OF THE OLD WORLD. 335 



the good clieer, and we had received tlie hearty con- 

 gratulations of our guests on our shooting achieve- 

 ments, we adjourned outside the liut, to indulge in 

 the "fragrant weed" and the cup that cheers but 



does not inebriate, and B much amused us by 



relating an account of Paddy Lynch's first rencontre 

 with " wild bastes." Paddy landed as a cadet at 

 Madras, and was very shortly afterwards despatched 

 to join a party of " griffins" * at Poonamallee, who 

 were going up-country to join their respective regi- 

 ments. Pat sent on his traps the day before, and 

 early the next morning commenced his march, ac- 

 companied by his horsekeeper, who had a smattering 

 of English. He had heard of bears and tigers up- 

 country, so he went fully armed and equipped. 

 After he had got a few miles from Madras, he came 

 to a tank, in which he saw two strange black-look- 

 ing creatures swimming about, that he took to be 

 alligators or hippopotami, (he was not sure which.) 

 He immediately dismounted, drew his shot, and, 

 loading with ball, stole as gingerly as he could to- 

 wards his game, which, to his surprise, allowed him 

 to approach tolerably near, when they snorted in his 

 face. Pat, taking a fair aim at the head of the first, 

 let drive, and immediately the animal sank ; he then 

 blazed away at the other, and wounded it so severely 

 that it began spinning round in the water. He 

 loaded again, and after some more discharges, he 



* GrifiBns — officers wlio have not completed their first year's 

 service. 



