1 56 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



to be found amon.i^ the British residents in India. 

 A stranger passing through the country meets 

 with the most generous and open-handed hospi- 

 tality wherever he goes, and the supposed charac- 

 teristics of an Englishman — " stiffness and cold 

 hauteur of manner " — are rarely to be met with in 

 the East. On the arrival of a stranger at an up- 

 country station, it is the custom for all the residents 

 (whatever may be their rank) to call upon him ; 

 hence arises that kind and friendly intercourse 

 which exists everywhere in Anglo-Indian society, 

 and is rarely to be met with elsewhere. 



" We heard you had come up," said D , a 



fine specimen of an open-hearted, good-tempered 

 Englishman, " and not knowing whether you had 

 thought of laying in a supply of provisions from 

 the low country, as you can procure nothing here, 

 I have taken the liberty of bringing you half a sheep 

 of my own breeding, a few fattened fowls and ducks, 

 some eggs and cream, a leash of hares, and a few 

 brace of partridges, which ought to eat tender, as 

 they were killed nearly a week ago." 



"Thanks old fellow!" said B . "They 



will indeed prove a treat, for we have been obliged 

 to eat mutton and fowls almost immediately after 

 they have been killed, lately, as nothing will keep 

 throughout the day in the low country this 

 weather. Here, Harry, do you concoct for us 

 one of your insinuating 'claret cups,' whilst I 

 see ' Five Minutes ' about the breakfast, for I think 



