post- 

 runner into camp with it to announce my success. 

 A bullock-cart was then fetched from the village, on 

 which the carcass was with much difficulty hoisted, 

 and dragged oft' in triumph by the villagers, for the 

 bullocks were so frightened by his smell that they 

 would not allow themselves to be harnessed to the 

 cart ; all force and coaxing being in vain to get 

 them sufficiently near to place the yokes on their 

 necks. . 



All the villagers turned out to witness onr entry, 

 poojahs (religious ceremonies) were performed, sheep 

 and cocks sacrificed, and prayers offered up to sundry 

 Sawmies (Hindoo gods) in my name. I was the 

 centre of attraction of all the young girls of the 

 village, whose dark sparkling eyes flashed kindly on 

 me as they stood waving their hands on either side 

 of the road. As for the old women, I really had 

 some difficulty to get out of their clutches ; they 

 kissed the hem of my old green baize shooting-coat, 

 cracked their knuckles over my forehead for luck, 

 stroked my face and beard, patted me on the back, 

 and at last became so vehement in their attentions 

 that I had to beg of my gang to keep them off 



All the men in the village turned out with torches 

 and firesticks to escort me home to camp. Rockets 

 and fireworks were burnt, matchlocks discharged, 

 and tomtoms, dubties, and cholera horns poured 

 forth their notes of triumph before the dead 



