148 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



en route, fitted with cuscus-grass tatties, a liill-tent 

 and a bachoba (a tent without pole) for jungle work, 

 two bell-tents for our people, and a large " shamiana" 

 or canvas screen, to sling between trees or fasten on 

 poles, so as to shelter our horses from the intense 

 heat of the midday sun. 



My stud consisted of two Arabs, (first-rate horses 

 for cross country after hog,) " Gooty," a Mahratta 

 shooting- pony, who could do everything but speak, 

 and an Australian mare, which I generally rode on 

 the march, and sometimes, when the road was good, 



drove in the cart. B had two horses and two 



ponies, and we had besides hired four baggage-tat- 

 toos and four carriage-bullocks for our tents and 

 baggage. 



My servants, who were almost all Mussulmans, 

 consisted of Yacoob Khan, my head man, " Five 

 Minutes," my cook, Hassan, a hooka-badar, Cassim 

 Bey, and Lall Khan, two youngsters who waited at 

 table and helped me to dress, a waterman, a tent- 

 Lascar, four " syces" or grooms, four grass-cutters, 

 two dog-boys, and two soldiers, who, in cantonment, 

 were supposed to keep my regimentals in order, but 

 when on a shekar expedition made themselves gene- 

 rally useful. 



B 's followers numbered more than a dozen, 



so that altogether the gang, our servants, coolies, 

 and camp-followers, amounted to about forty indi- 

 viduals. 



They all paraded in marching trim, to receive a 



