Jaffir. 103 



he rashly put confidence. The old man was a great 

 " character," and possessed a large fund of ready, though 

 very rough humour. He used to attend every race 

 meeting within reach, much to the detriment of his 

 business, and was never so happy as when surrounded 

 by a lot of racing men, with whom he used to drink, 

 chaff, and exchange stories. Although he knew every 

 one from the Viceroy downwards, and often dined at 

 the different messes, he never affected any other 

 character than that of a bluff, honest English navvy. 



After Dr. Rimmer's death, Mr. Collins took into his 

 employment the native jockey Jaffir, who served his old 

 master, through all his ups and downs, with unwavering 

 fidelity. Jaffir was then able to ride about 6 St., and 

 although he was rather too fond of " making the run- 

 ning," and of having his stirrups at extreme /laute 

 ecole length, still he was a good horseman, and " had 

 a head on his shoulders." He was extremely quick- 

 witted, and was even a keen critic of newspaper 

 reporting. He once feelingly complained to me that 

 whenever he lost a race, he was returned as "Jaffir" 

 in the account of the meeting ; but when he won, he 

 was sure to see himself described as "a native." On 

 one occasion, at the Sonepore races, he gravely asked 



